Livestock excreta management through vermicomposting using an epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida |
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Authors: | V K Garg Y K Yadav Aleenjeet Sheoran Subhash Chand Priya Kaushik |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, 125001, India;(2) Department of Agricultural Processing and Energy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, 125001, India |
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Abstract: | In India, millions of tones of livestock excreta are produced. Our study explores the potential of an epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida to compost different livestock excreta (cow, buffalo, horse, donkey, sheep, goat and camel) into value added product (vermicompost)
at the laboratory scale. Vermicomposting resulted in lowering of pH, electrical conductivity, potassium and C:N ratio and
increase in nitrogen and phosphorus contents. Total K was lower in the final cast than in the initial feed. C:N ratios of
the vermicomposts ranged from 16.2 ± 2.17 to 75.4 ± 6.84. Microbial activity measured as dehydrogenase activity in buffalo,
donkey and camel wastes increased with time up to day 90. But in sheep and goat wastes, maximum dehydrogenase activity was
recorded on day 60 and decreased thereafter. The cocoons and hatchlings production by Eisenia foetida in different excreta were also investigated. The greatest number and biomass of hatchlings was recorded in horse excreta
followed by cow, goat and sheep excreta. Thus, cow, horse, sheep and goat excreta show potential as good substrates in vermicomposting
using Eisenia foetida, although further research is required to explore the feasibility of use of buffalo, donkey and camel excreta in combination
with cow/sheep/goat excreta. |
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Keywords: | Eisenia foetida Livestock excreta Vermicomposting Cocoon C:N ratio |
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