Qualitative Study of Organic Fertilizer of Agrowaste (Cumin Straw) Plus Cow dung Using Earthworm Species Eisenia fetida and Perionyx sansibaricus

K. R. Panwar^1, and G. Tripathi²

¹Department of Zoology, Govt. PG College Osian, Jodhpur-342 001, India

²Department of Zoology, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur-342 001, India

Cite this paper:
K. R. Panwar and G. Tripathi. Qualitative Study of Organic Fertilizer of Agrowaste (Cumin Straw) Plus Cow dung Using Earthworm Species Eisenia fetida and Perionyx sansibaricus. Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences. 2021; 9(2):167-171. doi: 10.12691/aees-9-2-7

Abstract

The present study is incorporated with agrowaste management and biofertilizer production in tropical India. For this, an exotic earthworm species Eisenia fetida and a local species Perionyx sansibaricus were used to decompose cumin straw and cow dung and evaluated vermicomposting efficacy. Physicochemical parameters of the vermibed such as pH, electrical conductivity, water holding capacity, organic carbon, C/N ratio, total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were evaluated in the vermicompost. The values of all the above physicochemical parameters of E. fetida worked bedding material varied significantly (P<0.001) with respect to initial day values. Likewise, these parameters in the bedding substrate fed by Perionyx sansibaricus also varied significantly (P<0.001) as compared to 0 day values. The organic waste conversion efficiency of E. fetida was better than P. sansibaricus for cumin plus cow dung bedding. Though E. fetida is better agrowaste converter but both the earthworm species may be used for organic waste management in desert region. It may provide the support in the form of biofertilizer to enhance the organic farming in region of the Thar Desert.

Keywords:
Eisenia fetida Perionyx sansibaricus vermicomposting physicochemical properties Cumin straw organic farming

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