Nutrient stabilization and heavy metal reduction in organic wastes using Eisenia fetida (Savigny) and Perionyx excavatus (Perrier)

Lirikum Jing, Patricia Kiewhuo, Bendang Ao and L. N. Kakati ()
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Lirikum Jing: Nagaland University Lumami
Patricia Kiewhuo: Nagaland University Lumami
Bendang Ao: Nagaland University Lumami
L. N. Kakati: Assam Down Town University

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2024, vol. 26, issue 4, No 40, 9165-9184

Abstract: Abstract Concern about waste production, conversion, or disposal has been the main issue every society or government emphasizes. The viability of using earthworms to mitigate environmental pollution through waste biomass and the remediation of polluted soil is investigated scientifically. The present study probes the effect of Eisenia fetida and Perionyx excavatus in manure production, the transformation of nutrients, and heavy metal reduction in four treatments [kitchen scrap (KS), cow dung (CD), rice straw (RS), and mixed substrate (MX)]. The experiment was conducted in pre-decomposed wastes for 60 days in a 3:2 ratio of organic waste and cow dung experimental design. Twenty earthworms were inoculated in each replicated setup and subjected to vermicomposting. Results show that manure productivity (g) was highest in control, followed by P. excavatus and E. fetida, indicating high substrate degradation in the presence of earthworms. The reduced manure production (g) during vermicomposting indicates that earthworms ingested, degraded, and transformed waste biomass. Organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), and carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio declined, while available phosphorus (Av. P) and available potassium (Av. K) concentrations increased substantially. High increased percentage of Av. P in manure produced from P. excavatus (29.93%) and E. fetida (36.13%) pot was observed. Similarly, Av. K showed an increasing percentage of 24.37% and 27.42% in P. excavatus and E. fetida. Also, earthworm activities lead to a significant reduction in heavy metal concentration. In E. fetida, P. excavatus, and control high percentage reduction of copper (Cu) (67.52 ± 5.98%, 67.51 ± 4.32%, and 48.77 ± 8.62%), iron (Fe) (28.88 ± 13.03%, 36.9 ± 22.11%, and 25.4 ± 14.02%), manganese (Mn) (94.43 ± 0.1%, 84.1 ± 0.95%, and 62.24 ± 3.56%), and zinc (Zn) (22.81 ± 3.95, 27.1 ± 7.36, and 11.87 ± 5.71%) were observed. The reduced waste biomass enriched macronutrients and minimized heavy metals concentration indicate the suitability for selected earthworm species to address environmental issues related to waste biomass.

Keywords: Earthworms; Epigeic; Heavy metals; Macronutrients; Waste management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-03088-1

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