Comparison of Vermicompost and Vermiwash Bio-Fertilizers from Vermicomposting Waste Corn Pulp
Vermicomposting is the conversion of organic waste
into bio-fertilizers through the action of earthworm. This technology
is widely used for organic solid waste management. Waste corn pulp
blended with cow dung manure was vermicomposted over 30 days
using Eisenia fetida earthworms species. pH, temperature, moisture
content, and electrical conductivity were daily monitored. The
feedstock, vermicompost and vermiwash were analyzed for nutrient
composition. The average temperature and moisture content in the
vermi-reactor was 22.5°C and 42.5% respectively. The vermicompost
and vermiwash had an almost neutral pH whilst the electrical
conductivity was 21% higher in the vermicompost. The nitrogen and
potassium content was 57% and 79.6% richer in the vermicompost
respectively compared to the vermiwash. However, the vermiwash
was 84% richer in phosphorous as compared to vermicompost.
Furthermore, the vermiwash was 89.1% and 97.6% richer in Ca and
Mg respectively and was 97.8% richer in Na salts compared to the
vermicompost. The vermiwash also indicated a significantly higher
amount of micronutrients. Both bio-fertilizers were rich in nutrients
specification for fertilizers.
[1] M. M. Manyuchi, A. Phiri, N. Chirinda, P. Muredzi, J. Govha and T.
Sengudzwa, "Vermicomposting of Waste Corn Pulp Blended with Cow
Dung Manure using Eisenia Fetida", World Academy of Science,
Engineering and Technology, 68, pp. 1306-1309, 2012.
[2] S. Quaik, A. Embrandiri, P. F. Rupani, R. P. Singh, M. H. Ibrahim,
"Effect of Vermiwash and Vermicomposting Leachate in Hydroponics
Culture of Indian Borage (Plectranthusambionicus) Plantlets", UMT
11th International Annual Symposium on Sustainability Science and
Management, pp. 210-214, 2012.
[3] V. Palanichamy, B. Mitra, N. Reddy, M. Katiyar, R. B. Rajkumari, C.
Ramalingam and Aranganthan," Utilizing Food Waste by
Vermicomposting, Extracting Vermiwash, Castings and Increasing
Relative Growth of Plants", International Journal of Chemical and
Analytical Science, pp. 1241-1246, 2011.
[4] C. Sundaravadivelan, L. Isaiarasu, M. Manimuthu, P. Kumar, T.
Kuberan, and J. Anburaj, "Impact analysis and confirmative study of
physico-chemical, nutritional and biochemical parameters of vermiwash
produced from different leaf litters by using two earthworm species",
Journal of Agricultural Technology, vol 7 (5), pp. 1443-1457, 2011
[5] G. Nath and K. Singh," Effect of vermiwash of different
vermicomposts on the kharif crops", Journal of Central European
Agriculture, pp. 379-402, 2012.
[6] M. Gopal, A. Gupta, C. Palaniswami, R. Dhanapal and G.V. Thomas,
"Coconut leaf vermiwash: a bio-liquid from coconut leaf vermicompost
for improving the crop production capacities of soil", Current Science,
vol 98, no. 9, pp. 1202-1210, 2010.
[7] B. Z. Shakhashiri, "Agricultural fertilizers: nitrogen, potassium, and
phosphorus", www.scifun.org, Chemistry, 103, 1-2.
[8] G. Kidder, "Plant nutrients and Fertilizers for the non-farmer", Institute
of food and Agricultural Sciences-University of Florida, pp. 1-6, 1997.
[9] G. Nath., K. Singh and D. K. Singh, "Chemical Analysis of
Vermicomposts / Vermiwash of Different Combinations of Animal,
Agro and Kitchen Wastes", Australian Journal of Basic and Applied
Sciences, pp. 3671-3676, 2009.
[10] A. A. Ansari and K. Sukhraj, "Effect of vermiwash and vermicompost
on soil parameters and productivity of okra (abelmoschusesculentus) in
Guyana", Pakistan J. Agric. Res, vol 23, no.3-4, pp. 137-142, 2010.
[1] M. M. Manyuchi, A. Phiri, N. Chirinda, P. Muredzi, J. Govha and T.
Sengudzwa, "Vermicomposting of Waste Corn Pulp Blended with Cow
Dung Manure using Eisenia Fetida", World Academy of Science,
Engineering and Technology, 68, pp. 1306-1309, 2012.
[2] S. Quaik, A. Embrandiri, P. F. Rupani, R. P. Singh, M. H. Ibrahim,
"Effect of Vermiwash and Vermicomposting Leachate in Hydroponics
Culture of Indian Borage (Plectranthusambionicus) Plantlets", UMT
11th International Annual Symposium on Sustainability Science and
Management, pp. 210-214, 2012.
[3] V. Palanichamy, B. Mitra, N. Reddy, M. Katiyar, R. B. Rajkumari, C.
Ramalingam and Aranganthan," Utilizing Food Waste by
Vermicomposting, Extracting Vermiwash, Castings and Increasing
Relative Growth of Plants", International Journal of Chemical and
Analytical Science, pp. 1241-1246, 2011.
[4] C. Sundaravadivelan, L. Isaiarasu, M. Manimuthu, P. Kumar, T.
Kuberan, and J. Anburaj, "Impact analysis and confirmative study of
physico-chemical, nutritional and biochemical parameters of vermiwash
produced from different leaf litters by using two earthworm species",
Journal of Agricultural Technology, vol 7 (5), pp. 1443-1457, 2011
[5] G. Nath and K. Singh," Effect of vermiwash of different
vermicomposts on the kharif crops", Journal of Central European
Agriculture, pp. 379-402, 2012.
[6] M. Gopal, A. Gupta, C. Palaniswami, R. Dhanapal and G.V. Thomas,
"Coconut leaf vermiwash: a bio-liquid from coconut leaf vermicompost
for improving the crop production capacities of soil", Current Science,
vol 98, no. 9, pp. 1202-1210, 2010.
[7] B. Z. Shakhashiri, "Agricultural fertilizers: nitrogen, potassium, and
phosphorus", www.scifun.org, Chemistry, 103, 1-2.
[8] G. Kidder, "Plant nutrients and Fertilizers for the non-farmer", Institute
of food and Agricultural Sciences-University of Florida, pp. 1-6, 1997.
[9] G. Nath., K. Singh and D. K. Singh, "Chemical Analysis of
Vermicomposts / Vermiwash of Different Combinations of Animal,
Agro and Kitchen Wastes", Australian Journal of Basic and Applied
Sciences, pp. 3671-3676, 2009.
[10] A. A. Ansari and K. Sukhraj, "Effect of vermiwash and vermicompost
on soil parameters and productivity of okra (abelmoschusesculentus) in
Guyana", Pakistan J. Agric. Res, vol 23, no.3-4, pp. 137-142, 2010.
@article{"International Journal of Biological, Life and Agricultural Sciences:57001", author = "M. M. Manyuchi and A. Phiri and P. Muredzi and T. Chitambwe", title = "Comparison of Vermicompost and Vermiwash Bio-Fertilizers from Vermicomposting Waste Corn Pulp", abstract = "Vermicomposting is the conversion of organic waste
into bio-fertilizers through the action of earthworm. This technology
is widely used for organic solid waste management. Waste corn pulp
blended with cow dung manure was vermicomposted over 30 days
using Eisenia fetida earthworms species. pH, temperature, moisture
content, and electrical conductivity were daily monitored. The
feedstock, vermicompost and vermiwash were analyzed for nutrient
composition. The average temperature and moisture content in the
vermi-reactor was 22.5°C and 42.5% respectively. The vermicompost
and vermiwash had an almost neutral pH whilst the electrical
conductivity was 21% higher in the vermicompost. The nitrogen and
potassium content was 57% and 79.6% richer in the vermicompost
respectively compared to the vermiwash. However, the vermiwash
was 84% richer in phosphorous as compared to vermicompost.
Furthermore, the vermiwash was 89.1% and 97.6% richer in Ca and
Mg respectively and was 97.8% richer in Na salts compared to the
vermicompost. The vermiwash also indicated a significantly higher
amount of micronutrients. Both bio-fertilizers were rich in nutrients
specification for fertilizers.", keywords = "Vermicompost, vermiwash, nutrient composition.", volume = "7", number = "6", pages = "401-4", }