Development of a novel epigeic-anecic-based polyculture vermireactor for efficient treatment of municipal sewage water sludge Online publication date: Sun, 03-Feb-2008
by Surindra Suthar
International Journal of Environment and Waste Management (IJEWM), Vol. 2, No. 1/2, 2008
Abstract: The potential of vermireactors, based on polyculture and monoculture system, was evaluated by using substrate consisted of domestic sewage sludge mixed with sugarcane trash, under laboratory conditions. Polyculture reactor was designed by using an epigeic (Eisenia fetida) and an anecic (Lampito mauritii) species of earthworm, while monoculture reactor had E. fetida only. Comparatively the end product i.e., vermicompost obtained from polyculture reactor showed the better concentration of nutrients and lower metal levels than monoculture reactor. Polyculture vermirector showed greater dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass N, possibly related to the better microclimatic conditions in it. Results indicate that the polyculture vermireactor, especially designed by using at least one burrowing earthworm (endogeic or anecic) not only accelerates the mineralisation process, but at the same time also enhances the microbial activities in reactor.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management (IJEWM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook