PROJECT BASED LEARNING

Environmental Biotechnology

(19M21BT114)

TOPIC- VERMICOMPOSTING

SUBMITTED BY-

Vidushi Srivastava (20915015)

Aashi Varshney (201915003)

Introduction/Overview

Vermicompost is the end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by some species of

earthworm. Vermicompost is a nutrient-rich, organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. The
process of producing vermicompost is called vermicomposting. It is the excreta of
earthworm, which is rich in humus. Earthworms eat cow dung or farm yard manure along
with other farm wastes and pass it through their body and in the process convert it into
vermicomposting.

So, Vermicompost = worm castings + humus + microorganisms + partially decomposed

bedding and plant materials.

Vermiculture has been the primary focus at Maharashtra Agricultural Bioteks in India, an
organization which has initiated both commercial and educational ventures to promote
Vermiculture. In 1985, Maharashtra Agricultural Bioteks was formed and established a small
plant to manufacture vermicompost from agricultural waste. In 1991-92, Maharashtra Bioteks
and the India Department of Science and Technology promoted the adoption of
vermicompost technology in 13 states in India. The group has also established a
vermicompost unit with Chitrakoot Gramodaya University, Madhya Pradesh which produces
five tons of vermicompost per month.

Advantages of vermicompost

1. Vermicompost is rich in all essential plant nutrients.

2. Provides excellent effect on overall plant growth, encourages the growth of new
Shoots / leaves and improves the quality and shelf life of the produce.
3. Vermicompost is free flowing, easy to apply, handle and store and does not have bad
odor.
4. It improves soil structure, texture, aeration, and water holding capacity and prevents
soil erosion.
5. Vermicompost is rich in beneficial micro flora such as a fixers, P-solubilizers
6. Cellulose decomposing micro-flora etc. in addition to improve soil environment.
7. Vermicompost contains earthworm cocoons and increases the population and Activity
of earthworm in the soil.
8. It contains valuable vitamins, enzymes and hormones like auxins, gibberellins etc
9. It prevents nutrient losses and increases the use efficiency of chemical fertilizers.
 10. Vermicompost is free from pathogens, toxic elements, weed seeds etc.
A) CASE STUDY

STABILIZATION OF VEGETABLE MARKET WASTE THROUGH

VERMICOMPOSTING

Several studies have demonstrated that owing to their high nutrient value, food and vegetable
wastes could provide valuable resource, if properly handled through recycling including
composting and vermicomposting. The native vegetable waste is not suitable for survival and
growth of environment friendly aerobic bacteria and earthworms due to high moisture
content, bulk density, improper C/N ratio, acidic pH and anaerobic conditions. If these
conditions are optimized by amending the waste with other stuffs.

Vermicomposting can be successfully performed. Earlier studies have demonstrated that

vegetable and kitchen wastes can be successfully processed through vermicomposting after
mixing with other waste stuffs and cattle dung slurry. These experiments were conducted in
the laboratory and have complex and cumbersome steps involving chopping, sun, air drying,
powdering, mixing with large amounts of cattle dung were involved. Recently it has been
demonstrated kitchen waste can be vermicomposted in combination with sand-soil mixture
and shredded paper using a simpler method in bamboo baskets. Simple methods of
vermicomposting of particular waste category should have high degree of adaptability.
Therefore, the present study on vermicomposting of vegetable waste in plastic containers.

Material and Method

In the existing examine efforts were made to recycle vegetable marketplace waste through
lifestyle of earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae in plastic bins (20 kg capacity), with four holes
within side the backside for elimination of extra of liquids. In order to discover an appropriate
medium for vermiculture, experiments with exceptional ratios of 3 waste stuffs have been
conducted. The waste combos have been maintained with inside the bins for 10 days without
addition of water. The liquid lechate from vegetable waste may want to effortlessly be
absorbed with the aid of using sand-soil and shredded paper. The contents of the box have
been became up-side down in order that the complete mixture were given uniformly
moistened and then 500 ml of dung slurry (50%) turned into sprinkled on surface to boost up
cardio microorganism mediated degradation process. The pre-decomposition duration turned
into continued for subsequent 10 Days bacteria increased. Now 30 earthworms were released
in each container and the containers covered with garden mesh, were maintained for three
months. In order to maintain optimum moisture, 50% dung slurry was sprinkled as and when
required and the medium was gently turned up-side down for proper aeration. Then
observations at the quantity and weight of adult, baby worms, juveniles and cocoons, worm
populace boom and biomass manufacturing have been recorded. All consequences mentioned
are the way of 3 replicate. The consequences have been statistically analysed at 0.05 degrees
the use of one manner analysis of variance (ANOVA). The chemical parameters of
vermicomposting have been analysed Organic carbon, nitrogen (N), phosphorus changed into
analysed and Potassium changed into decided via way of means of ammonium acetate
extractable method, pH .The earthworm populace and cocoons have been estimated via way
of means of hand sorting and counted on the final touch of ninety days through washing over
a sieve.

Results

It was observed in separate preliminary experiment that earthworms do not survive in

decaying fresh/pre-decomposed vegetable waste, pre-decomposed paper waste (PW) as well
as in soil-sand mixture. Their performance was not satisfactory in pre-decomposed mixtures
of vegetable waste and shredded paper waster. On the other hand, earthworms survived well
in a mixture of these three waste stuffs.Thus it was decided to use variable amount of rotting
vegetable waste for mixing with 2kg of sieved soil-sand mixture and 1 kg of shredded paper
in order to balance its moisture and nutrient content and C/N ratio. It was observed that the
number of adult worms, total bio-number (Adults + baby worms+ juveniles + cocoons) and
respective biomass increased with increasing amount of organic waste from 1 to 5 parts of the
waste mixture. Thus the best results were obtained in a ratio of organic waste, paper waste
and soil-sand mixture (5:1:2), in which there was 664.43 % increase in worm population and
395.40 % increase in biomass which is better in comparison of their standard medium dung in
which 635.56 % increase in worm population and 367.82 % increase in biomass. With further
increase of organic waste, rather lesser number of worms, babies and cocoons and lesser
amount of biomass were observed (Table 1,2 and Fig. 1), indicating that excess of organic
waste creates unsuitable conditions of pH, aeration, C/N ratio for the life of earthworms.
However the excess of other wastes, paper and soil-sand is also not suitable for the worms
and an optimum ratio of waste materials is required for satisfactory vermicomposting
performance. It was noticed that foul smell begins to emerge from the decaying waste
biomass from 3 rd day and the biomass gets heated. In organic waste alone, the foul smell
was very strong, long-lasting and unbearable, while in mixtures of three wastes, the smell
was mild and disappeared within 10 days. The temperature of the mixture also cooled down a
faster rate. The pH of the organic waste is vary from acidic to basic (2.5 up to 9.5) during
predecomposition and basic to neutral (9.5 up to 7.0) during vermicomposting.

The observations further revealed that number and weight of earthworms (including adult,
baby worms and juveniles) increased in all waste combinations containing low or high
vegetable waste. Higher values of both parameters (number and weight of worms) in the form
of percent change in number and weight of worms were reported, viz. 42.23 % and 40.41 %
(in 1:1:2), 72.2 % and 63.04 % (in 2:1:2), 137.8 % and 92.83 % (in 3:1:2), 280 % and 235.20
% (in 4:1:2), 401.1 % and 393.06 % ( in 5:1:2), 160 % and 85.19 % (in 6:1:2), 53.33 % and
40.46 % (in 7:1:2) & 380 % and 365.61 % in dung only (Fig. 1). Number and weight of
cocoons increased in all waste combinations containing low or high vegetable waste (table 1
and 2). The results of population growth and biomass production of earthworms showed
variations in different culture media was 100 % and 40.89 % (1:1:2), 157.76 % and 63.84 %
(2:1:2), 245.56 % and 93.68 % (in 3:1:2), 485.56 % and 236.60 % (in 4:1:2), 664.43 % and
395.39 % ( in 5:1:2), 262.23 % and 85.87 % (in 6:1:2), 118.9 % and 40.93 % (in 7:1:2) &
635.56 % and 367.82 % in dung only as shown in fig.1.Thus it seems that vegetable waste,
paper waste and soil-sand mixture is a suitable medium for vermicomposting.

After pre decomposition period of 20 days, pH value of all these raw organic waste was
observed as high during the vermicomposting process, pH value of phases was increasing due
to mixing of inoculants and this was slightly decreasing as shown in graph. It shows that the
alkalinity of the bio-compost is slowly reducing in the process (Fig.2). The increased trend of
NPK in the vermicompost depends upon the quality of raw organic waste used (shown in fig.
3, 4 and 5 respectively). It has been proved that vermicomposting is highly nutritive ‘organic
fertilizer’ and more powerful ‘growth promoter’ over the conventional composts and a
‘protective farm input’ against the ‘destructive’ chemical fertilizers which have destroyed the
soil properties and decreased its natural fertility over the years. Vermicomposting is rich in
NPK (nitrogen 2-3%, phosphorus 1.55-2.25%, and potassium 1.85-2.25%), micronutrients,
beneficial soil microbes and it also contains plant growth hormones and enzymes.
Vermicomposting retains nutrients for longer time, while the conventional compost fails to
deliver the required amount of macro and micronutrients including the vital NPK to the
plants. Vermicomposting contains plant hormones like auxin and gibberlins and enzymes
which are believed to stimulate plant growth and discourage plant pathogens. It improves the
fertility and water holding capacity of the soil. It also enriches the soil with useful
microorganisms which add different enzymes like phosphatases and cellulases to the soil

Conclusion

It may be concluded from the study that vegetable market waste or domestic organic waste
can be recycled at consumer (home) level by amending with sand-soil and waste paper
shredding in container or tank units. The method is simple, efficient, inexpensive and user
friendly. The vermicomposting of vegetable waste acts as an excellent base for the
establishment and multiplication of beneficial / symbiotic microbes. It being a natural means
of soil fertility management fits well into integrated plant nutrient management strategy for
sustainable agriculture. The large scale practice of vermicomposting may have far reaching
effect in environmental conservation, sustainable development and improving community
health. Moreover, this waste management technology mediated by earthworms could also be
utilized for self-employment, resource generation in rural areas and a big income generation
resource especially in urban cities.

A) CASE STUDY

VERMICOMPOSTING A SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY FROM NALGONDA,

ANDHRA PRADESH

The vermicomposting in urban areas and municipalities additionally plays a significant

role. Within the villages farmers are maintaining vermicomposting beds, out of those only
60% of the beds are maintained well and are producing sensible results. The remaining
40%are simply for record purpose solely. Government fascination so many NGOs,
organizations and people are interested on vermicomposting within the part of solid waste
management. Vermi composting is one in all the eco-friendly method. Several
organizations are showing interest towards vermicomposting. The case study is taken a
number of the Mandals in Andhra Pradesh that are implementing vermicomposting
method, are Bhuvangiri, Choutuppal, Yadagiri gutta, Gundala, Aathmakur, Valigonda,
Gurrampodu, and Ramannapet that is recently declared as villages underneath Hyderabad
Urban development authority of Andhra Pradesh. .Every mandal has minimum of 2-3
villages having vermicomposting method.

Vermicomposting: The period of composting is around 50-60 days and the final compost
obtained are going to be approx. 300kg per bed, per this Rs.18, 000 loan pay back amount
is 1.5 years one bed per one person. By vermicomposting the agricultural waste
furthermore as the waste generated from agricultural animal is dead reused and managed.
Some of the raw materials for vermicomposting embrace grass, waste feed grass, jatropa,
tree leafs and paddy suspension etc. One of the most ingredients during this is that the
“Glarysiri Leaf” that is mixed within the method .It plays an important role in increasing
NPK proportion naturally. It is advantage during this method relatively municipal solid
vermicomposting. This can be echo friendly and is a small-scale trade.

Methodology

Bed Manufacturing: The bed preparation is done in two ways

1) Closed bed system

Raw material - cement, sand, brick, water and granules, Granite slab, cement, water and
granules Height = 3-6 feet, Length = 3 meters, Width =1 meter

2) Open bed system

Height = 3-6 feet, Length = 3 meters, Width = 1 meter. In this process 2-4 feet of depth is
left and is filled with sand and granule

PROCEDURE

• Waste must be free from glass pieces and plastics

• The bed is filled with grass, waste feed grass, Jatropa, Neem leaves and Glarysiri leave

• The top of the bed should be covered with paddy slurry.

• It is kept wet up to 30-40 days but water should not be stored in the beds.

• The bed should be maintained in cold conditions

• Then the earthworms 1kg are introduced by making 2 to 3 holes in every bed (25 kg
initial)

• It is recommended to shake the bed to decrease the heat generated inside the bed.

• To maintain optimal wetness, water is sprayed in alternate days. It becomes dried 30-45
days.

• The top layer is taken out and screened after 45 days onwards.

• The compost will be ready within 55-60 days (around 1feet).

• After the screening procedure fine powder like compost is obtained which contain
earthworms in larvae stage i.e.300 kg/bed

• These earthworms are introduced on to the other bed. This is batch wise continuous.

CONCLUSION

Vermicomposting involves harnessing the services of epigamic fish worm species which
consume the surface litter for the conversion of organic wastes into vermicomposting,
glorious organic manure. Earthworms consume every kind of organic waste beneath
contribute conditions; these include room waste, animal waste, agricultural residues and
even paper. Vermicomposting that harnesses these surface dwellers may be a quicker
method of organic decomposition than pure vermiculture technique mistreatment deep
burrowing earthworms. However vermicomposting may be a wasteful alternative for
organic process because the surface .In this method no technical persons required, it's one
in every of the most effective thanks to solid waste management likewise as eco re-
functioning to the character. In place vermifilter containing a layer of vermicastings has
been advocated for groundwater recharge, however whether or not the effluent discharged
to the bottom is in a position to satisfy the disposal standards and its different
implications ought to be investigated.