STUDIES ON EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT ORGANIC SUBSTRATES ON QUALITY OF VERMICOMPOST
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Date
2013
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Studies on the effects of different organic
substrates on quality of vermicompost” was planned to work out the effects of various
sources of organic matter such as animal dung, food waste, and kitchen wastes, saw dust,
Parthenium, lantana, bagasse, pine needle etc. on the quality of vermicompost and population
dynamics of earthworms. The nutrient contents viz. nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium,
magnesium, sulphur, iron, copper, manganese, and zinc were found significantly higher under
lower carbon nitrogen ratio of vermicompost. The organic carbon content in the
vermicompost was decreased at greater extent at lower carbon: nitrogen ratio (30:1) compared
to higher one, whereas, decrease in C: N ratio was more under high C: N ratio (70:1) as
compare to lower one. Other properties of vermicompost like pH, Electrical conductivity and
Bulk density were also significantly higher in lower C: N ratio. Use of pine needle as
substrate was found inferior compared to all other substrates, whereas, boiled pine needle
proved to be better option for vermicomposting. The population dynamics of earthworm is
greatly affected by quality of substrate and its carbon nitrogen ratio. The earthworm’s
reproduction, growth and multiplication was also significantly affected by quality of
substrates and their C: N ratio. The earthworm population in the vermicompost was higher in
all the treatments at lower carbon: nitrogen ratio as compared to higher one. The quality of
vermicompost and population dynamics of earthworms in vermicompost prepared from
Parthenium in combination with cow dung, bagasse and kitchen waste was best compared to
all other treatments. The use of boiled pine needle as substrate was found better as compared
to un-boiled one for better quality. Substrates of higher carbon: nitrogen ratio produced poor
quality of vermicompost and also takes more time for decomposition, however, carbon:
nitrogen ratio of 30 to 40 was found optimum for the process of vermicomposting