Influence of Maturation Time on Organic Matter Loss and Quality of Maize Stubble Compost

Stubble management is one of the major challenges in maize cultivation, which has seen a surge in recent years. Using maize straw exclusively for composting is problematic due to its elevated C/N ratio and significant lignin content, both of which decelerate the composting process. Ripe farm manure, molasses, and urea fertilizer were added to finely ground maize straw to accelerate composting. Compost samples were collected on the 15th, 30th, 45th, and 60th days for analyses of parameters such as organic carbon, total nitrogen (TN), C/N ratio, ammonium and nitrate nitrogen, pH, EC, organic matter (OM), OM loss (OML), and macro and microelements. The C/N ratio of the compost mixture, which began at a 30:1 ratio, reduced to 27.99, 22.88, 16.85, and 12.89 on the 15th, 30th, 45th, and 60th days of composting, respectively. Concurrently, the TN content in the compost mixture rose from 1.29% on day 15 to 2.34% on day 60. OML registered at 30.50% and 48.57% on the 45th and 60th days, respectively. The results indicate that the composting process can be deemed complete by the 45th day, as the rising compost temperature leads to the inactivation of potential pathogens and weed seeds in the environment.