Q.How can domestic waste be used as manure?

Domestic waste, especially the biodegradable fraction (kitchen scraps, vegetable and fruit peels, tea leaves, garden trimmings, paper), can be converted into a valuable organic manure through composting, instead of being dumped as landfill waste.

Process:

1. Biodegradable waste is separated from non-biodegradable waste (plastics, metals, glass) at the household level.
2. This organic waste is collected in a pit or a designated composting bin.
3. Microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) present in the soil/waste break down (decompose) the organic matter aerobically over a period of weeks to months, converting it into a dark, crumbly, nutrient-rich substance.
4. In vermicomposting, earthworms are additionally used to speed up and enrich this decomposition — they consume the organic waste and excrete nutrient-rich castings.
5. The resulting compost/manure is rich in nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and can be directly applied to agricultural fields, gardens or potted plants to improve soil fertility and structure. …

Explain the composting process step by step: separate biodegradable waste, let microorganisms (or earthworms) decompose it in a pit, and use the resulting nutrient-rich compost as manur …

• Not distinguishing biodegradable waste from non-biodegradable waste (only organic waste can be turned into manure this way).
• Skipping the role of microorganisms/earthworms in the decomposition process. …