An Effective Way to Recycle Biogas Plant Waste into A Valuable, Eco-Friendly Product: Fermented Organic Manure (FOM).

Compressed Biogas (CBG), or bio-CNG, is purified biogas with over 90% methane, produced from organic waste or biomass via anaerobic digestion. It's a great alternative for energy needs, particularly as a substitute for natural gas and crude oil in transport. The Indian government's GOBARdhan scheme, with a budget of Rs 10,000 crores, aims to establish 500 new bio-CNG plants using organic waste. Key feedstocks for CBG production in India include agricultural waste, livestock waste, municipal solid waste (MSW), and pressmud. Pressmud, a sugar industry byproduct, is particularly valuable for biogas production through anaerobic digestion, and its availability makes it a promising contributor to renewable energy. Napier grass is also an ideal and promising feedstock due to its rich nutritional profile, with optimal harvesting at 100-120 days. Indian soil faces significant organic carbon depletion due to overuse of NPK fertilizer and aggressive cultivation, with 85% of soil now deficient. Fermented Organic Manure (FOM), a byproduct of CBG plants, can replenish soil organic carbon, completing the carbon cycle and promoting environmental sustainability. While promising, FOM's moisture content, C:N ratio, and pH levels can deviate from Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) norms. FOM contains 30-35% organic carbon, which can increase low soil organic carbon levels, improve soil health, reduce nitrogen leaching, and remove CO2 from the environment.