A comparative study between composting and vermicomposting for recycling food wastes Online publication date: Sat, 20-Sep-2014
by Sheetal Singh; Meena Khwairakpam; C.N. Tripathi
International Journal of Environment and Waste Management (IJEWM), Vol. 12, No. 3, 2013
Abstract: The main objective of the present work was to evaluate the potential of the epigeic earthworms Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugenaie regarding the decomposition of food wastes. The effectiveness of composting and vermicomposting for the treatment of food wastes was judged by analysing a wide range of physic-chemical parameters. The results from the compost process monitoring showed porosity rise up to 22% while it was 30% in case of vermicompost. Increase of 34% and 35% in ash content was found in compost and vermicompost respectively. The specific gravity increases two times from its initial value in compost while it reaches 1.5 times in vermicompost, similarly the bulk density was increased 2.5 times at the end of the composting process while vermicomposting showed two times hike in the value. The CO2 evolution was also lower in case of vermicomposting process. All these results indicate that the materials have degraded well during vermicomposting.
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