Giraddi, R SKitturmath, M S2019-08-082019-08-082002No. of references 112http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810120125"Investigations on the bio-degradation of some agro-industrial wastes using earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg), influence of different feeding additives on the degradation process and nutrient analysis of vermicompost samples were undertaken at the Main Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka during 2001-02. Different agro-industrial wastes such as pressmud, bagasse, coir waste, groundnut shell and rice husk were used in the experiment. Faster multiplication of worms and eventual recycling of wastes into vermicompost were observed in pressmud. Bagasse and coir waste were intermediate in their acceptability to earthworms. Coversely, groundnut shell and rice husk proved undesirable agroindustrial wastes, which took significantly longer period for degradation. The treatment pressmud 50% -i- cowdung 50% supported higher number of cocoons, non-clitellate, clitellate worms and vermicompost production. F'ressmud and biogas spent slurry proved as better substrates for degradation of distillery waste. The treatment distillery waste + pressmud -i- cowdung 40% encountered higher production of cocoons, non-clitellate, clitellate worms and vermicompost production. Different feeding additives were tested for degradation of agro-industrial wastes like groundnut shell and rice husk which were found undegraded in the field experiment. Among the different additives tested, rice bran and wheat bran proved as good additives along with the palatable substances like cowdung and paddy straw. Mango leaf powder and gram husk were moderate in their effectiveness. Fermentation yeast sludge proved as least preferred additive for earthworms. Higher number of cocoons, non-clitellate, clitellate worms and vermicompost production was noticed in the treatment - groundnut shell 75% + paddy straw 25% -I- rice bran 2% being next to the standard check. However, the treatment - groundnut shell -I- fermentation yeast sludge 1% proved as undesirable waste - additive combination. Similar trend was also observed in rice husk also. There was a considerably higher levels of macro and micronutrients recorded in the vermicompost samples prepared from different agro-industrial wastes compared to their initial levels."ennullThesis