ABSTRACT This study presents a sustainable strategy for rapid sugarcane trash degradation using a defined lignocellulolytic microbial consortium comprising Phanerochaete chrysosporium UASBLCF₀1, Purpureocillium lilacinum UASBLCF₀2, Bacillus inaquosorum UASBLCB₀3, and Streptomyces viridosporus UASBLCA₀4. The experiment was monitored for 90 days; however, compost maturity (C: N ≤ 25) was achieved within 40 days under optimized amendment treatments. The consortium enhanced decomposition through synergistic ligninolytic (laccase, MnP, LiP) and cellulolytic enzyme activities, promoting lignin depolymerization and polysaccharide hydrolysis. The combined treatment (T13) reduced neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) by 20. 70% and 15. 78%, respectively, relative to uninoculated raw sugarcane trash, decreased the C: N ratio from 96. 19 to 22. 70, and resulted in 44. 63% biomass loss after 90 days. Composting was further accelerated using cow dung (CD), farmyard manure (FYM), urea, and diluted human urine. The most effective amendment (10% CD + FYM + 4% urea) achieved 87. 29% NDF and 91. 86% ADF reduction (relative to control) within 70 days, whereas 2% urea and 1: 2 diluted urine produced comparable results with final C: N ratios of 12. 5 and 14. 02, respectively. These nitrogen amendments enhanced microbial activity and organic matter mineralization, leading to rapid compost stabilization. Overall, integrating a defined microbial consortium with optimized nitrogen inputs offers a low‐cost, eco‐friendly, and scalable approach for sugarcane residue management and high‐quality compost production, supporting circular economy–driven sustainable agriculture.
U et al. (Sun,) studied this question.