Vermicomposting of Vegetable Market Waste Using Perionyx Ceylanensis

Due to human activities huge amount of organic wastes are simply dumped in the environment creating disposal and pollution problems. Suitable and sustainable utilization of these wastes is vermicomposting which converts wastes in to wealth. In the present study, 1:1 proportion (wt./wt.) of vegetable market waste (VMW) and press mud (sugar industry waste) mixture have been used for vermicomposting with the earthworm Perionyx ceylanensis Mich. The predecomposition after air drying of vegetable market waste was conducted for 15 days by sprinkling water and regular turning. To predecomposed VMW, press mud in 1:1 proportion by weight was added and moistened to hold 65-75% water and after 24 hrs stabilization, the earthworms were introduced. All the experiments were maintained in triplicates up to 60 days. Physico-chemical changes were recorded in vermibed materials time to time. The results showed that the important nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were higher than that of initial and worm-unworked compost, whereas, the organic carbon and C/N ratio showed decrease. The study clearly shows that the VMW in combination with press mud is suitable for vermicomposting with P. ceylanensis.