Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characterization of Vermicomposts Prepared from Agricultural Solid Wastes in North Eastern Hill Region of Nagaland, India

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To evaluate the vermicompost derived from agricultural solid wastes used as bedding material and to identify a superior vermicompost over the conventional vermicompost made from cow dung and paddy straw, an experiment was conducted with four sources of different plant biomass and animal excreta. These vermicomposts were tested for moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity, ash content, C:N ratio, different fractions of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulphur (S) by standard procedures. The moisture content decreased at maturity ranged from 9.59 to 29.91 %. Total organic C decreased by 2.90–24.90 %; whereas, total N was increased by 0.56 % (range 0.04–1.33 %) during 40–80 days of the decomposition. The results clearly elucidated the decrease in C:N ratio in the matured product. When poultry dropping was used as one of the bedding material, total P content was increased. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that vermicomposts prepared from cow dung and pig dung as well as rabbit dung and poultry droppings are relatively homogeneous. It was concluded that the physical characteristics, chemical characteristics and nutrient content of the matured vermicomposts are mainly influenced by the animal excreta used as bedding material and concentration of nutrients is increased at maturity. Since the vermicomposts have high nutritive value with narrow C:N ratio, these are highly favourable for the application in the field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lal R (2005) World crop residual production and implications of its use as biofuel. Environment International 31:575–584

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Suthar S (2007) Composting potential of Perionyx sansibaricus (Perrier) in different waste material. Bioresour Technol 98:1231–1237

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India (2012) Management of crop residues in the context of conservation agriculture. Policy paper 58. National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi. p. 12. http://naasindia.org/Policy%20Papers/policy%2058.pdf

  4. Pathak H, Singh R, Bhatia A, Jain N (2006) Recycling of rice straw to improve wheat yield and soil fertility and reduce atmospheric pollution. Paddy Water Environ 4:111–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Yan YW, Azwady AAN, Shamsuddin ZH, Muskhazli M, Aziz SA, Teng SK (2013) Comparison of plant nutrient contents in vermicompost from selected plant residues. Afr J Biotechnol 12:2207–2214. doi:10.5897/AJB11.3164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India (2001) Strategies for Agricultural Research in the North-East. Policy paper 9. National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi. p. 13. http://naasindia.org/policy%20papers/pp9.pdf

  7. Heuzé V, Tran G, Archimède H (2013) Banana leaves and pseudostems. Feedipedia org. A programme by INRA, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. http://www.feedipedia.org/node/686

  8. Tawnenga Shankar U, Tripathi RS (1996) Evaluating second year cropping on jhum fallows in Mizoram, north-eastern India—phytomass dynamics and primary productivity. J Biosci 21:563–575

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bhat MI, Prabakaran S (2013) Vermistabilization of Polyalthia longifolia and Enterolobium saman leaf biomass with cow dung by an epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida. Int J Environ Biol 3:115–117

    Google Scholar 

  10. Pramanik P, Ghosh GK, Chosal PK, Banik P (2007) Changes in organic—C, N, P and K and enzyme activities in vermicompost of biodegradable organic wastes under liming and microbial inoculants. Bioresour Technol 98:2485–2494

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Suthar S (2010) Pilot-scale vermireactors for sewage sludge stabilization and metal remediation process: comparison with small-scale vermireactors. Ecol Eng 36:703–712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Ganesh PS, Gajalakshmi S, Abbasi SA (2009) Vermicomposting of the leaf litter of acacia (Acacia auriculiformis): possible roles of reactor geometry, polyphenols, and lignin. Bioresour Technol 100:1819–1827

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Gaur AC (2009) Method of analysis of organic manure. In: Tandon HLS (ed) Methods of analysis of soils, plants, waters, fertilisers and organic manures, 2nd edn. Fertiliser Development and Consultation Organisation, New Delhi, pp 183–201

    Google Scholar 

  14. Panse VG, Sukhatme PV (1967) Statistical methods for agricultural workers, 2nd edn. Indian Council of Agricultural Research publication, New Delhi, p 381

    Google Scholar 

  15. Molindo WA (2008) Determination of the nutrient status of a soil after incubation with organic residues for different days in Benin City, Nigeria. World J Agric Sci 4:731–736

    Google Scholar 

  16. Singh D, Suthar S (2012) Vermicomposting of herbal pharmaceutical industry solid wastes. Ecol Eng 39:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Grisso R, Aller M, Holshouser D, Thomason W (2009) Precision farming tools: soil electrical conductivity. Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication, pp 442–508

  18. Pattnaik S, Reddy MV (2010) Nutrient status of vermicompost of urban green waste processed by three earthworm species-Eisenia fetida, Eudrilus eugeniae, and Perionyx excavates. Appl Environ Soil Sci. doi:10.1155/2010/967526

    Google Scholar 

  19. Mengel K, Kirkby EA, Kosegarten H, Appel T (2001) Principles of plant nutrition, 5th edn. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands

    Book  Google Scholar 

  20. Dominguez J, Edwards CA (2004) Vermicomposting organic wastes: a review. In: Hanna SHS, Mikhaïl WZA (eds) Soil zoology for sustainable development in the 21st century. Cairo, Egypt, p 526

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bisenl JS, Singh AK, Kumar R, Bora DK, Bera B (2011) Vermicompost quality as influenced by different species of earthworm and bedding material. Two Bud 58:137–140

    Google Scholar 

  22. Shyamala DC, Belagali SL (2012) Studies on variations in physico-chemical and biological characteristics at different maturity stages of municipal solid waste compost. Int J Environ Sci 2:1984–1997

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Loh TC, Lee YC, Liang JB, Tan D (2005) Vermicomposting of cattle and goat manures by Eisenia foetida and their growth and reproduction preference. Bioresour Technol 96:111–114

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Atiyeh RM, Dominguez J, Subier S, Edwards CA (2000) Changes in biochemical properties of cow manure during processing by earthworms (Eisenia andrei Bouche) and the effects on seedling growth. Pedobiologia 44:709–724

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Viel M, Sayag D, Andre L (1987) Optimization of agricultural, industrial waste management through in vessel composting. In: de Bertoldi M (ed) Compost: production, quality and use. Elsevier Applied Science, Essex, pp 230–237

    Google Scholar 

  26. Tripathi G, Bhardwaj P (2003) Comparative studies on biomass production, life cycles and composting efficiency of Eisenia foetida (Savigny) and Lampito mauritii (Kinberg). Bioresour Technol 92:275–278

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Nedgawa PM, Thompson SA, Das KC (2000) Effect of stocking density and feeding rate on vermicomposting of biosolids. Bioresour Technol 71:5–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Subramaniam S, Sivarajan M, Saravanapriya S (2010) Chemical changes during vermicomposting of sago industry solid wastes. J Hazard Mater 179:1–3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Kiefer A, Rivin J (2012) The effects of storage on the quality of vermicompost. University of Wisconsin System Solid Waste Research Program. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point

    Google Scholar 

  30. Vig AP, Singh S, Wani SH, Dhaliwal SS (2011) Vermicomposting of tannery sludge mixed with cattle dung into valuable manure using earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny). Bioresour Technol 102:7941–7945

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Director, Indian Council of Agriculture Research, Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India for providing all the required facilities to carry out the present investigation. None of the authors of this paper has a financial or personal relationship with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Council of Agriculture Research, Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani, Medziphema, 797106, Nagaland, India

    Dibyendu Chatterjee, Rukuosietuo Kuotsu, Z. James Kikon, Merasenla Ao, Sanjay Kumar Ray & Bidyut C. Deka

  2. Indian Council of Agriculture Research, Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat, 795004, Manipur, India

    Dibyendu Sarkar

  3. Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Tanumoy Bera

Authors
  1. Dibyendu Chatterjee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rukuosietuo Kuotsu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Z. James Kikon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dibyendu Sarkar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Merasenla Ao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Sanjay Kumar Ray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Tanumoy Bera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Bidyut C. Deka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dibyendu Chatterjee.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chatterjee, D., Kuotsu, R., James Kikon, Z. et al. Characterization of Vermicomposts Prepared from Agricultural Solid Wastes in North Eastern Hill Region of Nagaland, India. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 86, 823–833 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-015-0538-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-015-0538-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation