Vermiconversion of biogas plant slurry and parthenium weed mixture to manure
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Date
2016
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Recycling of Organic Wastein Agriculture
Abstract
Purpose Parthenium hysterophorus is one among the most
troublesome weeds at the global level. It is mainly controlled
by chemical methods. The scientific community is
in search of new but non-destructive approaches for its
management. Vermicomposting is one among the promising
technologies for the management of organic fraction of
solid wastes. This study was undertaken to assess the
vermicomposting of parthenium weed mixed with biogas
plant slurry under laboratory conditions.
Method Six different combinations of biogas plant slurry
and parthenium were fed to worms in vermibins under
controlled laboratory conditions for 60 days. Various
physico-chemical parameters before and after vermicomposting
were evaluated. Worm biomass production was
also monitored periodically during the experimentation
period.
Results The EC, TCa and NPK content increased significantly
after vermicomposting, accompanied by substantial
reduction in organic carbon content. C: N ratio was
reduced to less than 20. Heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cr
and Pb) concentration was higher in vermicompost than in
initial waste mixtures. Parthenium weed addition to worm
feed was not supportive to the worm growth and fecundity.
It was inferred from the results that vermicomposting may
be an efficient biological approach to convert partheniumspiked
biogas plant slurry into nutrient-rich manure.
Description
Keywords
Biogas plant slurry; Eisenia fetida; Parthenium hysterophorus; Vermicompost; Weed; Worm growth