Effect of Feeding Materials on Yield, Quality of Vermicompost, Multiplication and Reproduction of Eisenia Foetida

Authors

  • Anon Chaulagain Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu University
  • Biboss Maharjan Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu University
  • Rajiv Pathak Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu University
  • Shristi Piya Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu University
  • Sharmila Chimoriya Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu University
  • Inisa Shrestha Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu University
  • Dhurva P. Gauchan Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu University
  • Janardan Lamichhane Department of Biotechnology, Kathmandu University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/kuset.v13i2.21280

Keywords:

Vermicompost, Cocoon, Mineralization, Gut, Microbial

Abstract

The most promising earthworm species used for vermicomposting is Eisenia foetida for their tolerance in wide range of moisture levels and temperatures. The earthworms (E. foetida) were grown in cow dung wastes and cow dung wastes supplemented with plant materials of banana pseudo-stem, leaf litter and sawdust respectively. The earthworm population, cocoon number, vermicompost amount, macronutrient contents (N, P, and K), microbial population, pH and electrical conductivity were examined to assess the effect of animal waste (cow dung) and plant material mix on multiplication, reproduction, yield and vermicompost qualities of E. foetida. The multiplication and reproduction were achieved highest in the mixture of cow dung and sawdust vermicompost and lowest in the mixture of cow dung and banana pseudo-stem vermicompost. But the amount of vermicompost was found to be highest in cow dung as sole source of feeding material as compared to the cow dung mixed with plant materials. High quality vermicompost containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and greater microbial population was produced from the mixture of cow dung and banana pseudostem vermicompost as compared to other mixtures. All these vermicomposts showed acceptable level of pH and electrical conductivity values.

Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology

Vol. 13, No. 2, 2017, page: 15-25

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Published

2018-10-08

How to Cite

Chaulagain, A., Maharjan, B., Pathak, R., Piya, S., Chimoriya, S., Shrestha, I., Gauchan, D. P., & Lamichhane, J. (2018). Effect of Feeding Materials on Yield, Quality of Vermicompost, Multiplication and Reproduction of Eisenia Foetida. Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology, 13(2), 15–25. https://doi.org/10.3126/kuset.v13i2.21280

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Section

Original Research Articles