Vermicompost and compost of leaf litter of Eucalyptus was studied in plastic bins in duplicate sets with two different proportions (100 % and 50 %). For vermicompost experiments, epigeic earthworm species Eisenia foetida and Eudrilus eugeniae were employed at 10-10 numbers each per vermicompost bins. Cattle dung was taken as control. During the entire process physical factors viz. temperature, pH, moisture content and biomass were measured and compaired. The results were reveal that initial temperature was 35°C ± 2°C in both vermicompost and compost leaf litter and after several weeks, it was set at minimum level. In 50 % leaf litter temperature was 2-3°C higher than 100 % leaf litter. pH of both vermicompost and compost mixtures were acidic in beginning phase while set at alkaline at final stage. Vermicompost had lower pH than compost. Moisture content of leaf litter also decreased in initial phase due to generation of metabolic heat but at later phase it was increased due to decreasing of metabolic heat. More changed was seen in 100 % leaf litter followed by 50 % and then cattle dung. Biomass of leaf litter was more decreased in 100 % waste then 50 % and cattle dung.
The goal of present study was to find out optimum growth temperature of isolated floral waste degrading fungi viz. Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Alternaria alternate and Aspergillus terreus. Eleven different temperature range ( 20°C, 22°C, 24°C, 26°C, 28°C, 30°C, 32°C, 34°C,36°C,38°C,40°C) were selected to find the optimum growth of these fungi on floral extract-basal medium for flask experiments. The optimum growth temperature of all four fungal strains was found at 32°C±1°C. Beside Alternaria alternate, remaining other three selected fungal strains showed growth at all selected temperatures. At optimum growth temperature (32°C±1°C), the highest growth occurred in Aspergillus fumigates and Aspergillus terreus (155 mg/50 ml/7 days) while lowest growth was observed in Aspergillus flavus and Alternaria alternata (140 mg/50 ml/7 days). At minimum selected growth temperature (20°C), maximum growth was found in Aspergillus flavus (45 mg/50 ml/7 days) and lowest growth occurred in Alternaria alternata (35 mg/50 ml/7 days) while at maximum selected growth temperature (40°C) highest growth seen in Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus (30 mg/50 ml/7 days) and no growth recorded in Alternaria alternata (00 mg/50 ml/7 days).
The decay of leaf litter by microflora and fauna furnish nutrient supply to the soil and also uphold ecological sustainability. Applying of proper technique and exploring of result provides information for the betterment of agricultural system. Vermicomposting of Sandalwood (Santalum album) leaf litters were studied with an emphasis of physio-chemical deviation during the process and also compared with 100 % cattle dung. Obtained result explore that temperate of 50 % leaf litter (LL) and 100 % cattle dung (CD) was slightly elevated (37ºC ±1 ºC and 35ºC ±1 ºC respectively) at beginning phase and later came down to ambient level (20ºC±1 ºC). The total organic carbon (TOC) exhausted 44 % in 50 % LL Vermicomposting mixture while 70 % in 100 % CD during the process. At the final stage, TOC found more in 50% LL as compared to 100% CD. Nitrogen content was found 1.02±0.1 in 50 % LL and 0.88±0.1 in 100 % CD at the initial phase but after completion of Vermicomposting, their level was increased up to 40 to 44 %. pH was also measured during vermicomposting and found 7.2±0.1 in 50% LL while 8.4±0.1 in 100% CD at the initial phase. The at the end of process pH raised and set up to 8.2 ±0.1 in 50% LL while in 100% CD it was found 8.0 ±0.1.
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