Role of Eisenia fetida in rapid recycling of nutrients from bio sludge of beverage industry.

Beverage industry bio sludge proved to be toxic when given alone to earthworms even after stabilization for 15 days, therefore, it was mixed in various proportions with cattle dung. Best suitable mixture for highest survival, maximum growth and highest population buildup of Eisenia fetida was determined by observing mortality, growth rate, rate of cocoon production, population buildup and time taken for decomposition of waste. Minimum mortality and maximum population buildup were observed in 50:50 mixture of bio sludge and cattle dung. Nitrogen, phosphorous, sodium and pH increased in all the feed mixtures, while electrical conductivity, organic carbon and potassium declined in all the samples in comparison to traditional compost (without worms). Degradation of 50:50 mixture could be achieved in 75 days when worms were inoculated at 25 g/kg feed mixture. But the best-quality product was obtained after 105-110 days with 7.5 g worms/kg feed mixture.

[1]  M. K. John.  COLORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF PHOSPHORUS IN SOIL AND PLANT MATERIALS WITH ASCORBIC ACID , 1970 .

[2]  A. Mitra,et al.  Effect of vermicomposting process on metal content of paper mill solid waste. , 2005, Journal of environmental science & engineering.

[3]  Clive A. Edwards,et al.  Biology and Ecology of Earthworms , 1995 .

[4]  F. Laos,et al.  Improving the quality of municipal organic waste compost. , 2007, Bioresource technology.

[5]  Y. K. Yadav,et al.  Livestock excreta management through vermicomposting using an epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida , 2006 .

[6]  N. Dise,et al.  CH4 and N2O from mechanically turned windrow and vermicomposting systems following in-vessel pre-treatment. , 2005, Waste management.

[7]  C. Edwards,et al.  Growth and reproduction of Perionyx excavatus (Perr.) (Megascolecidae) as factors in organic waste management , 1998, Biology and Fertility of Soils.

[8]  G Tripathi,et al.  Comparative studies on biomass production, life cycles and composting efficiency of Eisenia fetida (Savigny) and Lampito mauritii (Kinberg). , 2004, Bioresource technology.

[9]  M. Afzal,et al.  Accumulation of trace metals in aquatic insect Stenopsyche marmorata Navas transferred in streams. , 2003, Ecotoxicology and environmental safety.

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

[11]  Surendra Suthar,et al.  Potential utilization of guar gum industrial waste in vermicompost production. , 2006, Bioresource technology.

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

[13]  M. Alexander.  Introduction to Soil Microbiology , 1978 .

[14]  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.

[15]  V. Garg,et al.  Dynamics of biological and chemical parameters during vermicomposting of solid textile mill sludge mixed with cow dung and agricultural residues. , 2004, Bioresource technology.

[16]  D. W. Nelson,et al.  Total Carbon, Organic Carbon, and Organic Matter , 1983, SSSA Book Series.

[17]  C. Edwards,et al.  Earthworms in Waste and Environmental Management , 1990 .

[18]  L. V. van Rensburg,et al.  Vermicomposting of industrially produced woodchips and sewage sludge utilizing Eisenia fetida. , 2003, Ecotoxicology and environmental safety.

[19]  T. L. Lyon,et al.  The Nature and Properties of Soils , 1930 .

[20]  B. Singh,et al.  Effect of textile effluents on growth performance of wheat cultivars. , 2005, Bioresource technology.

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

[22]  Robert Rynk,et al.  On-Farm Composting Handbook , 1992 .

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

[24]  Surendra Suthar,et al.  Bioremediation of aerobically treated distillery sludge mixed with cow dung by using an epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida , 2008 .

[25]  V. Garg,et al.  Vermistabilization of textile mill sludge spiked with poultry droppings by an epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida. , 2005, Bioresource technology.