Changes in organic – C, N, P and K and enzyme activities in vermicompost of biodegradable organic wastes under liming and microbial inoculants

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2007-09, Vol.98 (13), p.2485-2494
• Main Authors: Pramanik, P., Ghosh, G.K., Ghosal, P.K., Banik, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid phosphatase; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Applied sciences; Bacillus - metabolism; Bacillus polymyxa; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of sewage sludges and wastes; Biotechnology; Calcium Compounds - chemistry; Carbon - analysis; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Free-living N-fixer; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Lignolytic fungi; Lime; Nitrogen - analysis; Organic C; Organic Chemicals; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; Oxides - chemistry; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases - metabolism; Phosphorus - analysis; Pollution; Potassium - analysis; Soil; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Urease; Vermicompost; Wastes
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2006.09.017

The aim of this work was to study the effect of different organic wastes, viz. cow dung, grass, aquatic weeds and municipal solid waste with lime and microbial inoculants on chemical and biochemical properties of vermicompost. Cow dung was the best substrate for vermicomposting. Application of lime (5 g/kg) and inoculation of microorganisms increased the nutrient content in vermicompost and also phosphatases and urease activities. Bacillus polymyxa, the free-living N-fixer, increased N-content of vermicompost significantly ( p ⩽ 0.01) as compared to other inoculants.