Impact of earthworm species and growth habitats on the quality of vermicompost

Abstract

Environmental degradation is a major threat confronting the world, the vermicompost product one of the best organic manure to be used for enhancing soil, crop and environment. This study aimed to the evaluated effect of earthworm species on the availability of macronutrients in the vermicompost. In this direction, the possibilities of using different growth habitats with 4 different earthworm species in an experiment to produce an organic fertilizer (vermicompost) were studied. In conjunction with those from previous studies Ninety days vermicomposting experiment was conducted in polyethylene boxes contained a pre-composted (mixture of cow manure, market wastes, kitchen wastes, sawdust and bagasse). Each type of the followed vermicomposting habitats; 100% precomposted (PC), 75% PC+ 25% cardboard waste (CB) and 75% PC+25% soil (S) were inoculated with one species of earthworms; Allolobophora longa, Eudrilus eugeniae, Eiseia fetida and Perionyx excavatus. The present study concluded that, A. longa could not survive in PC habitat, while other earthworms produced a high quality vermicompost under the same condition. On the other hand, the PC+S habitat was the best for A. longa, which was suitable for growing of the species. The PC+CB and PC+S vermicompost's of E. fetida and PC+S of A. longa had a lowest pH, EC and C/N ratio. The total NPK content and their available forms were enhanced in the vermicompost's of PC+CB and PC+S for all tested worms as compared with PC and untreated with earthworms (control) respectively. In conclusion, he total NPK content and their available forms were enhanced in the vermicompost's of PC+CB and PC+C for all tested worms in compared with PC vermicompost and control treatment, but E. fetida was the best.