Claims:

1. A method for accelerated degradation of coir pith for reducing a C:N ratio comprising:
- providing a microbial culture comprising Trichoderma spp., Phanerochaete spp. and a mixture of bacterial species at a specific inoculation load cultured in a medium comprising natural nutrient sources;
- adding the microbial culture and mixing with the coir pith;
- maintaining the moisture content to at least 30%; and
- aerating intermittently.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microbial culture comprises Trichoderma spp. at inoculum load ranging from 1x106 to 1010 cells/ml, Phaenerochaete spp. at inoculum load ranging from 1x106 to 1010 cells/ml and mixture of bacterial spp. with individual bacteria spp. with inoculum load ranging from 3x106 to 1010 cells/ml grown in a medium comprising natural nutrient sources.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Trichoderma spp. and Phaenerochaete spp. are isolated from decaying coir pith.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Trichoderma spp. is selected from the group consisting of Trichoderma.viride and Trichoderma harzianum; Phaenerochaete is selected from the group consisting of Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Phanerochaete tuberculata; Klebsiella spp. is Klebsiella oxytoca; Aeromonas spp. is Aeromonas hydrophila; Alcaligenes spp. is Alcaligenes aestus; Pseudomonas spp. is Pseudomonas pudita and Bacillus spp. is selected from the group consisting of Bacillus acidocaldarius, Bacillus schleglii and Bacillus licheniformis.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the natural nutrient sources for culturing microbes comprises boiled concentrated sugarcane juice and mixture of leaves of Indigofera spp., Lawsonia spp., Acacia spp., and Moringa spp.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the natural nutrient sources for culturing microbes comprises the boiled concentrated sugarcane juice ranging from 10% to 40% W/V; and leaves of Indigofera spp., Lawsonia spp., Acacia spp. and Moringa spp. each ranging from 2% to 25% W/V.
7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the Indigofera spp. is Indigofera tinctoria, Lawsonia spps is Lawsonia inermis, Acacia spp. is Acacia concinna, Acacia dealbata or mixture thereof and Moringa spp. is Moringa oleifera.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprises adding second dose of the microbial culture after 10-15 days of adding the first dose.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the C:N ratio is reduced to <50:1, preferably <30:1.
10. A plant propagation and growth medium comprising the degraded coir pith with reduced C:N ratio of around <30:1 and substantially decreased electrical conductivity as prepared by the method of claims 1-9.
Dated this 16th day of March, 2016
FOR SWAYAMBHU BIOLOGICS PVT LTD.
By their Agent

(GIRISH VIJAYANAND SHETH) (IN/PA 1022)
KRISHNA & SAURASTRI ASSOCIATES
, Description:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&

THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]

A METHOD FOR ACCELERATED DEGRADATION OF COIR PITH;

SWAYAMBHU BIOLOGICS PVT LTD., WHOSE ADDRESS IS MODULE NO. 1-P, FIRST FLOOR, IITM RESEARCH PARK, KANAGAM ROAD, THARAMANI, CHENNAI – 600 113, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS PERFORMED.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to industrial waste management. More particularly the present invention provides a method for accelerated degradation of coirpith with reduction in extremely high ratio of carbon to nitrogen and electrical conductivity for providing a soil amendment and plant propagation and growth medium for plants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Coconut coir pith is a by-product of the coconut husk processing industry. Coir is the name given to the fibrous material that constitutes the thick mesocarp (middle layer) of the coconut fruit (Cocos nucifera). The dust left behind after extracting long fibres from the husk of a coconut is known as coir pith.

In India an estimated 7.5 million tonnes of coir pith is produced per annum. Despite many advantages and availability in large quantities, coir pith accumulating near coir processing units causes severe disposal problems, fire hazard and ground water contamination due to the release of phenolic compounds. Besides, though it is a fluffy and spongy material with significant water holding capacity and is extremely compressible, its very slow degradation and mineralization rates under natural conditions prevents its direct use as organic manure. Coir pith decomposes very slowly in the soil . Coir pith contains high carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio, which is 75:1 to 186:1 ; therefore coir pith is highly resistant to biological degradation. Degradation in general converts organic materials into a readily usable form. Due to the high C/N ratio, it takes several months to obtain matured coir pith manure. Also, if incompletely degraded coir pith still having high amount of carbon is used as manure, microorganisms in soil to utilize high carbon, consume soil nitrogen that leads to depletion of nitrogen in the soil, necessitating artificial nitrogen supplementation. Most of the times farmers or horticulturists add urea or synthetic chemicals like diammonium phosphate to supplement nitrogen artificially. Use of such chemicals cannot be utilized by the plants completely thus increasing nitrogen load in soil causing undesirable ecological and environmental hazards.

Also, coir pith has high electrical conductivity. Excess soluble salts can be detrimental to plants and cause phytotoxicity to plants.

Further, current method of degradation of coir pith involves pretreatment such as pretreatment with strong acids or alkali. To wash off strong acids and alkalis used for initial treatment of coir pith require huge amount of water. Discard and treatment of large amount of water containing acid and alkali poses a great challenge for those employing such processes as the treatment charges of water to remove excess acid or alkali is very costly, adding to the cost and making the process and end product expensive. If such water with acid or alkali is disposed untreated in water bodies or on land, it can adversely affect the ecosystem of such area leading to grave environmental impact. Also, due to such problems, these processes are difficult to be adopted at large scales.

Thus, there is a need for a process for accelerated degradation of coir pith with reduced carbon and nitrogen ratio and electrical conductivity for providing a soil amendment and propagation and growth medium for plants that can be absorbed directly by plants and reduce the organic waste and pollution created by coir pith.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, in some of the embodiments the present invention provides a method for accelerated degradation of coir pith with reduction in extremely high carbon to nitrogen ratio and electrical conductivity for providing a soil amendment and plant propagation and growth medium for plants, wherein the coir pith is used without any pre-treatment.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a method for accelerated degradation of coir pith with significant reduction in extremely high carbon to nitrogen ratio and substantial decrease in electrical conductivity for providing a soil amendment and plant propagation and growth medium for plants, wherein the coir pith is used without any pre-treatment.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a method for accelerated degradation of coir pith with reduced carbon to nitrogen ratio comprising the steps of:
- providing a microbial culture comprising Trichoderma spp.; Phanerochaete spp. and a mixture of bacterial species in a specific inoculation load cultured in a medium comprising natural nutrient sources;
- adding the microbial culture and mixing with the coir pith;
- maintaining the moisture content to at least 30% and
- aerating intermittently.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a microbial culture comprising Phaenerochaete spp. at inoculum load ranging from 1x106 to 1010 cells/ml, Trichoderma spp. at inoculum load ranging from 1x106 to 1010 cells/ml and mixture of bacterial spp. with individual bacteria spp. with inoculum load ranging from 3x106 to 1010 cells/ml grown in a medium comprising natural nutrient sources.

In one embodiment, the mixture of bacterial spp. include bacteria spp. selected from but not limiting to Klebsiella spp., Aeromonas spp., Alcaligenes spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Bacillus spp..

One embodiment of the present invention provides a microbial culture comprising Phaenerochaete spp. at inoculum load ranging from 1x106 to 1010 cells/ml, Trichoderma spp. at inoculum load ranging from 1x106 to 1010 cells/ml and mixture of Klebsiella spp., Aeromonas spp., Alcaligenes spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Bacillus spp. at individual inoculum load ranging from 3x106 to 1010 cells/ml grown in a medium comprising natural nutrient rich sources.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a nutrient medium comprising natural nutrient sources.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a nutrient medium for culturing microbes comprising natural nutrient sources selected from but not limiting to boiled concentrated sugarcane juice, and mixture of leaves of Indigofera spp., Lawsonia spp., Acacia spp., Prosopis spp., and Moringa spp. in appropriate quantity.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides an agriculture or horticulture medium as a soil amendment, plant propagation and growth medium or soilless medium comprising the degraded coir pith with reduced C:N ratio of around <30:1 and substantially decreased electrical conductivity as compared to the initial un-degraded coir pith.

The above-described and other features will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following drawings, detailed description, and appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to methods for accelerated degradation of coir pith, wherein the coir pith is used without any pre-treatment.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for accelerated degradation of coir pith with reduction in extremely high carbon to nitrogen ratio and substantial electrical conductivity for providing a soil amendment and plant propagation and growth medium for plants, wherein the coir pith is used without any pre-treatment.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a method for accelerated degradation of coir pith with significant reduction in extremely high carbon to nitrogen ratio and substantial decrease in electrical conductivity for providing a soil amendment and plant propagation and growth medium for plants, wherein the coir pith is used without any pre-treatment.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a method for accelerated degradation of coir pith with reduced C:N ratio comprising:
- providing a microbial culture comprising Trichoderma spp., Phanerochaete spp. and a mixture of bacterial species at a specific inoculation load cultured in a medium comprising natural nutrient sources;
- adding the microbial culture and mixing with the coir pith;
- maintaining the moisture content to at least 30% and
- aerating intermittently.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a microbial culture comprising Trichoderma spp. at inoculum load ranging from 1x106 to 1010 cells/ml, Phaenerochaete spp. at inoculum load ranging from 1x106 to 1010 cells/ml and mixture of bacterial spp. with individual bacteria spp. with inoculum load ranging from 3x106 to 1010 cells/ml grown in a medium comprising natural nutrient sources.

In one embodiment, the mixture of bacterial spp. include bacteria spp. selected from but not limiting to Klebsiella spp., Aeromonas spp., Alcaligenes spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Bacillus spp..

One embodiment of the present invention provides a microbial culture comprising Trichoderma spp. at inoculum load ranging from 1x106 to 1010 cells/ml, Phaenerochaete spp. at inoculum load ranging from 1x106 to 1010 cells/ml, and mixture of Klebsiella spp., Aeromonas spp., Alcaligenes spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Bacillus spp. at an individual inoculum load ranging from 3x106 to 1010 cells/ml grown in a medium comprising natural nutrient rich sources.

Trichoderma spp. included in the microbial culture for example includes Trichoderma.viride and Trichoderma harzianum.

Phaenerochaete spp. included in the microbial culture for example includes Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Phanerochaete tuberculata.

Klebsiella spp. included in the microbial culture for example includes Klebsiella oxytoca.

Aeromonas spp. included in the microbial culture for example includes Aeromonas hydrophila.

Alcaligenes spp. included in the microbial culture for example includes Alcaligenes aestus.

Pseudomonas spp. included in the microbial culture for example includes Pseudomonas pudita.

Bacillus spp. included in the microbial culture includes Bacillus acidocaldarius, Bacillus schleglii, Bacillus licheniformis or mixture thereof.

Trichoderma spp. and Phaenerochaete spp. to be used in the microbial culture may be obtained as culture available commercially or may be isolated from natural sources.

In one embodiment, Trichoderma spp. and Phaenerochaete spp. are isolated from decaying coir pith.

In one embodiment, Trichoderma spp. and Phaenerochaete spp. are isolated from old decaying coir pith collected from coconut husk or coir processing sites.

Trichoderma spp. and Phaenerochaete spp. may be isolated from old decaying coir pith by following a suitable protocol that may be known in the art.

According to another embodiment, various bacterial spp. to be used in the microbial culture may be sourced as cultures available commercially or may be isolated from natural sources including for examples animal faeces, cow dung, elephant dung or any other suitable source.

The bacterial spp. including Klebsiella spp., Aeromonas spp., Alcaligenes spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Bacillus spp. may be isolated from cow dung, elephant dung or any other suitable source by following a suitable protocol known to a person skilled in the art.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a nutrient medium for culturing microbes comprising natural nutrient sources selected from but not limiting to boiled concentrated sugarcane juice, and mixture of leaves of Indigofera spp., Lawsonia spp., Acacia spp., and Moringa spp. in appropriate quantity.

The nutrient medium comprises boiled concentrated sugarcane juice from about 10% to about 40% W/V.

The boiled concentrated sugarcane juice may be in the form of jaggery, molasses or any other suitable source providing organic carbon and the same may be procured from the commercial marketplace.

The nutrient medium comprises leaves of Indigofera spp., Lawsonia spp., Acacia spp., and Moringa spp. each ranging from about 2% to about 25% W/V.

The leaves of Indigofera spp., Lawsonia spp., Acacia spp. and Moringa spp. may be procured from the commercial marketplace which may be in the fine powder form.

In one embodiment, the leaves of Indigofera sppare included as a rich source of nutrient are for example the leaves of Indigofera tinctoria.

In one embodiment, the leaves of Lawsonia spp., included as a rich source of nutrient are for example the leaves of Lawsonia inermis.

In one embodiment, the leaves of Acacia spp., included as a rich source of nutrient are for example the leaves of Acacia concinna, Acacia dealbata or mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment, the leaves of Moringa spp., included as a rich source of nutrient are for example the leaves of Moringa oleifera.

One embodiment, Phaenerochaete spp. at inoculum load ranging from 1x106 to 1010 cells/ml, Trichoderma spp. at inoculum load ranging from 1x106 to 1010 cells/ml and mixture of bacterial spp. with inoculum load ranging from 3x106 to 1010 cells/ml of an individual bacteria spp. were added to the medium comprising natural nutrient sources and allowed to multiply for a period of about 4 to 12 days to obtain the microbial culture for degrading coir pith.

It was surprisingly observed by the inventors that the microbial species when cultured in the medium comprising natural nutrient sources, the cultured microbes remained extraordinarily vigorous and in exponential growth phase.

The microbial culture of the present invention with inoculation load of 3x106 to 3x1010 cfu/ml is added to the coir pith at the rate of about 4 ml to about 10 ml per kg of coir pith. Further dose in the same manner may be given as required for completely degrading the coir pith. The microbial culture is added to coir pith laid in a pit dug in the ground. The coir pith may optionally be made wet prior to addition of the microbial culture. The moisture content of at least 30% is maintained. Aeration is provided regularly by turning the heap of coir pith under process of degradation, preferably turning is given at least once is two days.
In one embodiment, for degrading coir pith, the microbial culture of the present invention comprising Trichoderma spp.; Phanerochaete spp. and a mixture of bacterial species with inoculation load of 3x107 to 3x109 cfu/ml is added to coir pith in the range of about 2 ml to about 10 ml per kg of coir pith, preferably in the range of about 5 ml to about 8 ml per kg of coir pith. A second dose of the microbial culture in the same manner may be given after 10-15 days of adding the first dose. The moisture content of about 30% to about 70% is maintained by adding or spraying water. Aeration is provided by turning the coir pith at least once a day.

The method for degradation of coir pith employing the microbial culture and the medium comprising natural nutrient sources as per the present invention is carried out at around neutral pH. This obviates need of any excess chemicals or agents for increasing alkalinity and also renders the method more eco-friendly.

In one embodiment, the method of the present invention degrades coir pith almost completely within 30 days.

In one embodiment, the method of the present invention degrades coir pith almost completely in around 25-30 days.

During the method, carbon from organic molecules gets converted to carbon dioxide resulting in the considerable reduction of bulkiness of degraded coir pith which can be absorbed directly by plants.

It was also unexpectedly found by the inventors of the present invention that method of the present invention degraded coir pith reducing the initial extremely high ratio of C:N which is usually found to be more than 100:1, in some cases even almost 200:1 to significantly decreased C:N ratio of around <50:1. Such reduced C:N in degraded coir pith makes it more amenable to be used for soil amendment.

The method of the present invention further substantially decreased electrical conductivity of the degraded coir pith rendering it more desirable for soil amendment and also suitable for wide range of plants.

Accordingly, the present invention in one embodiment provides a degraded coir pith with reduced C:N ratio of around <50:1 and substantially decreased electrical conductivity as compared to the initial undegraded coir pith.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a soil amendment comprising the degraded coir pith with reduced C:N ratio of around <30:1 and substantially decreased electrical conductivity.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a plant propagation and growth medium comprising the degraded coir pith with reduced C:N ratio of around <30:1 and substantially decreased electrical conductivity.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a plant propagation and growth medium comprising the degraded coir pith with reduced C:N ratio of around <30:1 and substantially decreased electrical conductivity.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a soilless agricultural or horticultural medium comprising the degraded coir pith with reduced C:N ratio of around <30:1 and substantially decreased electrical conductivity.

The present invention thus provides an advantageous agriculture or horticulture medium as a soil amendment, plant propagation and growth medium or soilless medium comprising the degraded coir pith with reduced C:N ratio of around <30:1 and substantially decreased electrical conductivity as compared to the initial un-degraded coir pith.

The present invention provides a simple, environmentally friendly and cost-effective method for accelerated degradation of coir pith as well as provides a soil amendment, soilless medium and plant propagation and growth medium for plants with the reduced bulkiness, low C:N and lower electrical conductivity making it more amenable for direct utilization by plants.

Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the enumerated examples, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, which may be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. One skilled in the art will recognize many methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein, which could be used in the practice of the present invention. The present invention is in no way limited to the methods and materials described.

EXAMPLES
Example 1: Preparation of medium with natural nutrient rich sources
Jaggery procured locally from Local shop in Chennai, Tamil Nadu was cleaned, crushed well and dissolved using water (100 lts). Fine powder of leaves of Indigofera tinctoira, Lawsonia inermis, Acacia concinna, Acacia dealbata and Moringa oleifera were procured locally from shop in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Fine powder of leaves of Indigofera tinctoira (10 kg), Lawsonia inermis (10 kg), Acacia concinna (5 kg), Acacia dealbata (5 kg)and Moringa oleifera (5 kg) were mixed to which water (100 lts) was added and stirred well to ensure proper mixing. To the resultant fine suspension, dissolved jaggery (20 kg) and water (100 lts) were added to make the final volume (250 lts) and further fixed well.

Example 2: Preparation of microbial culture
To prepare the microbial culture, Trichoderma viridae and Phaenerochaete crysosporium and at individual inoculum load 1x107-109 cells/ml and Klebsiella oxytoca, Aeromonas hydrophila, Alcaligenes aestus, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus acidocaldarius, Bacillus schleglii and Bacillus licheniformis at individual inoculum load of 3x107-109 cells/ml were grown in the medium prepared as per Example 1 for 5-10 days to achieve sufficient growth of the microbes.

Example 3: Degradation of coir pith
A pit of approximate size of 2mx1mx1m was made. 200 Kg of coir pith was laid in two pits, each containing 200 kgs. No pre-treatment was given to the coir pith. 1.2 litre of microbial culture obtained as per Example 2 at the inoculation load of 3x109 cfu/ml was added to the coir pith. 50-60% moisture content was maintained by spraying with water. The coir pith was turned once every day. Second dose of microbial culture in same manner as first dose was given on 15th day. The degrading coir pith was physically observed, as soon as it appeared that coir pith is degraded, on the 27th day samples of coir pith were analysed for their biochemical properties such as organic carbon, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, C/N ratio, electrical conductivity and pH. Table 2 provides a comparison of results of biochemical properties of raw coir pith with the samples of degraded coir pith on the 27th day.

TABLE 2: Biochemical properties of degraded coir pith
Properties (%) Control Test
Carbon 50.4 30-36%
Nitogen 0.41 0.95-1.2%
Phosphorus 0.02 0.47-0.5%
Potassium 0.3 0.89-0.97
C:N 122:1 <27:1
pH 5.4 7.2-7.5
Electrical Conductivity 4411 umhos/sec 2457umhos/s-2681umhos/sec

Changes in the different biochemical constituents such as C/N ratio, electrical conductivity, Phosphorus and Potassium and pH were observed. There was a steep decrease in C/N ratio after 27 days without any acid or alkali treatment which was found to be consistent for both the batches.

Significant changes in the C/N ratio were observed after 27 days of incubation due to increase in Nitrogen content and loss of Carbon as carbon dioxide. Significant decrease in electrical conductivity was also observed.

Thus, the above results show that the method of the present invention effectively degrades coir pith to form organic manure with desirable properties.

Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter disclosed. Furthermore, the description is for the purpose of illustration only and it is to be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in the nature of description rather than of limitation and hence, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.