Physico-chemical Status of Vermicompost Processed by Earthworm Specie Eisenia fetida

Abstract

Huge amount of organic wastes including agricultural field wastes, food wastes, municipal solid waste and manures can be converted into a safe and usable product that can be used as a possible substitute for chemical fertilizers. In this regard, the proposed study was designed with the aim to prepare macro and micronutrients rich vermicompost from different bio-wastes that can be used as a possible substitute to chemical fertilizers for improving plant growth. A 90 days vermicomposting experiment was conducted in wooden boxes (1×1 m) containing animal manure and waste material (grasses, brewed black tea leaf and dry leaf) mixed in 3:1 ratio with a 2.5 cm thin layer of soil. The material was at the bottom of the bed and around 10.000 earthworms of Eisenia fetida were settled in the box. The boxes were irrigated by sprinkled water daily and tilled from the top once every week for maintaining aeration and proper decomposition. The vermicompost production was continued for about 90 days in each box under 21-23°C room temperature. The results showed that by using animal manure and waste materials, the physical parameters like moisture content was increased upto50 % on day 90. Likewise, the percent increase recorded for total N, organic N, total P and soluble K content on day 90 was maximum in the vermicompost prepared from animal manure and waste material. It can be concluded from this experiment that with the help of earthworm‘s, different field and garden residues, wastes and manures can be converted into a nutrient rich and environment friendly vermicompost that can be used as a possible substitute to chemical fertilizers for improving plant growth.