Abstract:
Epigeic earthworms have the ability to convert organic wastes into valuable vermicompost as
biofertilizer for and worm biomass as animal feed. The present work was undertaken to find out
the quality of produced compost (without worm) and vermicompost (with Eudrilus eugeniae) out
of different organic wastes [Cattle manure (CM)-Control, Eupatorium odaratum (EO), Tectona
grandis (TG), Lantina camera (LC), Mangifera indica (MI), Cassia fistula (CF)] through their
physico-chemical analysis such as pH, EC, % Organic carbon, available macro(N,P,K,S,Ca,Mg)
and micro nutrients(Fe,Cu,Mn,Zn) were estimated through standard methods. Results revealed
that % Organic carbon (OC) was more in compost compared to vermicompost whereas
remaining parameters such as pH, EC, macro and micro nutrients were almost more in
vermicompost than that of compost in all organic wastes. Again the quality of compost and
vermicompost mainly depends on the nature of waste, potentiality of the earthworm in
vermicomposting process, the activities of saprophytic microorganisms present in the earthworm
gut and prevailing environmental conditions. The vermicompost produced by the earthworm,
Eudrilus eugeniae from different organic wastes have all the essential physico-chemical
parameters as biofertlizer for sustainable agriculture practices. |
