Optimizing Household Waste and Cow Dung Proportions for Quality Vermicompost Production
Alpana Kusum *
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, IGKV, Raipur, (C.G.), India.
Nitu Kumari
Department of Agricultural Economics, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar, India.
Biplab Choudhari
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, IGKV, Raipur, (C.G.), India.
Deepika Sahu
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, IGKV, Raipur, (C.G.), India.
Nainsi Naya
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, IGKV, Raipur, (C.G.), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To standardize the ratio of household waste and cow dung for quality vermicompost based on physical properties.
Study Design: Completely Randomized Design (Factorial).
Place and Duration of Study: Vermicompost Production Unit, RPCAU, Pusa during April 2018 to June 2018.
Methodology: Household waste was combined with cow dung in three different proportions (35:65, 50:50 and 65:35 ratio of household waste and cow dung, respectively) along with rock phosphate and suitable species of earthworms @ 2 kg per ton of material at suitable temperature and moisture (370C and 65% w/w respectively) under shade. Various physical parameters were analyzed at 30, 60 and 90 days after setting the windrows.
Results: Vermicompost prepared from household waste and cow dung in (50:50) ratio recorded lowest moisture content 16.0% and highest water holding capacity (20.7%) at the end of vermicomposting process (90 days) and 94% of material passed through 4.0 mm IS sieve.
Conclusion: Vermicompost prepared from household waste and cow dung in equal proportion (50:50) emerged out as better quality vermicompost based on the observed physical characteristics.
Keywords: Eisenia fetida, household waste, cow dung, PSB and rock phosphate