Vermicompost Preparation from Plant Debris, by Using Eisenia foetida (Red Earthworm) in PSIT campus, Kanpur (U.P.), India

Surender Kaur, Jitendra Kumar

Abstract: Vermicomposting is a method of preparing enriched compost with the use of earthworms. It is one of the easiest methods to recycle agricultural wastes and to produce quality compost. Earthworms consume biomass and excrete it in digested form called worm casts. Worm casts are popularly called as Black gold. The casts are rich in nutrients, growth promoting substances, beneficial soil micro flora and having properties of inhibiting pathogenic microbes. Red earthworm was used because of its high multiplication rate and thereby converts the organic matter into vermicompost within 45-50 days. During the experiments of composting process the material was analysed for different physico-chemical attributes such as total Nitrogen, available Phosphorus, exchangeable Potassium and pH, by using conventional methods. . From the present study, it can be concluded that Earthworms are potentially important creatures that are capable of transforming garbage into gold. It promotes environmental sustainability by converting a waste to a value-added product that improves our environment.

Keywords: Eisenia foetida, plant nutrient, physic-chemical properties, vermicompost