https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321014724
Abstract, International Journal of Environment, 2017
Effective clearance of different types of waste has become significant to sustain healthy environment. Vermicomposting has become a suitable substitute for the safe, hygienic and cost effective disposal of organic solid wastes. Earthworms decompose organic waste leading to the production of compost which is high in nutrient content. The present work has been designed to reveal competitive and / or beneficial interactions by studying the inter-specific interactions in terms of growth, maturation, survival and vermicomposting efficiency of two earthworm species Eisenia foetida and Eudrilus eugenia exposed to green leaf litter of Eucalyptus and measured physical variables during entire process. The complete process was taken fourteen weeks. Work was done in plastic beans in four sets. 100 % cattle dung was also taken as a control. During the process following parameters viz. pH, temperature, biomass reduction and moisture content were analysed. pH of vermicomposting substrate was recorded low initially acidic but at last stage set in alkaline range. In case of temperature, it was changed 16-18°C ± 1°C from initial value. This was higher than control cattle dung (13°C± 1°C). Organic biomass was also depleted during process which was about 70-71 % ±1 % from initial level as compaired to cattle dung (46 %). Moisture content was lower initially then increased and set at high level.
Keywords— Vermicompost, earthworm, Eucalyptus, leaf litter, physical parameters.