Table 2 Physiochemical characteristics of individual raw materials and initial feed mixtures used in T1 and T2 treatments

Moisture (% dm)

85.95 ± 1.04^a

6.84 ± 0.09^d

20.4 ± 0.40^c

62.5 ± 0.5^b

63.2 ± 0.04^b

15.0–25.0

Bulk density (g/cm3)

-

0.35 ± 0.01^d

0.3 ± 0.0^b

0.2 ± 0.02^c

0.2 ± 0.0^c

0.7–0.9

pH

4.97 ± 0.2^d

8.7 ± 0.1^a

6.73 ± 0.06^c

7.32 ± 0.08^b

7.17 ± 0.03^b

6.5–7.5

Ash content

-

12.3 ± 0.07^c

25.5 ± 0.67^a

15.2 ± 0.34^b

15.9 ± 0.26^b

–

Electrical conductivity (as ds/m)

0.02 ± 0.006^c

1.6 ± 0.2^b

3.17 ± 0.02^a

1.83 ± 0.06^b

1.72 ± 0.05^b

 < 4.0

Organic matter (OM), (% dm)

88.4 ± 1.47^c

121.7 ± 1.37^a

46.7 ± 0.17^e

103.5 ± 1.72^d

83.4 ± 1.6^b

–

Total carbon (TC), (% dm)

51.3 ± 0.85^c

70.6 ± 0.80^a

27.09 ± 0.09^e

60.03 ± 1.00^d

48.4 ± 0.95^b

16.0*

Total nitrogen (as N), (% dm)

7.24 ± 0.45^a

0.6 ± 0.07^b

0.27 ± 0.02^b

0.71 ± 0.09^b

0.56 ± 0.1^b

0.5*

Total phosphates (as P2O5), (% dm)

0.12 ± 0.03^a

0.1 ± 0.01^a

0.11 ± 0.0^a

0.1 ± 0.02^a

0.12 ± 0.02^a

0.5*

Total potash (as K2O), (% dm)

2.13 ± 0.06^a

1.24 ± 0.22^b

1.22 ± 0.0^b

0.99 ± 0.10^b

1.1 ± 0.03^b

1.0*

C/N ratio

7.1 ± 0.56^c

119.02 ± 16.13^a

100.7 ± 7.48^a,b

85.6 ± 12.35^b

87.5 ± 12.73^b

20:1 or less

Elemental analysis (mg/kg dm)

 Calcium (Ca)

1276.3 ± 10.6^e

3638.3 ± 7.63^d

19,410 ± 13.2^a

7582.01 ± 2.48^b

7673.3 ± 2.49^c

–

 Magnesium (Mg)

6429.6 ± 70.8^a

4937.7 ± 24.2^b

4969.7 ± 12.9^b

6426.2 ± 53.08^a

6400 ± 5^a

–

 Manganese (Mn)

163.6 ± 1.49^b

170 ± 5.2^b

132.7 ± 1.1^c

164.6 ± 1.69^a

181.5 ± 2.72^b

–

 Sodium (Na)

484.6 ± 18.02^a

170 ± 5.2^b,c

132.7 ± 1.1^c

263.8 ± 8.67^b

281.1 ± 2.93^a

–

 Iron (Fe)

2336.8 ± 48.3^c

2686.2 ± 6.7^c

9324.3 ± 42.7^b

19,510.03 ± 249.3^a

19,400.13 ± 173.9^a

–

 Zinc (Zn)

523.1 ± 10.4^a

134.8 ± 5.78^b

49.7 ± 0.58^d

106.5 ± 3.1^b

104.9 ± 1.01^c

1000.0^#

 Copper (Cu)

72.6 ± 3.3^a

48.2 ± 1.8^b

42.4 ± 1.8^b,c

37.1 ± 2.3^d

32.5 ± 1.2^c,d

300.0^#

 Cadmium (Cd)

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

5.0^#

 Lead (Pb)

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

100.0^#

 Nickel (Ni)

nd

nd

13.2 ± 3.8^a,b

18.3 ± 5.26^a

16.6 ± 3.05^b,c

50.0^#

 Chromium (Cr)

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

50.0^#

Germination index (GI)

52.6 ± 5.95

145.2 ± 19.1

141.4 ± 43.1

118 ± 35.7

166.5 ± 17.5

–