Vermicomposting of mixed solid textile mill sludge and cow dung with the epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida.

This paper reports the results of a study of vermicomposting with Eisenia foetida of solid textile mill sludge mixed with cow dung in different ratios in a 90 days composting experiment. Vermicomposting resulted in significant reduction in C:N ratio and increase in TKN. Total K and Ca were lower in the final cast than the initial feed mixture. Microbial activity measured as dehydrogenase activity increased up to 75 days and decreased on further incubation. Total P was higher in the final product than the initial feed mixture. Total heavy metal contents were lower in the final product than initial feed mixture. Solid textile mill sludge can be potentially useful as raw substrate in vermicomposting if mixed with up to 30% cow dung (on dry weight basis). The growth and cocoon production of the worm species in different feed mixtures were also investigated.

[1]  J. Satchell,et al.  Phosphatase activity in earthworm faeces , 1984 .

[2]  A. Saviozzi,et al.  Organic matter and nutrients in fresh and mature farmyard manure , 1986 .

[3]  Luis Sampedro,et al.  Vermicomposting of sludges from paper mill and dairy industries with Eisenia andrei: A pilot-scale study , 1998 .

[4]  N. Senesi,et al.  Composted materials as organic fertilizers , 1989 .

[5]  B. Ceccanti,et al.  Enzyme activities as indicators of the stabilization of sewage sludges composting with Eisenia foetida , 1999 .

[6]  Salustiano Mato,et al.  Vermicomposting for the paper pulp industry , 1995 .

[7]  E V Ramasamy,et al.  Assessment of sustainable vermiconversion of water hyacinth at different reactor efficiencies employing Eudrilus eugeniae kinberg. , 2001, Bioresource technology.

[8]  D. A. Klein,et al.  SOIL DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY , 1964 .

[9]  T. Hernández,et al.  Potential use of dehydrogenase activity as an index of microbial activity in degraded soils , 1997 .

[10]  J. Syers,et al.  Plant availability of phosphorus in dead herbage ingested by surface-casting earthworms , 1981 .

[11]  A. Lowengart,et al.  Fertilizers and Environment , 1996, Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences.

[12]  J. Domínguez,et al.  Changes in biochemical properties of cow manure during processing by earthworms (Eisenia andrei, Bouché) and the effects on seedling growth , 2000 .

[13]  E. V. Ramasamy,et al.  Solid Waste Management with Earthworms , 2005 .

[14]  M. Kumakura,et al.  Radiation and chemical pretreatment of chaff and its effect on enzymatic hydrolysis , 1983 .

[15]  A. Mitchell.  Production of Eisenia fetida and vermicompost from feed-lot cattle manure. , 1997 .

[16]  C. Edwards,et al.  Biology of Earthworms , 1973, Springer US.

[17]  W. A. Hayes,et al.  Vermicomposting of cow slurry , 1988 .

[18]  P. L. Chan,et al.  The vermicomposting of pre-treated pig manure , 1988 .

[19]  K. Butt.  Utilisation of solid paper-mill sludge and spent brewery yeast as a feed for soil-dwelling earthworms , 1993 .

[20]  U. Reeh.  Influence of population densities on growth and reproduction of the earthworm Eisenia andrei on pig manure , 1992 .

[21]  K. Kapoor,et al.  Vermicomposting of crop residues and cattle dung with Eisenia foetida , 2000 .

[22]  J. Domínguez,et al.  Vermicomposting of wastewater sludge from paper-pulp industry with nitrogen rich materials , 1997 .

[23]  J. Cegarra,et al.  Vermicomposting of coffee pulp using the earthworm Eisenia fetida: Effects on C and N contents and the availability of nutrients , 1996, Biology and Fertility of Soils.

[24]  A. Moore,et al.  Factors affecting dehydrogenase activity as an index of soil fertility , 1972, Plant and Soil.

[25]  P. Ndegwa,et al.  Integrating composting and vermicomposting in the treatment and bioconversion of biosolids. , 2001, Bioresource technology.

[26]  I. Walter,et al.  Aplicación de la lombriz roja de California en la transformación de lodos de depuradoras urbanas , 1995 .