Title: Biodegradation of water hyacinth, sugarcane bagasse and rice husk through vermicomposting

Authors: Vivek K. Saini, R.C. Sihag, R.C. Sharma, S.K. Gahlawat, R.K. Gupta

Addresses: Department of Zoology, K.M. Government College, Narwana – 126116, India. ' Department of Zoology and Aquaculture, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar – 125004, India. ' Department of Zoology, Meerut College, Meerut – 250002, India. ' Department of Zoology and Aquaculture, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar – 125004, India. ' Department of Zoology and Aquaculture, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar – 125004, India

Abstract: Water hyacinth, sugarcane bagasse and rice husk are major bio-organic wastes causing severe environmental problems. For their biodegradation, Eisenia fetida was used as a vermicomposting worm in outdoor open field conditions. The above wastes were mixed separately with fresh cow dung in the ratio 1 : 5 (by weight). The mixtures were vermicomposted for 90 days in pits of size 2 × 0.5 × 0.6 m (l × b × d). The population and biomass of earthworms, and C:N ratios in the resultant vermicomposts were studied at the end of experiment.

Keywords: bio-remediation; vermicomposting; earthworms; Eisenia fetida; worm population; biomass; environment; water hyacinth; sugarcane bagasse; rice husk; biodegradation; solid waste management; bio-organic wastes.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2008.021863

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2008 Vol.2 No.6, pp.601 - 609

Published online: 06 Dec 2008 *

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