Bioconversion of Fruit Waste into Vermicompost by Employing Eudrillus Eugeniae and Eisenia Foetida

Department of Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Trichy620 024 Mail id: [email protected] ABSTRACT: The increasing waste generation rate, high collection cost and dwindling financial resources are the major problems faced by most of the developing countries for efficient solid waste management. In some cities, the organic wastes (Market waste, vegetable, Fruit, Garden waste) are dumped indiscriminately or littered on the streets causing environmental deterioration. Biological processes such as composting are followed by Vermicomposting to convert fruit waste as valuable nutrient source, namely manure. The aim of this study was to convert fruit waste amended with cow dung and soil into Vermicompost using both Eisenia fetida and Eudrillus eugenia. Fruit waste was mixed with cow dung in 1: 1 ratio and the two varieties of earthworm were introduced individually. Vermicomposting was performed for the period of 45 days. Vermicomposting of Fruit waste resulted in net reduction of TOC (Total Organic Carbon) (19.0113.02%)and (19.01-12.88%), Phosphorus(0.75-1.06mg/L) and (0.82-1.08 mg/L) and C: N (Carbon: Nitrogen) ratio(21.80-11.21%), (20.79-10.81%) but it has resulted in an increase of TKN (Total Kjeldhal Nitrogen) (0.65-1.51%) and (0.67-1.54%), pH (7.86-8.5) and (7.669.2)& EC (Electrical Conductivity) (312.48-354.13 Sm⎯1) and (306.91-362.52 Sm⎯1) with Eudrillus Eugenia and Eisenia fetida respectively. The Microbial study of vermicompost revealed the presence of Klebsiella, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas and Enterobacter species which have helped in degradation process. FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) analysis clearly revealed the degradation of organic matter using different earthworm sps.