Vermistabilization of pressmud using Perionyx ceylanensis Mich

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 101; no. 21; pp. 8464 - 8468
• Main Authors: Prakash, Mani, Karmegam, Natchimuthu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2010; [New York, NY]: Elsevier Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: analysis; Animals; Applied sciences; bacteria; Bacteria - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of sewage sludges and wastes; Biotechnology; C/N ratio; carbon; Carbon - analysis; Cattle; cattle manure; composts; Digestive System; Digestive System - microbiology; Earthworm; earthworms; electrical conductivity; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; fungi; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; metabolism; Microbial population; microbiology; midgut; nitrogen; Nitrogen - analysis; Oligochaeta; Oligochaeta - metabolism; Oligochaeta - microbiology; Perionyx; phosphorus; Pollution; population growth; potassium; Soil; Soil - analysis; Sugar industry waste; sugars; Use and upgrading of agricultural and food by-products. Biotechnology; Vermicomposting; Waste Products; Waste Products - analysis; Wastes; Earthworm; C/N ratio; Vermicomposting; Microbial population; Sugar industry waste; Megascolecidae; Fauna; Sugar industry; Annelida; Oligochaeta; Carbon nitrogen ratio; Macrofauna; Sugar refinery by product; Population; Wastes; Microorganism; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.06.002

Sugar industry-derived pressmud was mixed with an equal amount of cow dung (1:1), and vermicomposted with Perionyx ceylanensis Mich. The resultant vermicompost had a pH of 7.33, electrical conductivity of 2.32 dS/m, a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content of 1.63%, 2.38%, and 3.13%, respectively, an organic carbon content of 29% and a C/N ratio of 17.89. The increase of NPK in vermicompost over worm-free compost was 36.94%, 28.56%, and 20.82%, respectively. The populations of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi increased in the compost in the presence of the earthworms. In the worm guts, the microbial populations were highest in the midgut. Correlation of microbial population increase with duration of vermicomposting was statistically significant at P > 0.05 ( r = 0.973, 0.99, and 0.993, respectively for bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes). The changes in total bacterial, fungal, and actinomycetes populations positively correlated with duration of vermicomposting. The study indicates that pressmud can be effectively converted into nutrient- and microorganism-rich vermicompost with P. ceylanensis when mixed with cow dung in 1:1 ratio.