Vermicompost: An Eco-Friendly and Cost-Effective Alternative for Sustainable Agriculture

Rajesh Babu Katiyar, Suresh Sundaramurthy (), Anil Kumar Sharma, Suresh Arisutha, Anubhav Pratap-Singh, Satyam Mishra, Rashid Ayub, Byong-Hun Jeon and Moonis Ali Khan ()
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Rajesh Babu Katiyar: Department of Chemical Engineering, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal 462 003, Madhya Pradesh, India
Suresh Sundaramurthy: Department of Chemical Engineering, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal 462 003, Madhya Pradesh, India
Anil Kumar Sharma: Department of Civil Engineering, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal 462 003, Madhya Pradesh, India
Suresh Arisutha: Eco Science and Technology, Bhopal 462 003, Madhya Pradesh, India
Anubhav Pratap-Singh: Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
Satyam Mishra: Department of Civil Engineering, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal 462 003, Madhya Pradesh, India
Rashid Ayub: Department of Science Technology and Innovation, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Byong-Hun Jeon: Department of Earth Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
Moonis Ali Khan: Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 20, 1-16

Abstract: Vermicomposting emerges as an eco-friendly solution to manage a blend of agricultural residues and digested biogas slurry (DBS). This research probes the influence of two specific earthworm species, Eisenia fetida and Eugilius euganiae , on the composting dynamics of agro-residues and DBS. Moreover, it gauges their consequential impact on the growth of chili and brinjal plants. The research was conducted at the Sharda Vihar Campus in Bhopal. Several process variables, such as pH, salinity, moisture levels, temperature, carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), presence of pathogens, and monoculture trends, were assessed for their influence on vermicompost yield and its effect on chili and brinjal growth. Intriguingly, reactors employing E. fetida exhibited a vermicast recovery rate of 89.7%, whereas those utilizing E. eugeniae achieved 68.2% recovery, especially with an earthworm density of 125 individuals per liter. Notably, the derived NPK values from various composted and vermicomposted materials ranged from 1.5 to 1.7% for N, 0.98 to 1.19% for P, and 1.1 to 1.49% for K. This suggests its viability as both a fertilizer and soil enhancer. The E. fetida vermicompost-enriched soil notably boosted the yield of chili and brinjal. Overall, these insights highlight vermicomposting’s dual utility in waste management and augmenting bioresources.

Keywords: agro-residue; biogas slurry; soil supplement; vermicompost (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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