Development of microbial consortia of cold tolerant microbes for solid waste management

Solid waste management has become a global issue owing to various environmental, social and health problems associated with its disposal. The two capital cities of the state, Srinagar and Jammu, generate 770 tonnes of solid waste daily and in absence of proper scientific disposal methods, this waste is emerging as major source of air, water and soil pollution. Stringent efforts are required to find methods and means for disposal of these wastes. Although there are a vast array of methods for disposal but, the microorganisms that require low temperatures for conversion of solid wastes into manure particularly in the temperate regions shall go a long way to find round the year solution for this problem. Since Kashmir valley has cold temperatures during most parts of the year, for that purpose we tried to combine cold tolerant microorganisms and earthworms for solid waste decomposition with a view to enhance nutrient status of the manure. During our research program, a total of twenty two Lactic acid bacterial isolates, Nineteen Actinomycetes isolates, eighteen Pseudomonas sp. were isolated from Gurez. Out of these only nine, eleven and seven were cold tolerant microorganisms of Lactic acid bacteria, Actinomycetes and Pseudomonas sp. respectively were characterized morphologically and biochemically. Qualitative and quantitative screening for different enzymatic activities was also done. On the basis of their high enzyme activity five isolates of lactic acid bacteria, seven of actinomycetes, five of Pseudomonas sp. were selected for compatibility amongst one another. Five different cold tolerant consortia were developed on the basis of compatibility test and were utilized for in-vitro experiments at Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura. From in-vitro experiments, on the basis of improved nutrient status and enzyme activities, three (CTC1, CTC2, CTC3) among five consortia were selected for in-vivo experiments at Gurez (Izmarg). CTC1 was combination of LG9 Psychrobacter sp., AG6 (Streptomyces sp.), PG9 (Pseudomonas sp.), CTC2 contained LG18 (Lactobacillus sp.), AG2 (Streptomyces sp.), PG9 (Pseudomonas sp.) and CTC3 contained LG9 (Psychrobacter sp.), AG13 (Streptomyces sp.), PG5 (Pseudomonas sp.).Over all, CTC1 gave best results i.e, available nitrogen(1.29%), available phosphorus(0.77%), available potassium