Title: Effect of poultry waste on vermicomposting of anaerobically digested cattle dung slurry

Authors: Anoop Yadav; V.K. Garg

Addresses: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar 125001, Haryana, India ' Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar 125001, Haryana, India

Abstract: This study was conducted to explore the effect of poultry waste (PW) on the vermicomposting of anaerobically digested cattle dung slurry (CDS) using Eisenia fetida worm species. A total of three vermicomposting beds, having different percentage of PW and CDS were established (100% CDS; 75% CDS + 25% PW; 50% CDS + 50% PW). At the end of experiment vermicompost showed a higher concentration of important plant nutrients, viz., NPK. There was a significant decrease in pH, total organic carbon (TOC), carbon nitrogen ratio (C:N ratio) and carbon phosphorus ratio (C:P ratio), but increase in calcium, sodium, total Kjeldhal nitrogen (TKN), total potassium (TK) and total phosphorus (TP) was recorded after 90 days vermicomposting. The results also showed that if PW is added to anaerobically digested CDS during vermicomposting, the vermicompost so obtained is enriched in nitrogen and phosphorus.

Keywords: cattle dung slurry; poultry waste; Eisenia fetida; heavy metals; C:N ratio; vermicomposting; anaerobic digestion; total organic carbon; TOC; carbon nitrogen ratio; carbon phosphorus ratio; C:P ratio; calcium; sodium; total Kjeldhal nitrogen; potassium; phosphorus.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2014.061783

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2014 Vol.17 No.2/3/4, pp.154 - 164

Received: 04 Feb 2013
Accepted: 11 Jun 2013
Published online: 30 Jun 2014 *

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