Philippine E-Journals

Yield and Quality of Vermicomposting Using African Night Crawler (Eudrilus Eugeniae Kinberg) With Different Nitrogen Sources and Substrate Combinations

Ryan T. Sarimong | Salvacion J Legaspi

 

Abstract:

The rapid increase in the volume of waste accompanying the exponential population growth is threatening the safety of our environment. Vermicomposting can be a viable and economic strategy for the efficient management of organic solid waste. This study evaluated the effect of nitrogen (N) sources and substrate combinations on the yield and quality of vermicompost using African nightcrawlers (Eudrilus eugeniae Kinberg). A factorial experiment consisting of different N sources namely Azolla, leguminous tree leaves and animal manure and five substrate combinations were tested in Completely Randomized Design with three replications. African nightcrawlers from the vermicomposting project of the university were used to decompose these substrates. Vermicompost yield in concerning the weight of vermicompost produced and the number and weight of worms collected after composting were gathered. Vermicompost quality regarding pH, total N, total P, total K and organic carbon content was determined through laboratory analysis. Leguminous tree leaves as N source produced more vermicompost while using animal manure as N source yielded more and bigger worms. Higher pH value, total K and organic carbon were attained using leguminous tree leaves as N source, while higher total P was obtained when animal manure was used as N source. Substrate combination affected the pH value of vermicompost. The interaction effect between N sources and substrate combinations affected the amount of vermicompost produced and its pH value.