The effect of neutralized and non-neutralized pomegranate pulp on features of Eisenia fetida and vermicompost

ABSTRACT - Vermicomposting with pomegranate pulp can not only prevent pollution of the environment but can also create jobs, generate added value and prevent the waste of energy and the country's capital. This factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design. The first factor (a) in two levels contained neutralized pomegranate pulp with lime and non-neutralized pulp. The second factor (b) vermicomposting mediums which included 9 levels of pomegranate pulp (with levels of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 percentage) and cow manure in three replications that formed a total of 54 experimental units. Also, ninety mature earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were put into each experimental unit. During the experiment, the daily moisture of mediums was set by weight at 70% of field capacity and the growth chamber temperature at 25±2˚C. The results showed that if pomegranate pulp percentage increases, the population of infant worms (220 worms) and Eisenia fetida worms’ cocoons (114 numbers) decreases but increasing the population and biomass of adult worms was observed at level of 25 percentage of pomegranate pulp. In addition, the percentage of organic carbon (30.32%) and vermicompost C/N ratio (27.87%) increased by pomegranate pulp enhancement in medium. Also, the highest percentage of nitrogen of vermicompost (1.69%) was found at level of 25 percentage of pomegranate pulp. Furthermore, neutralized pomegranate pulp with lime had improved the measured traits in produced vermicompost and worms compared to non-neutralized pulp in most cases.