Manural values and pollution abatement study of effluent and sludge generated from biogas digester run on vegetable waste

Excessive use of chemical fertilizers has led to the environmental pollution by causing soil salinity, heavy metal accumulation, water eutrophication, nitrate accumulation and air pollution. Thus, there is urgent need to use organic fertilizers for sustainable development of agriculture sector. Production of biogas and manure through anaerobic digestion serve as means of recycling of organic matter. Vegetable waste generated in large quantities in markets can be used for production of biogas through anaerobic digestion. The objective of the present study was to study manural value of effluent and sludge generated from biomethanation of vegetable waste. The chemical analysis of effluent and sludge were done using standard methods. The Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium values obtained from the effluent were 0.06 %, 0.010 %, and 0.069 %; from sludge were 0.23 %, 0.019% and 0.090 %. Micronutrients were also present in considerable quantities. The results reveal that the digester effluent and sludge has good manural value and can be effectively used as supplement with other organic fertilizers. The reductions of TS, VS, BOD, COD and MPN of coliforms during biomethanation of vegetable waste were found to be 75.62%, 85.90 %, 93.62%, 92.35 % and 86.25% respectively which helps in reduction of pollution potential of vegetable wastes.