COMPOSTING OF AGRICULTURAL WASTE USING EPIGEIC EARTHWORMS IN ECO-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF INDORA, HIMACHAL PRADESH (INDIA)
RAJESH KUMAR *
Department of Bio-Sciences, Arni University, Kangra – 176401 (H.P.), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Earthworms are unique creatures of animal kingdom. Earthworms normally live in burrows or in the soil and eat soil mixed with dead and decaying organic matter. Earthworms play a significant eco-functional role by affecting physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. In the present study, vermicomposting unit was established in University campus. Epigeic worms (Eudrilus eugeniae), the most suitable earthworms for Vermicomposting was cultured in different combinations of organic wastes including: (a) agricultural waste & (b) cattle dung. Best performance of earthworms in terms of reproduction & vermicomposting was recorded in mixture of agricultural waste & Dung (AW+D) in the ratio 2:3.
Keywords: Epigeic, agricultural waste, Eudrilus eugeniae, vermicomposting