International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2278 - 3202 6 8 2017 08 10 Effect of different substrate on moisture percentage of compost 34 36 EN Shaba A.M. 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Niger State Polytechnic Zungeru, Niger State, Nigeria Oyeleke S.B. 2 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria Oyewole O.A. 3 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria Mohammed S.S.D. 4 Department of Microbiology, Kaduna State University, Kaduna State, Nigeria Salahudeen A.O. 5 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria Ikekwem C.C. 6 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria Niranjan Nandkumar Patil 1 Department of Microbiology, Patkar-Varde College, S.V. Road, Goregaon, Mumbai, India Shweta Bhise Patel 2 Department of Microbiology, Patkar-Varde College, S.V. Road, Goregaon, Mumbai, India Anup Kumar Sarkar 1 Department of Botany, Dukhulal Nibaran Chandra College, Aurangabad, Murshidabad, Pin-742201, West Bengal, India and Department of Botany, Prasanna Deb Women’s College, Jalpaiguri, Pin-735101, West Bengal, India Manas Dey 2 Jurapani High School, Jurapani, Dhupguri, Jalpaiguri, Pin-735210, West Bengal, India Mallika Mazumder 3 Department of Botany, Raiganj University, Uttar Dinajpur, Pin-733134, West Bengal, India Jalil Ahmad 1 Department of Biological sciences, University of South Asia, Lahore, Pakistan Ayesha Ameen 2 Department of Biological sciences, University of South Asia, Lahore, Pakistan Shahid Raza 3 Department of Biological sciences, University of South Asia, Lahore, Pakistan > Short Communication 2017 3 22 2017 08 10 The maintenance of moisture is very important in composting process. Moisture content is a dominant parameter in composting as it is necessary for the activity of microbes. It enhances the metabolic rate of microbes and hence increases the rate of degradation. This study was designed to observe the effect of substrate on moisture percentage. The 50% moisture was optimized in all windrows containing different substrate. It was concluded from this research that the greater moisture showed by substrate composed of cow dung+ screening matter + green waste + paper and lowest was shown by waste composed of cow dung+ screening matter + green waste + saw dust. The decrease in moisture % in all treatments was observed. The decrease in moisture from 50% is a sign of compost maturity and high activity of microorganisms and better degradation. Copyright@ International Science Community Association