Vermicomposting Potential of Eudrilus eugeniae and Its Biological and Chemical Properties

Abstract

The use of various waste as feedstock is very crucial in the production of vermicast with high nutrient content. It helps harness the biological effectiveness of Eudrilus eugeniae as vermicomposting agent in the reduction of biodegradable waste. This study determined the vermicomposting potential of E. eugeniae using experimental research design that employed laboratory techniques to ascertain the biological and chemical composition of the vermicast. Analysis of Variance and the Tukey HSD test were the statistical methods utilized. Results showed that using animal waste as feedstock for E. eugeniae generated higher amount of vermicast. The chemical analysis revealed higher N and P using kitchen waste whereas agricultural waste had the highest levels of K. Likewise, there were greater microbial counts observed in vermicast. When compared to fungi, bacteria have a significantly higher number of colony forming units.