International Journal of Plant & Soil Science

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different composting treatments on the quality of compost prepared from turmeric leaves at the Agricultural Research Station, Kasabe Digraj, Sangli, Maharashtra, during 2025. Seven treatments, with three replications, were evaluated in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD). Turmeric leaves were composted with FYM, MPKV decomposing culture, Pusa Decomposer and nutrient amendments (urea and SSP), separately and in combinations. Mature compost was analysed for moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, total organic carbon, C:N ratio, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, iron, manganese, zinc and copper. Significant differences among treatments were recorded for moisture, EC, TOC, C:N ratio and macro- and micronutrient contents, whereas pH did not differ significantly. The moisture content ranged from 20.11 to 23.57%, EC from 1.28 to 2.14 dS m⁻¹, TOC from 22.74 to 31.17% and C:N ratio from 13.14 to 19.85. Treatment T₇ (turmeric leaves + FYM + Pusa Decomposer + urea + SSP) recorded the highest N (1.73%), P (0.58%), K (2.12%) and S (0.77%) contents, along with Fe (3513 mg kg⁻¹), Mn (361.30 mg kg⁻¹), Zn (163.98 mg kg⁻¹) and Cu (44.62 mg kg⁻¹). The lowest C:N ratio (13.14) and shortest maturity period (78.77 days) were also recorded in T₇, whereas T₂ required the longest period (119.84 days) to reach maturity. All treatments were within the specified FCO limits for the measured quality parameters. It was concluded that the combined application of FYM, decomposing culture and nutrient amendments improved the nutrient composition and accelerated the stabilisation of turmeric leaf compost.