optimization of vermicomposting technique for sugarcane ...1)-p143-155.pdf · 143 pandit and...

143 Pandit and Maheshwari

Int. J. Biosci. 2012

RESEARCH PAPER OPEN ACCESS

Optimization of vermicomposting technique for sugarcane

waste management by using Eisenia fetida

Nitin Prakash Pandit*, Sanjiv Kumar Maheshwari

School of Biotechnology, IFTM University, Lodhipur Rajput, Delhi Road (NH-24), Moradabad

244102, Uttar Pradesh, India

Received: 04 September 2012 Revised: 22 September 2012 Accepted: 23 September 2012

Key words: Eisenia fetida, Optimization, Sugarcane wastes, Vermicomposting

Abstract

Sugarcane industries generate large amount of waste in the form of bagasse and pressmud per day. Most of the

part of these wastes are usually burnt in the field due to lack of proper management techniques, which creates

severe environmental pollution and health hazards, hence it was thought to attempt use sugarcane pressmud and

bagasse for cheap and ecofriendly treatment methods like vermicomposting. It is the proces of compost formation

by earthworms. Earthworms are crucial drivers of the process, by fragmenting and conditioning the organic solid

substrate and dramatically altering its biological activity. In this study, both wastes were pretreated with an

organic nutrient preparation Jeevamrutham (effective microbial suspension) for 15 days at 30°c than it was used

to fill up in 2 kg capacity plastic tubs and earthworm Eisenia fetida was used to convert this raw materials into

highly nutritive vermicompost. The process were subjected for optimization of parameters like temperature of

vermireactor, pH of material, particle size of wastes and moisture content of reactor by using Eisenia fetida earth

worm species for six weeks. It was found that 25°C temperature, pH 7.0, 1-2mm particle size, 80% moisture

content were optimum parameters of vermicomposting of sugarcane wastes through this earthworm species. It

was further found that vermicompost obtained by above method was rich in Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium,

Sodium, Calcium, Magnessium content i.e. 2.3, 2.57, 1.72, 3.34, 2.27 and 1.98 % respectively, while it was also

rich in some micronutrients i.e. Iron, Zinc, Magneese, Copper, Boron and Aluminium content i.e. 1052, 163, 407,

167, 276 and 964 ppm respectively. Thus, vermicomposting of sugarcane waste is a cheap, excellent and

ecofriendly method of sugarcane waste management.

*Corresponding Author: Nitin Prakash Pandit [email protected]

International Journal of Biosciences (IJB) ISSN: 2220-6655 (Print) 2222-5234 (Online)

Vol. 2, No. 10(1), p. 143-155, 2012 http://www.innspub.net

144 Pandit et al.


Introduction

Pressmud and Bagasse are commonly known as

major wastes of the sugar industry. Sugarcane

pressmud & bagassi are soft, spongyamorphous and

dark brown to brownish white material containing

lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose fibres. Lignin

degradation takes more time because of its

structural complexity (Buswell, 1995). Lignin is a

natural polymer having complex three dimensional

structure, the phenolic compounds. While cellulose

and starch contain glucose units. Pectins contain

galacturonic acid monomers. Hemicelluloses

contain mannans, xylans and galactans. Due to lack

of proper waste management techniques either it is

discharged openly or along roadsides or railway

tracks or stored in the sugar mill premises

(Parthasarthi et al., 2008). Besides the loss of

organic matter and plant nutrients, burning of crop

residues also causes atmospheric pollution due to

the emission of toxic gases methane, carbon dioxide

that poses threat to human and ecosystem.

Vermicomposting is a decomposition process

involving the joint action of earthworms and

microorganisms under which earthworms recycles

the organic waste residues and significantly

increases the amount of N, P and K, Ca, Mg, useful

microorganisms, (bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes

and protozoa) hormones, enzymes and vitamins and

certain micronutrients needed for plant growth

(Lee, 1985, Bansal and Kapoor, 2000, Jambhekar,

1992). By using variety of earthworms, number of

wastes those containing high quantity of cellulose,

hemi cellulose, lignin, starch etc. can be converted

into vermicompost (Table 1). Although micro flora

present in the gut of earthworm are responsible for

the biochemical degradation of organic matter,

earthworms are crucial drivers of the process, by

fragmenting and conditioning the substrate and

dramatically altering its biological activity. One Kg

earthworm can consume one Kg organic materials

in a day. The casts of earthworms promote growth

of many important microorganisms like nitrogen

fixers and phosphate solublisers. In general in the

presence of casts and earthworms these

microorganisms multiply faster (Parle, 1963,

Satchell, 1967). Earthworms secrete mucus and

some fluids and in this way maintain pH of

surrounding between 6.5 to 7.5 which is favorable

for soil microflora. Vermicompost has sweet and

earthy pleasant smell like the smell of first rain

(Kadam, 2004).

Out of soil microflora many micro organisms can

degrade above different plant components and can

work with earth worms. The temperature, pH,

organic matter, moisture available in organic matter

and particle size and C : N ratio are the major

environmental factors which directly affect the

growth and activities of earthworm. According to

season, fluctuation is seen in the number of factors

like moisture content, temperature etc. In this

condition in earthworm’s growth, reproduction,

respiration shows variation. In unfavorable

condition they remain calm and show very

negligible activity. In recent years integrated system

of vermicomposting have been designed for the

enhancement of bioconversion efficiency of

earthworm to overcome the problem of

lignocellulosic waste degradation of different crop

residues and industrial organic by-products, under

which solid organic waste were inoculated with

some bioinoculants and subsequently

vermicomposting through earthworms (Kumar et

al., 2010).

Hence present study deals with, the sugacane waste

(especially pressmud & bagasse) admixed with

Jeevamrutham (an organic growth promoter

suspension) initialy, after partial decomposition of

waste can be an excellent raw material for

vermicomposting, than it was used for the

optimization of vermicomposting parameters (like

pH, temperature, moisture of reactor, particle size

of waste) using Eisenia fetida earth worm than

study on some physicochemical nature of

vermicompost (i.e pH, EC, C, N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg,

Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Bo & Al) prepared from sugarcane

pressmud and bagasse.

145 Pandit et al.


Materials and methods

Jeevamrutham preparation

Two hundred liters of water was taken as a stock

solution. To which, the following ingredients were

mixed:

10 Kg desi Cowdung (Cow dung of the native

Indian breed cow, collected fresh)

5 to 10 litres of desi cow's urine. (Urine can be

collected and stored for any number of days,

does not lose quality)

2 Kg of Palmyra jaggery and 2-4 L of sugar cane

juice

Flour of black gram - best if hand ground; not

as effective if ground in a power grinders the

particle size varies

Handful of chemical free soil

First the cow dung and urine were added to water,

then jaggery, flour and soil were added together to

that solution content was stirred clockwise for

couple of minutes and this was done 3 times a day.

The solution fermented, within 48-72 h. The

solution was stored in protective sterile containers.

Sugarcane wastes

The sugarcane wastes especially Bagassi (B),

Pressmud (PM) were collected from the Simbhaouli

Sugar Mill, Simbhaoli, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh,

India. All types of sugar-cane by-products were

chopped in to small pieces (3-4 cm) & kept in shade

for 15 days on 30°C for the removal of noxious gases

and extra moisture content before using for the

vermicomposting (Sangwan et al., 2008).

Earthworms

In the present studies the well known species of

earthworm Eisenia fetida (Fig. 1) was obtained from

a vermiculture & vermicomposting unit of Bareilly

University, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. The stock

culture of the earthworm was maintained in plastic

containers using cowdung as growth medium in

laboratory condition. This was further used in the

vermicomposting experiment.

Preparation of Vermicomposting container/tubs

For vermicomposting plastic tubs of size 25 X 15 cm

and of 2 kg capacity were used. The shade dried

sugar-cane residues (B & PM) were then blended

with organic growth promoter Jeevamrutham which

is rich in microbes and used as a bulking agent to

increase the C/N ratio of wastes. The mixture was

prepared by mixing 1000 ml of Jeevamrutham,

1000 g sugarcane bagasse and 1000 g sugarcane

pressmud (Moisture content of this admixture was

determined by gravimetric method (APHA, 1985)

and was adjusted to 80% by sprinkling water) and

then this admixture was used for vermicomposting

process.

General vermicomposting process

The 2 kg material was filled in the set of six plastic

tubs (in triplicate) and kept in dark for six weeks by

adding two earthworms / pot. Every week the

weight of earthworm biomass / pot and count of

cocoons / pot was taken after thorough washing and

blotting of earthworms and cocoons and then they

were reinoculated in the respective pots. This

procedure was followed for every week till six weeks

Optimization of parameters of vermicomposting

Effect of Temperature on the vermicomposting:

The temperature range selected for experiment was

15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40°c taking into account

average minimum and maximum temperatures

found in the Moradabad region and in the seasonal

variations in the year. For every temperature

selected, the three plastic tubs / pots were used and

were incubated for six weeks in BOD incubators and

biomass weight of earthworm and cocoons count /

pot was taken as above.

Effect of pH of material on the vermicomposting:

The pH of vermicomposting material was adjusted

with 1 N HCL / 1 N NaOH to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and

10. The pH values adjusted materials were filled in 2

kg amount in three pots (in triplicate) and

inoculated with two earthworms per pot and

incubated in dark at 25°c for six weeks. The average

146 Pandit et al.


biomass of worms and cocoon count / pot was taken

per week as above.

Effect of particle size of material on the

vermicomposting:

(pH of material was adjusted to pH 7.0). The

particle size range of material selected for

experiment was 0.5-1 mm, 1-2 mm, 2-4 mm, 5-10

mm, 10-20 mm and material of each particle size

was filled in three pots in 2 kg amounts (in

triplicate) and inoculated with two earthworms /

pot and incubated at 25°C for six weeks in dark. The

average biomass of worms and cocoon count / pot

was taken per week as above.

Effect of moisture content of material on the

vermicomposting:

(pH of material was adjusted to 7.0 and 1-2 mm

size). The moisture contents of vermicomposting

material was adjusted to 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 %

with water and filled in 2 kg amounts in three pots

(in triplicate) and inoculated with two earthworms /

pot and incubated at 25°c in dark for six weeks. The

average biomass of worms and cocoon count / pot

was taken per week as above.

Physicochemical analysis of the vermicompost

prepared from sugarcane waste

By using optimized parameter of vermicomposting

i.e. temperature of incubation (25°c), pH (7.0),

particle size (1-2mm) and moisture content (80%)

of organic material, vermicomposting was done in 2

kg pots (in triplicate) with preparation of 2 types of

pots (1). Control (without Eisenia fetida) (2). Test

(with Eisenia fetida) and after six weeks of

incubation the sample (compost from control and

vermicompost from test) were drawn by straining

out off juveniles (earthworms) and their cocoons

and than it was analyzed for pH, electrical

conductivity, total carbon, total nitrogen, total

phosphorus, total potassium and micronutrients.

Determinations of these parameters were carried

out by using the following procedure: Water

extracts of vermicompost were obtained by

mechanically shaking the samples with distilled

water at 1:5 (w/v) for 1 h. The suspensions glass

wool filtrates were used for the determination of pH

and electrical conductivity (Garg et.al., 2006). Total

organic carbon was estimated by using the method

of Nelson and Sommers (1982). Total Kjeldahl’s

nitrogen was determined by Bremmer and

Mulvaney (1982) procedure. Colorimetric

estimation of total phosphorus and flame

photometer determination of total potassium,

sodium was done by following the method of Bansal

and Kapoor (2000). Calcium and Magnesium were

estimated by EDTA titration method (Piper, 1966).

All other micronutrients were analyzed by flame

atomic absorption spectrometry (Perkin Elmer

Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer) after

filtering the extracts obtained from the digestion of

the ashes with 3N HCl. The obtained data were

expressed as mean ± SD of 3 replicates. Two way

analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to

determined any significant (P < 0.05) difference

among the parameters observed.

Results and discussion

Incubation temperature optimization studies

The table 2 shows that out of 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and

40°c temperatures used for incubation there was

gradual increased in biomass of earthworms and

cocoon production from 15 - 30°C temperatures at

all the six weeks incubation and maximum average

biomass of 1761 mg and average of 18 cocoons were

produced at 25°C. At the incubation temperatures

beyond 25°C i.e. 35, 40°C the earthworms could not

survive indicating 25°C being optimal when the 7.0

pH and 1- 2 mm particle size of material used. It

was reported by Munnoli, 2007, Yadav et al., 2010,

Munnoli, 1998, Tripathy and Bharadwaj 2004,

Kadam, 2004, Loehr et al., 1985 that above 30°c

high mortality of Eisenia fetida was observed. The

better biomass and cocoon production was reported

by them at 25- 30°c temperatures. It was observed

that the results of present studies regarding

vermicomposting temperature using Eisenia fetida

are constant.

147 Pandit et al.


pH optimization studies

The pH range of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 was used

for the studies. It is evident from table 3 that at pH

values 2, 3 and 4 and at pH 9 and 10 earthworms

did not survive indicating totally unfavorable pH.

While there was gradual increased in the average

biomass earthworms and average cocoon

production from pH 5 to 8. The maximum average

biomass obtained at the end of 6th week was 7150

mg and maximum average cocoon production of 26

at pH 7, indicating pH 7 being optimal for

vermicomposting with E. fetida at 25°c temperature

and 1-2 mm particle size. Earthworms are very

sensitive to pH, thus pH of soil or waste is

sometimes a factor that limits the distribution,

numbers and species of earthworms. It was

reported by Sivakumar, 2009 that maximum

biomass and cocoon production of E. fetida was

obtained at pH 7.0 which is consistent with present

findings. Several researchers have stated that most

species of earthworms prefer a pH of about 7.0

(Singh, 1997, Narayan, 2000, Pagaria and Totwat,

2007, Suthar, 2008). Edwards (1995) reported a

wide pH range (5.0-9.0) for maximizing the

productivity of earthworms in SOW management.

Fig. 1. Eisenia fetida.

Particle size optimization studies

The particle size ranged selected was 0.5 - 1.0, 1 - 2,

2-4, 5-10 and 10-20 mm. It is evident from table 4

that the average biomass increase and cocoon

production was gradual from 0.5 - 1 to 1 -2 mm size

i.e. 2 - 4, 5 - 10 and 10 - 20 mm the average biomass

and cocoon production was decreased. The

maximum average biomass of 1859 mg and

maximum average cocoon production of 13 was

obtained at the end of 6th week at 1- 2 mm particle

size indicating 1-2 mm particle size of material is

optimal for vermicomposting using E. fetida at pH

7.0, 25°c temperatures and 80% moisture level. It

was reported by Kadam, 2004 that maximum

biomass of E. eugeniae was attained at 1 mm

particle size using Tendu leaves (Diospyros

melanoxylon Roxb) as raw material and findings in

present investigations showed 1- 2 mm particle size

as optimal. These findings supported present results

indicating large size particles are not amenable to

earthworms.

Moisture content optimiztion studies

It is evident from table 5 that when

vermicomposting was carried out at pH 7.0 and

25°c temperature and 1 - 2 mm particle size of

material and with selected moisture levels of 50, 60,

70, 80 and 90 there was gradual increase in the

biomass of earthworms at all selected moisture

levels every week till end of 6th week but maximum

biomass increase and cocoon production was

obtained 80% moisture content viz. initial average

biomass of 175 mg to 3363 mg average biomass and

average 15 cocoons at the end of 6th week where as

at 50, 60, 70 and 90 % moisture level comparatively

less biomass and cocoon production was obtained.

It indicated that 80% moisture level was the

optimum level for vermicomposting of sugarcane

waste using E. fetida. Edwards et al., 1985 reported

suitable moisture level of 50-90 % for Eisenia

foetida and 80 - 90% being optimal, while

Dominguez and Edwards, 1997 reported 85 % as

optimal moisture level for Eisenia andrei when

grown on pig manure. Viljoen and Reinceke, 1990

reported 79-80.5% as optimal moisture level for E.

eugeniae grown on cattle manure. Dresser and

McKee, 1980 reported 50 - 80% moisture level as

suitable for vermicomposting while Kaplan,1980,

Kadam, 2004 reported maximum biogas and

cocoon production at 70 - 80% moisture level.

These reports thus support findings of present

investigations.

Table 1. Type of Solid Organic Wastes (SOW) and Earthworm species employed for Vermicomposting

Sr. No.

Solid Organic Waste (SOW)

Species employed Reference

1 Potato peels Pheretima elongate Munnoli et al., 2000

2 Canteen waste Eisenia fetida Kale, 1994; Narayan, 2000

3 Tomato skin seed Pheretima elongate Singh, 1997

4 Onion residue Eisenia fetida/Eudrilus eugeniae White, 1996

5 Board mill sludge Lumbricus terrestris Butt et al., 2005

6 Sugar cane residues Pheretima elongate Bhawalkar, 1995

7 Gaur gum Eudrilus eugeniae Suthar, 2006, 2007

8 Agricultural residues Eudrilus eugeniae Kale, 1994

9 Sago waste Lampito mauritii Rajesh et al., 2008

10 Sago waste Eisenia fetida Subramaniana et al., 2010

11 Onion waste Eudrilus eugeniae Mishra et al., 2009

12 Garlic waste Eisenia fetida Mishra et al., 2009

13 Human feces Eisenia fetida Yadav et al., 2010

14 Paper mill sludge Eisenia fetida Kaur et al., 2010

15 Press mud, bagassi, trash Drawida willsi Kumar et al., 2010

16 Press mud Perionyx ceylanensis Mani and Karmegam, 2010

Table 2. Growth of Eisenia fetida at different incubation temperatures in Vermicomposting (pH-7, particle size-

1-2 mm)

Sr.

No.

Incub.

Temp.

(°C)

Initial

Average

Bio-

Mass

(mg),

CC

Average results in different weeks / pot

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

BM

(mg),

CC

%

gain

BM

(mg),

CC

%

gain

BM

(mg),

CC

%

gain

BM

(mg),

CC

%

gain

BM

(mg),

CC

%

Gain

BM

(mg),

CC

%

gain

1. 15 152,

(-)

166,

(-)

109,

(-)

182,

(3)

120,

(-)

196,

(5)

129,

(167)

207,

(6)

136,

(200)

213,

(6)

140,

(200)

215,

(6)

141,

(200)

2. 20 177,

(-)

547,

(2)

309,

(-)

834,

(4)

471,

(200)

1296,

(11)

732,

(550)

1357,

(12)

767,

(600)

1371,

(13)

775,

(650)

1379,

(14)

779,

(700)

3. 25 165,

(-)

890,

(6)

539,

(-)

1166,

(9)

706,

(150)

1714,

(15)

1039,

(250)

1730,

(17)

1048,

(283)

1755,

(18)

1063,

(300)

1761,

(18)

1067,

(300)

4. 30 160,

(-)

623,

(3)

389,

(-)

908,

(7)

567,

(233)

1383,

(12)

864,

(400)

1396,

(14)

872,

(467)

1416,

(15)

885,

(500)

1419,

(15)

887,

(500)

5. 35 174,

(-)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

6. 40 178,

(-)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Incub. Temp.– Incubation Temperature; BM- Biomass and CC- Cocoon Count

149 Pandit et al.


Table 3. Growth of Eisenia fetida at different pH values of organic material in Vermicomposting (Temperature

25°C, particle size-1-2 mm)

Sr. No.

pH Initial Average

Bio- Mass (mg),

CC


Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

BM (mg),

CC

% gain

BM (mg),

CC

% Gain

BM (mg),

CC

% gain

BM (mg),

CC

% Gain

BM (mg),

CC

% Gain

BM (mg),

CC

% gain

1. 2 144, (-)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2. 3 170, (-)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3. 4 175, (-)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

4. 5 183, (-)

316, (2)

173, (-)

567, (7)

310, (350)

634, (9)

346, (450)

650, (10)

355, (500)

663, (11)

362, (550)

669, (11)

365, (550)

5. 6 140, (-)

3677, (6)

2626, (-)

4706, (13)

3361, (216)

5136, (17)

3668, (283)

5251, (18)

3750, (300)

5295, (19)

3782, (317)

5335, (19)

3810, (317)

6. 7 164, (-)

5446, (9)

3320, (-)

6177, (17)

3766, (189)

7002, (22)

4269, (244)

7086, (23)

4320 (255)

7120, (25)

4341, (278)

7150, (26)

4359, (288)

7. 8 180, (-)

4361, (5)

2422, (-)

5522, (12)

3067, (240)

5884, (14)

3268, (280)

5932, (15)

3295 (300)

6037, (15)

3354, (300)

6053, (16)

3362, (320)

8. 9 175 (-)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

9. 10 153 (-)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-


Table 4. Growth of Eisenia fetida at different Particle Sizes of Vermicomposting Material (pH 7, Temperature of

incubation - 25°C)

Sr.

No.

Particle

Sizes

(mm)

Initial

Average

Bio-

Mass

(mg),

CC


Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

BM

(mg),

CC

%

Gain

BM

(mg),

CC

%

gain

BM

(mg),

CC

%

gain

BM

(mg),

CC

%

gain

BM

(mg),

CC

%

Gain

BM

(mg),

CC

%

gain

1. 0.5 – 1 185,

(-)

318,

(2)

172,

(-)

779,

(4)

421,

(200)

926,

(8)

500,

(400)

1064,

(10)

575,

(500)

1099,

(10)

594,

(500)

1136,

(10)

614,

(500)

2. 1 – 2 164,

(-)

876,

(4)

534,

(-)

1251,

(5)

763,

(125)

1771,

(7)

1080,

(175)

1826,

(9)

1113,

(225)

1841,

(11)

1122,

(275)

1859,

(13)

1133,

(325)

3. 2 – 4 180,

(-)

522,

(5)

290,

(-)

945,

(7)

525,

(140)

1323,

(9)

735,

(180)

1448,

(11)

804,

(220)

1483,

(10)

823,

(200)

1523,

(11)

846,

(220)

4. 5 – 10 166,

(-)

297,

(6)

179,

(-)

374,

(7)

225,

(117)

640,

(12)

386,

(200)

684,

(13)

412,

(216)

719,

(14)

433,

(233)

757,

(14)

456,

(233)

5. 10 – 20 156,

(-)

196,

(6)

126,

(-)

281,

(8)

180,

(133)

409,

(10)

262,

(167)

466,

(11)

299,

(183)

532,

(11)

341,

(183)

602,

(11)

386,

(183)


150 Pandit et al.


Table 5. Growth of Eisenia fetida at different Moisture Level of Vermicomposting Material (pH 7, Temperature

of incubation - 25°C, Particle Size of Material 1-2 mm)

Sr. No.

Moisture Level of Material (%)

Initial Average Bio-Mass (mg), CC


Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

BM (mg), CC

% Gain

BM (mg), CC

% gain

BM (mg), CC

% gain

BM (mg), CC

% gain

BM (mg), CC

% Gain

BM (mg), CC

% gain

1. 50 196, (-)

416, (2)

212, (-)

646, (5)

329, (250)

912, (8)

465, (400)

949, (9)

484, (450)

985, (9)

502, (450)

1017, (9)

519, (450)

2. 60 188, (-)

594, (2)

316, (-)

981, (6)

521, (300)

1491, (9)

793, (450)

1537, (10)

817, (500)

1575, (11)

838, (550)

1612, (11)

857, (550)

3. 70 157, (-)

646, (3)

411, (-)

1088, (6)

693, (200)

2402, (10)

1530, (333)

2455, (11)

1563, (366)

2497, (12)

1590, (400)

2539, (12)

1617, (400)

4. 80 175, (-)

819, (4)

468, (-)

1376, (8)

786, (200)

3177, (11)

1815, (275)

3224, (13)

1842, (325)

3295, (15)

1882, (375)

3363, (15)

1922, (375)

5. 90 181, (-)

311, (3)

172, (-)

584, (5)

323, (166)

902, (7)

498, (233)

932, (8)

515, (266)

955, (9)

528, (300)

979, (9)

541, (300)


Table 6. Physicochemical analysis of sugarcane waste based Vermicompost (Mean ± SD)

Sr. No. Parameters Initial Nutrient Status Control (Compost With out

Eisenia fetida)

Test (Vermicompost With

Eisenia fetida)

0 Day 45 Days 45 Days

1 pH 8.37±0.39* 7.69±0.27* 7.13±0.50*

2 EC (ds/m) 1.02±0.48 0.96±0.25* 0.87±0.21*

3 C (%) 45.7±0.46* 37.2±0.39* 26.4±0.42*

4 N (%) 1.2±0.49* 1.5±0.27* 2.3±0.53*

5 P (%) 2.42±0.56* 2.48±0.42 2.57±0.40

6 K (%) 1.35±0.38 1.50±0.21* 1.72±0.37*

7 Ca (%) 1.56±0.34 2.11±0.51 2.27±0.40*

8 Mg (%) 1.29±0.42* 1.64±0.37 1.98±0.31

9 Na (%) 2.30±0.59* 2.98±0.57* 3.34±0.20*

10 Fe (ppm) 879±3.21 969±4.71* 1052±6.36*

11 Zn (ppm) 112±5.46* 155±2.23 163±3.21*

12 Mn (ppm) 382±4.32 399±3.23* 407±1.03*

13 Cu (ppm) 132±5.23* 156±2.49* 167±2.87*

14 Bo (ppm) 189±5.39* 254±4.89 276±4.62*

15 Al (ppm) 952±4.16* 958±3.27* 964±1.89

*Significant at P < 0.05

Physicochemical charecteristics of the

vermicompost prepared from sugarcane waste

Changes in pH, electrical conductivity, total carbon,

total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium,

calcium, magnesium and micronutrients are

presented in table 6. The results suggested that

earthworms play a very important role in processing

sugarcane wastes in to organic manure by

accelerating the process of decomposition and the

manure was more homogenous after 45 days (app. 6

weeks).

As the vermicomposting progressed, pH tended

towards neutral (8.37 to 7.13) and the decrease in

pH was caused by the volatilization of ammonical

nitrogen and H+ released due to microbial

nitrification process by nitrifying microbes (Eklind

and Kirchmann, 2000). Other researchers (Suthar

and Singh, 2008) have shown higher reduction in

pH in the vermireactors. The EC was reduced (1.02

to 0.87 %) and it may be due the loss of weight of

organic matter and release of different mineral salts

in available form. Some researchers (Sibi and

Manpreet, 2011, Meena and Ajay, 2011) have shown

reduction in EC in verious vermireactor.

The organic carbon (TOC) was declined (45.7 to

26.4 %) during this period. Maximum reduction in

TOC may be due to the respiratory activity of

earthworms and microorganisms (Curry et al.,

1995). Earthworm modify the substrate condition

which consequently promotes the carbon losses

from the substrate through microbial respiration in

form of CO2 and even through mineraliztion of

organic matter (Bansal and Kapoor, 2000). The

observed results are supported by those of other

researchers (Kaviraj and Sharma, 2003,

Khwairakpam and Bhargava, 2009, Vasanthi et al.,

2011) who have reported 20-45% and 40-50%

reduction of TOC as CO2 during vermicomposting

of municipal or industrial wastes and filter mud

respectively. Total nitrogen content was increased

(1.2 to 2.3 %) at the end of study. Earthworm

activity enriches the nitrogen profile of

vermicompost through microbial mediated nitrogen

transformation, through addition of mucus and

nitrogenous wastes secreted by earthworms.

Decrease in pH may be an important factor in

nitrogen retention as N2 is lost as volatile ammonia

at high pH values. Increase in nitrogen content in

vermicompost of sugarcane trash and cow dung

substrate as compared to controls was reported by

Ramalingam and Thilagar (2000). Atiyeh et al.,

(2000) reported that by enhancing nitrogen

mineraliztion, earthworms have a great impact on

nitrogen transformation in manure, so that nitrogen

retained in the nitrate form. Total phosphorus

content was greater at the end of vermicomposting

(2.57 %) than the initial day (2.42 %). Increase in

the amount of phosphorus in the vermicompost

with the progress of time was reported by Tripathi

and Bharadwaj (2004) and release of phosphorus in

available form is partly available by earthworm gut

phosphatases (Lee, 1992). The potassium and

sodium content were increased (1.35 to 3.7 and 2.30

to 3.34 %) at the end of study. Which may be due to

the metabolic activity of microorganisms present in

earthworms gut. Solubilization of inorganic sodium

and potassium in organic wastes by microorganisms

through acid production was claimed by Premuzic

et al., (1998). Suthar (2007) suggested that

earthworm processed waste material contains high

concentration of exchangeable Na & K, due to

enhanced microbial activity during the

vermicomposting process, which consequently

enhance the rate of mineraliztion. Calcium and

magnesium content were increased (1.56 to 2.27

and 1.29 to 1.98 %) during the study period. It

suggested that gut process associated with calcium

& magnessium metabolism are primarily

responsible for enhanced content of inorganic

calcium and magnessium content in worm cast.

However, the similar pattern of calcium &

magnessium enhancement is well documented in

available literature (Garg et al., 2006).

Micronutrient contents were significantly increased

at the end of six weeks when compare to the initial

day.

152 Pandit et al.


Acknowledgement

This work was supported by Department of

Biotechnology, IFTM University Moradabad (UP).

The authors wish to record his sincere thanks to

Prof. R. M. Dubey, Vice Chancellor and Prof.

Anupam Srivastav, Pro Vice Chancellor, IFTM

University, Moradabad for their valuable

suggestions and encouragement during the course

of this study.

Conclusion

All carbon containing compounds undergoes

essentially oxidation process by the action of

microbes which results in the release of various

nutrients, CO2 and humus. Soft plant based

materials are easily decomposed and deoxidized by

microbes. However, tougher plant materials do not

breakdown readily by soil microbes and animals.

The final process of organic matter decomposition

viz., mineralization and humidification although are

brought out by microorganisms, these are

accelerated when they pass through the guts of

earthworms probably due to the presence of

intestinal micro flora and enzymes in the worm’s

gut (Edwards and Lofty, 1975, Lee, 1985).

The results of the present study indicated that

sugarcane wastes (especially pressmud and

bagasse) admixed with jeevamrutham and after

partial decomposition of waste material, it works as

an excellent pallatable raw material for

vermicomposting using Eisenia fetida earth worm.

Than conditions for vermicomposting (i.e. pH,

Temp., Moisture & Particle size of matter) were

optimized and produced vermicompost was found

to be better in terms of the following aspects viz.

(i) High rate of bioconversion,

(ii) Production of high number of young ones and

cocoons in the medium,

(iii) Desired level of composition of nutrients in the

vermicompost i.e., macronutrients (C, N, P, K, Na,

Ca, Mg %) and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Bo,

Al ppm) was comparatively better than the control

(non worms work reactor). Hence, it is

recommended that Sugarcane wastes admixed with

jeevamrutham at 2:1 ratio may be used for fast

bioconversion into a nutrients rich vermicompost.

The vermicompost obtained from these wastes can

also be used as a bio-organic fertilizer for crops. It is

presumed that this will facilitate higher conversion

rate and reduction in the number of days for

bioconversion. The results obtained prove the

potential of vermicomposting technology for

degradation of sugarcane waste amended with

Jeevamrutham.

References

APHA. 1985. Standard Methods for examination

of Water and Waste Water, 16th Edition.

Atiyeh RM, Dominguez J, Subler S, Edwards

C. 2000. Changes in biochemical properties of cow

manure during processing by earthworms (Eisenia

ander Bauche) and the effects on seedling growth.

Journal of Pedobiologia 44, 709-724.

Bansal, Kapoor KK. 2000. Vermicomposting of

Crop Residues and Cattle Dung with Eisenia

foetida. Biores Technol. 73 (2), 95-98.

Bhawalkar VS. 1995. Vermiculture

bioconversion of organic residues, PhD thesis, IIT

Mumbai, India 15-45.

Bremmer JM, Mulvaney RG. 1982. Nitrogen

Total In: A.L. page R.H. Millar and D.R. Keeney

(eds.), Methods of Soil Analysis, American Society

of Agronomy, Medison, 575-624.

Buswell JA, Odier E. 1995. Lignin

Biodegradation. Critical Reviews In Biotechnology

6, 1 - 60.

Butt KR, Nieminen MV, Siren T. 2005.

Population and behavior level responces of arable

soil earthworms to broad mill sludge application.

Biology and Fertility of Soils 42, 163-167.

Curry JP, Byrne D, Boyle KE. 1995. The

earthworm of winter cereal field and its effects on

153 Pandit et al.


soil and nitrogen turnover. Biol Fertil Soil. 19, 166-

172.

Dominguez J, Edwards CA. 1997. Effects of

Stocking Rate and Moisture Content on the Growth

and Maturation of Eisenia andrei (Oligochaeta) in

Pig Manure. Soil Biology And Biochemistry 29,

743-746.

Dresser C, Mckee I. 1980. Comperdium on Solid

Waste Management by Vermicomposting. Prepared

for the Municipal Environmental Office of Research

and Research Laboratory, Office of Research and

Development. Environmental Protection Agency,

Cincinnati.

Edwards CA. 1995. Earthworm. McGraw Hill

Encyclopedia 81-83.

Edwards CA, Burrows I, Fletcher KE, Jones

BA. 1985. The Use of Earthworms for Composting

Farm Wastes. In: Grasser, J. K. R (Ed) Composting

of Agricultural and Other Wastes. Applied Science,

Oxford 229 - 241.

Edwards CA, Loft JR. 1975. The influence of

cultivation on soil animal population, Progress in

soil Zoology, Edited by. J. Vanek, (Academia

publishing home Prague).

Eklind Y, Kirchmann H. 2000. Composting

and storage of organic household waste with

different litter amendments, II: Nitrogen turnover

and losses. Bioresour Technol. 74, 125-133.

Garg VK, Yadav YK, Sheoran A, Chand S,

Kaushik P. 2006. Live stocks excreta

management through vermicomposting using an

epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida.

Environmentalist 26, 269-276.

Jambhekar HA. 1992. Use of Earthworm as a

Potential Source to Decompose Organic Waste. In

Proc. Natl. Sem. On Organic Farming, MPKV,

College Of Agriculture, Pune 52 - 53.

Kadam DG. 2004. Studies on Vermicomposting

of Tendu Leaf (Diospyros Melanoxylon Roxb.)

Refuse With Emphasis on Microbiological and

Biochemical Aspects, Ph. D. Thesis, Shivaji

University, Kolhapur.

Kale RD. 1994. Vermicomposting of Waste

Materials. Earthworm Cinderella of Organic

Farrming, Prism Book Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, India 47.

Kaplan DL, Hartenstein R, Neuhauser EF,

Malecki MR. 1980. Physicochemical

Requirements in the Environment of the

Earthworm Eisenia Fetida. Soil Biology and

Biochemistry 12, 347 - 352.

Kaur A, Singh J, Vig AP, Dhaliwal SS, Rup

PJ. 2010. Co-composting with and without Eisenia

fetida for conversion of toxic paper mill sludge to a

soil conditioner. Bioresource Technology 101 (21),

8192-8198.

Kaviraj, Sharma S. 2003. Municipal solid waste

management through vermicomposting employing

exotic and local species of earthworms. Bioresource

Technology 90, 169-173.

Khwairakpam M, Bhargava R. 2009.

Bioconversion of filter mud using vermicomposting

employing two exotic and one local earthworm

species. Bioresource Technology 100, 5846-5852.

Kumar R, Verma D, Singh BL, Kumar U,

Shweta. 2010. Composting of sugar-cane waste

by-products through treatment with

microorganisms and subsequent vermicomposting.

Bioresource Technology 101(17), 6707–6711.

Lee KE. 1985. Earthworms: Their ecology and

relationship with soil and land use. Academic press,

Sydney, 411.

Lee KE. 1992. Some trends opportunities in

earthworm research or: Darwin’s children. The

154 Pandit et al.


future of our discipl. Soil Biol Biochem. 24, 1765-

1771.

Loehr, RC, Neuhauser EF, Malecki R. 1985.

Factros Affecting the Vermistabilization Process.

Temperature, Moisture Content and Polyculture.

Water Research 19, 1311 - 1377.

Mani P, Karmegam N. 2010. Vermistabilisation

of press-mud using Perionyx celanensis.

Bioresource Technology 101 (21), 8464-8468.

Meena K, Kalamdhad Ajay S. 2011.

Vermicomposting of Vegetable Wastes Amended

With Cattle Manure. Res J Chem Sci. 1(8), 49-56.

Mishra RK, Singh BK, Upadhyay RK, Singh

S. 2009. Technology for vermicompost production.

Indian Farming July, 14-15.

Munnoli PM. 1998. A study on management of

organic solid waste of agro based industries through

vermiculture biotechnology. ME Thesis, TIET

Patiala, India, 11-30.

Munnoli PM. 2007. Management of industrial

organic solid wastes through vermiculture

biotechnology with special reference to

microorganisms. PhD thesis, Goa University, India,

1-334.

Munnoli PM, Arora JK, Sharma SK. 2000.

Organic waste management through vermiculture:

A case study of Pepsi Food Channoo Punjab. In:

Jana BB, Banarjee RD, Guterstam B, Heeb J (Eds)

Waste Resource Recycling in the Developing World,

Sapana Printing Works Kolkatta 203-208.

Narayan J. 2000. Vermicomposting of

biodegradable wastes collected from Kuvempu

University campus using local and exotic species of

earthworm. In: Proceedings of a National

Conference on Industry and Environment, 28th to

20th December 1999, Karad, India 417-419.

Nelson DW, Sommers LE. 1982. Total carbon

and organic carbon and organic matter. In: A.L.

Page, R.H. Miller and D.R. Keeney (Eds.), Methods

of Soil Analysis, American Society of Agronomy,

Medison, 539-579.

Pagaria P, Totwat KL. 2007. Effects of press

mud and spent wash in integration with

phosphogypsum on metallic cation build up in the

calcareous sodic soils. Journal of the Indian Society

of Soil Science 55 (1), 52-57.

Parle JN. 1963. A Microbiological Study of

Earthworms Casts. Journal of General Microbiology

31 : 13 - 22.

Parthasarathi K, Balamurugan M,

Ranganathan LS. 2008. Influence of

vermicompost on the physic-chemical and

biological properties in different types of soil along

with yield and quality of the pulse crop-blackgram.

Iran J Environ Health Sci Eng. 5 (1), 51-58.

Piper CS. 1966. Soil and Plant Analysis, Hans

Publications, Bombay, India.

Premuzic Z, Bargiela M, Garcia A, Rendina

A, Iorio A. 1998. Calcium, Iron, Potassium,

Phosphorous and vitamin C content of organic and

hydroponic tomatoes, Hort Sci. 33, 255-257.

Rajesh BJ, Yeom IT, Esakkiraj, Kumar N,

Lee YW, Vallinayagam S. 2008. Bio

management of sago-sludge using an earthworm,

Lampito mauritii. Journal of Environmental

Biology 29 (5), 753-757.

Ramalingam R, Thilagar M. 2000.

Bioconversion of agro-waste sugarcane trash using

an Indian epigeic earthworm, Perionyx excavatus

(Perrier). Ind J Environ Ecoplan. 3, 447-452.

Sangwan P, Kaushik CP, Garg VK. 2008.

Vermiconversion of industrial sludge for recycling

155 Pandit et al.


the nutrients. Bioresource Technology 99, 8699-

8704.

Satchell JE. 1967. Lumbricidae In: Soil Biology.

(A. Burges and F. Raw, Eds) Academic Press.

London 259-322.

Sibi G, Manpreet K. 2011. Management of

Vegetable wastes by Vermicomposting Technology.

American – Eurasian J Agric & Environ Sci. 10 (6),

983-987.

Singh J. 1997. Habitat preferences of selected

Indian earthworm species and their efficiency in

reduction of organic material. Soil Biology and

Biochemistry 29, 585-588.

Sivakumar S, Kasthuri H, Prabha D,

Senthilkumar P, Subbhuraam CV, Song YC.

2009. Efficiency of composting parthenium plant

and neem leaves in the presence and absence of an

oligochaete, Eisenia fetida. Iran J Environ Health

Sci Eng. 6 (3), 201-208.

Subramanian S, Sivarajan M, Saravanapriya

S. 2010. Chemical changes during

vermicomposting of sago industry solid wastes.

Journal of Hazardous Materials 179 (1-3), 318-322.

Suthar S. 2006. Potential utilization of guar gum

industrial waste in vermicomposting production.

Bioresource Technology 7, 2474-2477.

Suthar S. 2007. Production of vermifertilizer

from guar gum industrial wastes by using

composting earthworm Perionyx sansibaricus

(Perrier). Environmentalist 27, 329-335.

Suthar S. 2008. Microbial and decomposition

efficiencies of monoculture and polyculture

vermireactors based on epigeic and anecic

earthworms. World Journal of Microbial


Suthar S, Singh S. 2008. Comparison of some

novel polyculture and traditional monoculture

vermicomposting reactors to decompose organic

wastes. Ecol Eng. 33, 210-219.

Tripathi G, Bharadwaj P. 2004. Comparative

studies on biomass production, life cycles and

composting efficiency of Eisenia foetida (Savigny)

and Lampito mauritii (Kinberg). Bioresource


Vasanthi K, Chairman K, Savarimuthu

Michael J, Kalirajan A, Ranjit Singh AJA.

2011. Enhancing Bioconversion Efficiency of the

Earthworm Eudrilus Eugeniae (Kingberg) by

Fortifying the Filtermud Vermibed using an Organic

Nutrient. OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences 11

(1), 18-22.

Viljoen SA, Reinecke AJ. 1990. Moisture

Preferncess, Growth and Reproduction of the

African Night Crawler Eudrilus eugenia

(Oligochaeta). South African Journal Of Zoology 25

(3), 155 - 160.

White S. 1996. Vermiculture bioconversion in

India. Worm Digest, June 65.

Yadav KD, Vinod T, Mansoor AM. 2010.

Vermicomposting of source separated human faeces

for nutrient recycling. Waste Management 30, 50-

56.

optimization of vermicomposting technique for sugarcane ...1)-p143-155.pdf · 143 pandit and...

Documents