The Journal of Research ANGRAU
Contents of 41(1) 2013 - acharya ng ranga agricultural university
Contents of 41(1) 2013 - acharya ng ranga agricultural university
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J.Res. <strong>ANGRAU</strong> 41(1) 14-19, 2013<br />
CHANGES IN MATURITY INDICES DURING VERMICOMPSOTING VS<br />
CONVENTIONAL COMPOSTING OF AGRICULTURAL WASTES<br />
CH. S. RAMA LAKSHMI, P.C. RAO, G.PADMAJA, T.SREELATHA,<br />
M.MADHAVI, P.V.RAO and A. SIREESHA<br />
Regional Agricultural <strong>Research</strong> Station, ANGR Agricultural University, Anakapalle - 531001<br />
Date <strong>of</strong> Receipt : 30.07.2011 Date <strong>of</strong> Acceptance : 12.12.2012<br />
ABSTRACT<br />
<strong>The</strong> present investigation was carried out at Regional Agricultural <strong>Research</strong> Station, Anakapalle during<br />
2009 to monitor the changes in maturity indices i.e total organic carbon, total nitrogen, C/N ratio, humic substances<br />
and humification index during conventional method <strong>of</strong> composting and vermicomposting <strong>of</strong> different organic residues<br />
i.e sugarcane trash, weeds, vegetable market waste and paddy straw. <strong>The</strong> results revealed that the total organic<br />
carbon decreased with the passage <strong>of</strong> time during vermicomposting and conventional composting in all the organic<br />
residues. However the percent decrease was more in vermicomposting than conventional composting in a particular<br />
period <strong>of</strong> time. <strong>The</strong> total nitrogen content <strong>of</strong> different vermicomposts and conventional composts increased during<br />
composting process, high increase was observed in vermicomposting than conventional composting. Total Nitrogen<br />
content in both the composts was higher in vegetable market waste and lower in paddy straw. C/N ratio decreased<br />
with the passage <strong>of</strong> time during vermicomposting and conventional composting in all the organic residues, however<br />
paddy straw recorded the highest C/N ratio while vegetable market waste exhibited lowest C/N ratio. <strong>The</strong> humic and<br />
fulvic production increased with incubation in both the composting methods and in all the treatments, yield <strong>of</strong> humic<br />
acid was maximum from the vegetable market waste vermicompost followed by weed vermicompost. Minimum per<br />
cent <strong>of</strong> humic substances were recorded with cane trash and rice straw. A well known index for humification is the<br />
HA/FA ratio, in both the composts paddy straw compost recorded low ratio and high ratio was recorded in vegetable<br />
market waste compost. Thus, Vermicomposting <strong>of</strong>fers a promising solution for the recycling <strong>of</strong> organic wastes into<br />
valuable organic manure with in a short period <strong>of</strong> time over conventional composting.<br />
<strong>The</strong> recycling <strong>of</strong> crop residues and organic<br />
wastes through composting is the key technology<br />
for production <strong>of</strong> organic manures. Vermicomposting<br />
<strong>of</strong>fers a promising for the recycling <strong>of</strong> organic wastes.<br />
Present study is the comparative assessment <strong>of</strong><br />
vermicomposting and composting for their maturity<br />
indices <strong>The</strong> study was carried out at Regional<br />
Agricultural <strong>Research</strong> Station, Anakapalle,<br />
Visakhapatnam district during 2009.<br />
<strong>The</strong> basic raw materials used for composting<br />
and vermicomposting were<br />
1) Sugarcane trash, 2) Weeds (Cyperus rot<br />
undus,Cynodon dactylon,Cleome viscosa, Com<br />
malina bengalensis and Trianthema portul acastrum)<br />
3) Vegetable market waste and 4) Paddy straw. In<br />
case <strong>of</strong> Earthworm species Eisenia foetida was<br />
used for vermicomposting @ 1 kg per ton <strong>of</strong> organic<br />
residue and 1 % N as urea and 2 % SSP were used<br />
as chemical additives for conventional composting.<br />
Both methods <strong>of</strong> composting were carried out in<br />
cement pits with 6 x 2 x 0.6 m size. <strong>The</strong> compost<br />
samples at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days interval for<br />
vermicomposts and 15, 30, 45, 60 and 110 days<br />
interval for composting composts were collected from<br />
each treatment for laboratory analysis.<br />
<strong>The</strong> organic residues used for vermi<br />
composting and conventional composting were<br />
analysed for their maturity indices by using standard<br />
procedures as pH and was Electrical Conductivity<br />
(dSm -1 ) determined in 1 : 50 organic material (dried<br />
and powdered) and water suspension by using<br />
combined glass electrode pH meter and EC meter<br />
(Jackson, 1973). Organic carbon content was<br />
determined by using dry combustion method<br />
(Jackson, 1973). <strong>The</strong> total nitrogen content (%) in<br />
the dried compost sample was determined by<br />
microkjeldahl distillation method after destroying the<br />
organic matter using H 2<br />
SO 4<br />
and H 2<br />
O 2<br />
(Piper, 1966).<br />
C/N ratio was calculated from the above parameters.<br />
Extraction, fractionation and purification <strong>of</strong> compost<br />
samples. <strong>The</strong> humic substances were isolated,<br />
extracted and purified by following Tyurin’s method<br />
email: sitaramalakshmi20@yahoo.com<br />
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