The development of methods for the efficient treatment and application of food waste digestate is an important research goal.Vermicomposting via housefly larvae is an efficient way to reduce food waste and achieve its...The development of methods for the efficient treatment and application of food waste digestate is an important research goal.Vermicomposting via housefly larvae is an efficient way to reduce food waste and achieve its valorization,however,studies on the application and performance of digestate in vermicomposting are rarely.The present study aimed to investigate the feasibility of the co-treatment of food waste and digestate as an additive via larvae.Restaurant food waste(RFW)and household food waste(HFW)were selected to assess the effects of waste type on vermicomposting performance and larval quality.Waste reduction rates of 50.9%–57.8%were observed in the vermicomposting of food waste mixed with digestate at a ratio of 25%,which were slightly lower than those for treatments without the addition of digestate(62.8%–65.9%).The addition of digestate increased the germination index,with a maximum value of 82%in the RFW treatments with 25%digestate,and decreased the respiration activity,with a minimum value of 30 mg-O_(2)/g-TS.The larval productivity of 13.9%in the RFW treatment system with a digestate rate of 25%was lower that without digestate(19.5%).Materials balance shows that larval biomass and metabolic equivalent had decreasing trends as the amount of digestate increased and HFW vermicomposting exhibited lower bioconversion efficiency than that of RFW treatment system regardless of the addition of digestate.These results suggest that mixing digestate at a low ratio(25%)during vermicomposting of foodwaste especially RFW could lead to considerable larval biomass and generate relatively stable residues.展开更多
This paper is a distillation of thirty-plus years of experience,experimentation,and observations,gleaned while designing,setting up,nunning,refining,and training people to run indoor vemicomposting systems.The objecti...This paper is a distillation of thirty-plus years of experience,experimentation,and observations,gleaned while designing,setting up,nunning,refining,and training people to run indoor vemicomposting systems.The objectives of this study are to reduce thevolume of food waste going into the waste stream;produce ligh quality organic fertilizer,improve soil heath,reduce waste-haulingcosts;encourage community members to move away from using chemical fertilizers,herbicides,and pesticides,in their gardens.Thishas been,essentially,a long-term,crowd-conducted,wide-ranging.and ongoing experiment.The design of a system is important,butthe way it is run is more important.For some people,prison inmates,for example,leaning to nun a vermicomposting system,can belife-and mind-altering.展开更多
The effect of vermicomposting on kinetic behavior of the products is not well recognized. An incubation study was conducted to investigate C mineralization kinetics of cow manure, sugarcane filter cake and their vermi...The effect of vermicomposting on kinetic behavior of the products is not well recognized. An incubation study was conducted to investigate C mineralization kinetics of cow manure, sugarcane filter cake and their vermicomposts. Two different soils were treated with the four solid wastes at a rate of 0.5 g solid waste C per kg soil with three replications. Soils were incubated for 56 d. The CO2-C respired was monitored periodically and a first-order kinetic model was used to calculate the kinetic pa-rameters of C mineralization. Results indicated that the percentage of C mineralized during the incubation period ranged from 31.9% to 41.8% and 55.9% to 73.4% in the calcareous and acidic soils, respectively. The potentially mineralizable C (C0) of the treated soils was lower in the solid waste composts compared to their starting materials. Overall, it can be concluded that de-composable fraction of solid wastes has decreased due to vermicomposting.展开更多
Every year mushroom wastes are produced in big volumes from edible mushroom production industries. Vermicomposting technology using earthworms as versatile natural bioreactors for effective recycling of organic wastes...Every year mushroom wastes are produced in big volumes from edible mushroom production industries. Vermicomposting technology using earthworms as versatile natural bioreactors for effective recycling of organic wastes to the soil is an environmentally acceptable means of converting waste into nutritious composts for crop production. This study was undertaken to use earthworms （eisenia foetida） in vermicomposting on edible mushrooms wastes. The Randomized block design with three treatments in Kimia, Sabalan and Artashahr mushroom production industries were selected and four replications were applied for treatments. The total biomass of earthworms was estimated by counting the number of adults, juveniles and cocoons from each replication. The number of adult and mature worms, egg capsules and wet weight of earthworms were recorded in one month intervals （totally in five months）. Vermicomposting was carried out by these worms in four months in spite of delay in their establishment in mushroom wastes. The worms wet weight, their number and the number of capsules were increased up to fourth month and then decreased. The produced vermicompost had suitable properties for amending soil.展开更多
As the dominant macrofauna in many soils,earthworms play a significant role in mineral weathering and nutrient release from mineral structures into available forms for root uptake.Phlogopite is a trioctahedral micaceo...As the dominant macrofauna in many soils,earthworms play a significant role in mineral weathering and nutrient release from mineral structures into available forms for root uptake.Phlogopite is a trioctahedral micaceous mineral that can be weathered to other minerals through release of its interlayer potassium(K).In this study,we investigated the effect of earthworm activities and associated microbial communities on phlogopite weathering during the production of phlogopite-enriched vermicompost with different quantities of phlogopite added.An experiment was run under laboratory conditions using three levels of phlogopite(0,20%and 40%by weight)in triplicates.Each Petri dish contained 20 g of a mixture of cow manure and phlogopite,and vermicomposting process was performed by inoculation of eight Eisenia foetida earthworms.Changes in clay mineralogy and C/N ratio in each dish were assessed at days 0,45,90,135,and 180 during vermicomposting.The results indicated that phlogopite was partially weathered to vermiculite and interstratified mica-vermiculite during the vermicomposting process.The rate of weathering was higher during the early stages of vermicomposting(the first 90 d).The weathering of phlogopite was influenced considerably by the activity of earthworms and associated microbial communities during the organic matter transformation process.At the early stages of the process,the weathering rate for different levels of phlogopite was not significantly different,but over time it accelerated steadily,and the difference increased.展开更多
Vermicomposting utilizes the synergistic effect of earthworms with microorganisms to accelerate the stabilization of organic matter in biowastes.Nevertheless,the exact mechanism behind the maturity of vermicompost and...Vermicomposting utilizes the synergistic effect of earthworms with microorganisms to accelerate the stabilization of organic matter in biowastes.Nevertheless,the exact mechanism behind the maturity of vermicompost and the growth of earthworms exposed to biochar of varying particle sizes remains unclear.This study presents an investigation of the effect of biochar particle size on earthworm(Eisenia fetida)survival,microbial diver-sity,and the quality of vermicompost products.To address these issues,pelletized dewatered sludge samples from a municipal sewage treatment plant were amended with pine-based biochar with particle sizes of 1-2 mm,25-75μm,200 nm,and 60 nm as the substrate for vermicomposting.This study revealed that the addition of millimeter-scale biochar and micron-scale biochar significantly promoted the degradation of organic matter since the organic matter in the treatment with 1-2 mm biochar at the end of the vermicomposting experiment decreased by 12.6%,which was equivalent to a 1.9-fold increase compared with that of the control.Excessive nanopowdering of nanobiochar significantly affected the survival of earthworms and led to 24.4-33.3%cumulative mortality,while millimeter-scale(mm)biochar and micron-scale(μm)biochar achieved zero mortality.The findings of this study could be used for evaluating the potential impact of nanoscale biochar to earthworms and guiding biochar-augmented vermicomposting.展开更多
Kitchen waste solid residues(KWSR)are secondary organic solid wastes generated from kitchen waste(KW)after oil and slurry separation.In this study,two recycling methods for KWSR were investigated:direct membrane-cover...Kitchen waste solid residues(KWSR)are secondary organic solid wastes generated from kitchen waste(KW)after oil and slurry separation.In this study,two recycling methods for KWSR were investigated:direct membrane-covered aerobic composting(T1)and a two-stage method combining vermicomposting with membrane-covered aerobic composting(T2).Compared with T1,T2 had a faster increase in pile temperature,a shorter thermal stage,lower greenhouse gas emissions and higher NH_(3)emissions.The vermicomposting promoted the formation of humus and shortened the maturation time during aerobic composting,resulting in a shorter treatment period for T2(18 d)than for T1(21 d).The initial bacterial communities of T1 and T2 were significantly different,but they became similar as composting progressed.The economic feasibility analysis showed that 1000 kg of KWSR generated a profit of 285 CNY using the T2 method,which was higher than that of T1(36 CNY).The outcomes of the present study provide an improved strategy for the management of KWSR.展开更多
A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of integrated nano-fertilizer spray and vermicompost in growth and quality of corn yield in calcareous soil at College ofAgricultural Engineering Sciences/Uni...A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of integrated nano-fertilizer spray and vermicompost in growth and quality of corn yield in calcareous soil at College ofAgricultural Engineering Sciences/University of Baghdad/Iraq during the autumn season of 2022 using Split Split Plot Design in a randomized complete block design with three replicates.Main plots were designated to two types of vermicompost(local and imported).The secondary plots were assigned to vermicompost added to the soil at three levels of 0,10 and 20 Mg ha-1.The third plots were assigned to nano-fertilizer containing N,P,K,Zn,Fe and Mn at 0,50,100 and 150 mg L-1 sprayed on plant at 20,40 and 60 days after planting.The results showed a significant effect of local vermicompost achieving available nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil as 43.31 mg N kg-1 soil and 19.25 mg P kg-1 soil.In the leaves,nitrogen was 3.86%,potassium 4.54%,iron 174.22 mg Fe kg-1 and Zinc was 73.53 mg Zn kg-1,grain yield was 165.48 Mg ha-1.Adding vermicompost to the soil at 20 Mg ha-1 achieving in available nitrogen in the soil of 43.74 mg N kg-1 soil,available phosphorus of 19.72 mg P kg-1 soil and available potassium of 196.93 mg K kg-1 soil.In the leaves,nitrogen was 4.37%,phosphorus was 0.44%,potassium 4.87%,iron was 182.63 mg Fe kg-1,zinc was 73.70 mg Zn kg-1 and grain yield was 168.43 Mg ha-1.Spraying nano-fertilizer on the plant at 150 mg L-1 achieved In the leaves,nitrogen 4.28%,phosphorus of 0.46%,potassium of 5.10%,iron of 204.83 mg Fe kg-1,zinc of 89.28 mg Zn kg-1 and manganese of 234.07 mg Mn kg-1 and grain yield was 172.88 Mg ha-1.展开更多
The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs)in soil has become a global environmental issue.Vermicomposting is gaining prominence in agricultural practices as a soil amendment to improve soil quality.However...The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs)in soil has become a global environmental issue.Vermicomposting is gaining prominence in agricultural practices as a soil amendment to improve soil quality.However,its impact on soil ARGs remains unclear when it occurs in farmland.We comprehensively explored the evolution and fate of ARGs and their hosts in the field soil profiles under vermicompost application for more than 3years.Vermicompost application increased several ARG loads in soil environment but decreased the high-risk bla-ARGs(bla_(ampC),bla_(NDM),and bla_(GES-1))by log(0.04-0.43).ARGs in soil amended with vermicompost primarily occurred in topsoil(approximately 1.04-fold of unfertilized soil),but it is worth noting that their levels in the 40-60 cm soil layer were the same or even less than in the unfertilized soil.The microbial community structure changed in soil profiles after vermicompost application.Vermicompost application altered the microbial community structure in soil profiles,showing that the dominant bacteria(i.e.,Proteobacteria,Actinobacteriota,Firmicutes)were decreased 2.62%-5.48%with the increase of soil depth.A network analysis further revealed that most of ARG dominant host bacteria did not migrate from surface soil to deep soil.In particular,those host bacteria harboring high-risk bla-ARGs were primarily concentrated in the surface soil.This study highlights a lower risk of the propagation of ARGs caused by vermicompost application and provides a novel approach to reduce and relieve the dissemination of ARGs derived from animals in agricultural production.展开更多
The effects of vermicompost on the agronomic characters and yield and quality of flue-cured tobacco were investigated. The results showed that, the field growth periods of various treatments were 117-118 d, 1-2 days l...The effects of vermicompost on the agronomic characters and yield and quality of flue-cured tobacco were investigated. The results showed that, the field growth periods of various treatments were 117-118 d, 1-2 days longer than that of the CK. The numbers of effective leaves of the treatments applied with vermicompost were 0.1-0.3 leaf more than the CK. The highest yield and the highest proportion of high-grade tobacco occurred in treatment 3 as 2 095.5 kg/m^2 and 49%, respectively, which were higher than those in the CK by 6.58 kg and 5.3%. In conclusion, the treatment with the application of vermicompost at 7 500-10 500 kg/hm^2 was the best.展开更多
This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of vermicomposting by using vermicast as the substrate for the stabilization of municipal activated sludge, called hereafter as direct vermistabilization, in whi...This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of vermicomposting by using vermicast as the substrate for the stabilization of municipal activated sludge, called hereafter as direct vermistabilization, in which the pre-treatment and bulking materials required in previous practices were all omitted. For this purpose, two epigeic earthworm species, namely Eisenia foetida and Bimastus parvus, were inoculated into substrate for composting fresh dewatered activated sludge. Direct vermistabilization resulted in significant reductions in pH, TOC, C/N ratio and the content of heavy metals, as well as increases in EC, total N, total P and total K in the final vermicast. Moreover, both Eisenia foetida and Bimastus parvus showed faster growth rate and higher cocoon production. The results of this study suggest that the direct vermistabilization has the advantages of being simple, cost-effective and efficient, and can thus be used as a feasible vermicomposting approach to convert fresh dewatered activated sludge into a valuable product for agricultural use. The results also suggest that Bimastus parvus can be used as a new potential candidate for vermicomposting of municipal activated sludge.展开更多
Biofertilization of crops with plant growth promoting microorganisms is currently considered as a healthy alternative to chemical fertilization. Biofertilizers are microbial preparations containing living cells of dif...Biofertilization of crops with plant growth promoting microorganisms is currently considered as a healthy alternative to chemical fertilization. Biofertilizers are microbial preparations containing living cells of different microorganisms which have the ability to mobilize plant nutrients in soil from unusable to usable form. They are environmentally friendly, play a significant role in the crop production, help to build up the lost microflora and improve the soil health. Also, they increase crop yield by 20% - 30%, stimulate plant growth, are cost effective and provide optimal conditions for soil biological activity. They suppress pathogenic soil organisms, restore natural soil fertility and provide protection against drought and some soil borne diseases. Moreover, they degrade toxic organic chemicals, improve seed germination and aid in balancing soil pH in reducing soil erosion.展开更多
Globally,urbanization and a steady increase in population generate a huge amount of wastes,which leads to a series of economic,social,and environmental changes,mainly in developing countries.There is an utmost need fo...Globally,urbanization and a steady increase in population generate a huge amount of wastes,which leads to a series of economic,social,and environmental changes,mainly in developing countries.There is an utmost need for efficient management strategies for the beneficial utilization of these wastes into useful products.Among these strategies,composting is gaining attention due to its benefits of solid waste management,such as proper sterilization,and economical and effective bioconversion of lignocellulosic wastes to valuable products.Composting is an effective and sustainable approach for the management of various lignocellulosic wastes.This process comprises a series of effective waste treatment steps to ensure sustainable agriculture.Different composting methods have been explored for solid waste management.Furthermore,the influence of various factors relevant to composting has been elucidated.Microbes play a significant role in enhancing the degradation of lignocellulosic residues by secreting different hydrolytic enzymes.Compost has been utilized for increasing soil properties and improving plant growth.展开更多
Generally discharges from on-site sanitation （OSS） system could be a source of pollution to the environment if not well managed. This work illustrates the potential of subsurface infiltration to treat secondary effl...Generally discharges from on-site sanitation （OSS） system could be a source of pollution to the environment if not well managed. This work illustrates the potential of subsurface infiltration to treat secondary effluent from a novel on-site vermi-biofiltration system called the Biofil Toilet Technology （BTT）. In practice, the BTT effluent is discharged via sub-surface infiltration. The focus of the research was to determine possible contaminant removal within the first 1.5 m depth of soil column. To achieve this objective, laboratory scale soil columns were designed and constructed for the treatment of secondary domestic wastewater from the BTT. Four different soil columns, each with 1.5 m depth of soil （sandy soil--SS, loamy soil--LS, clayey soil----CS, and red laterite soil--RLS） and fifth column with 0.45 m multi-layer sand filter were constructed and characterized. The columns were fed with the BTT effluent and sampled at ports spaced at 0.3 m, 0.8 m, and 1.5 m depths. Using the samples, parameters like COD, BODs, TSS, T-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, PO4-P, and pathogenic indicator microbes were monitored. RLS and SS columns efficiently removed COD, BODs, and TSS from the BTT effluent below the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency （GH EPA） guideline values. Up to 99% COD removal were observed in RLS column. A two to five log pathogen removal was recorded for the soil columns. The RLS and SS were found to have a high efficacy for contaminant removal with up to 80% of all contaminants being removed at a depth of 0.3 m along the soil columns. Thus the subsurface infiltration system can serve as a promising technology for the BTT effluent treatment. The study recommends the incorporation of infiltration systems to the BTT especially for areas with high water table or clayey soils.展开更多
The focus of this experiment was to compare the treatment performance of nutrient and microbial reduction in granite （GR）, shredded polyethylene terephthalate （SP） and palm kernel shell （PKS） composites after so...The focus of this experiment was to compare the treatment performance of nutrient and microbial reduction in granite （GR）, shredded polyethylene terephthalate （SP） and palm kernel shell （PKS） composites after solid/liquid separation of blackwater. Laboratory tests were conducted on replicated specimens of the GR, SP, and PKS pervious composites and the mechanisms of microbial reductions and nutrient transformation in blackwater treatment investigated after filtration. Six cylindrical specimens measuring 1 l0 mm x 100 mm and made from the GR, SP, and PKS were used to determine the physical and hydrologic properties （density and permeability） of the specimens. Additional six pervious specimens measuring 0.3 m x 0.3 m ~ 0.05 mm were used for the solid/liquid separation of blackwater. Blackwater was first infiltrated through a layer of coir fibre and net lining and then run through each pervious composite specimen. Nutrient （ammonium, nitrate, nitrite, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus） and microbial （Escherichia coli and coliforms） analyses were conducted on the effluent from the specimens and compared. The GR, SP, and PKS particle sizes were seen to be uniformly graded and similar. The composite specimens did not have significant effects on the nutrient transformations and removal of organic matter but for total phosphorus. However, escherichia coli and other coliforms＇s growth were limited in the SP. Hydrophobic interactions between the SP composite and microbial cells of the microbes could have promoted attachment and limited their growth. It was observed that the mean pH in the effluent filtered through the composites was higher than in the influent partly due to the availability of calcium carbonate in the cement. The study suggests that the SP composite is a promising alternative to the GR composite for the reduction of microbial constituents in blackwater vis-a-vis its light-weight compared to the other pervious composites.展开更多
Application of organic waste to saline alkaline soils is considered to be a good practice for soil remediation. The effects of applying different organic amendments （e.g., cattle dung, vermicompost, biofertilizer） a...Application of organic waste to saline alkaline soils is considered to be a good practice for soil remediation. The effects of applying different organic amendments （e.g., cattle dung, vermicompost, biofertilizer） and earthworm inoculations （Eisenia fetida） on saline soils and cotton growth were investigated during i year of cotton cultivation. Compared to the control （applied with inorganic NPK fertilizer）, applying organic amendments improved soil physicochemical properties. Biofertilizer application improved available nutrient content, reduced short-term soil electrical conductivity, and produced the highest cotton yield, whereas cattle dung and vermicompost applications resulted in higher soil organic matter content. Application of organic amendments significantly increased soil microbial biomass carbon during the flowering period, which sharply declined at harvest. This was especially true for the biofertilizer treatment, which also exhibited lower nematode abundance compared with the other organic materials. Earthworm inoculation following cattle dung application failed to significantly change soil physicochemical properties when compared to the treatments without earthworm inoculation. Results suggest that biofertilizer application to saline soil would improve soil nutrient status in the short-term, whereas cattle dung application would improve soil organic matter content and increase soil organism abundance to a greater extent. However, different strategies might be required for long-term saline soil remediation.展开更多
Objective: To investigate the effect of drought stress and organic fertilizer on German chamomile(Matricaria chamomilla) nutrient uptake, leaf chlorophyll content and osmotic adjustment under field conditions.Methods:...Objective: To investigate the effect of drought stress and organic fertilizer on German chamomile(Matricaria chamomilla) nutrient uptake, leaf chlorophyll content and osmotic adjustment under field conditions.Methods: This experiment was carried out through a randomized complete block design with a split factorial arrangement of treatments in three replications. The main plots were subjected to the following irrigation treatments: irrigation after 60, 90, 120, 150 and180 mm evaporation from Class A pan. The sub-plots were treated with three vermicompost doses(0, 5 and 10 t/ha).Results: Although drought stress reduced the nutrient percentages in the shoots, application of vermicompost enhanced the nutrient percentages, particularly when the plants were subjected to moderate to severe drought stress conditions. Moreover, the results of this study showed that the interaction between irrigation treatments and vermicompost rates on leaf chlorophyll content was significant. Comparison between the combined treatments indicated that under normal irrigation and moderate drought stress conditions chamomile plants received 5 and 10 t/ha vermicompost showed significantly higher leaf chlorophyll content comparing to the control treatment.Conclusions: Totally, organic fertilization by vermicompost could partly alleviate the effect of drought stress on chamomile by increasing N, P and K uptake and leaf soluble sugar, especially in stressed treatments.展开更多
Soil organic matter (SOM) plays an important role in the Se dynamics in soil. The potential effects of vermicompost and digestate as important sources of SOM on selenium (Se) mobility were assessed in this study. Thre...Soil organic matter (SOM) plays an important role in the Se dynamics in soil. The potential effects of vermicompost and digestate as important sources of SOM on selenium (Se) mobility were assessed in this study. Three soils differing in their physicochemical parameters, fluvisol, chernozem, and luvisol, were chosen, and three types of vermicomposts based on various bio-waste materials as digestate (vermicompost 1), kitchen waste with woodchips (vermicompost 2), and garden bio-waste (vermicompost 3) were used due to their high organic matter content. Additionally, digestate samples alone were applied. To evaluate the potential effect of vermicompost application on sorption characteristics of soils, batch sorption experiments were performed. The results showed a predominant effect on Se species in the soils, where selenite sorbed more intensively compared to selenate, regardless of the soil and ameliorative material applied. In the control, the soil sorption ability of selenite tended to decrease in the order: fluvisol > luvisol > chernozem. However, these differences were not significant. Moreover, the effects of the ameliorative materials depended on both soil and amendment used. In fluvisol, all the amendment applications resulted in a decrease in distribution coefficient ( K d values) of Se, whereas in chernozem, this effect was observed only for the digestate-based vermicompost 1. Increasing K d levels were reported in luvisol treated with digestate;the application of garden bio-waste-based vermicompost 3 tended to decrease the K d values. Further studies are required on long-term effects of these amendments on Se mobility in soils and the role of individual organic matter fractions in this context.展开更多
The arsenic contamination in soil-water-plant systems is a major concern of where, the groundwater is being contaminated with arsenic （above 0.01 mg/L） in the Indian subcontinent. The study was conducted with organi...The arsenic contamination in soil-water-plant systems is a major concern of where, the groundwater is being contaminated with arsenic （above 0.01 mg/L） in the Indian subcontinent. The study was conducted with organic matter to find out the reducing effect on arsenic load to rice （cv. Khitish）. It was observed that intermittent ponding reduced arsenic uptake （23.33% in root, 13.84% in shoot and 19.84% in leaf） at panicle initiation stage, instead of continuous ponding. A decreasing trend of arsenic accumulation （root straw husk whole grain milled grain） was observed in different plant parts at harvest. Combined applications of lathyrus ＋ vermicompost ＋ poultry manure reduced arsenic transport in plant parts （root, straw, husk, whole grains and milled grain） which was significantly at par （p 0.05） with chopped rice straw （5 tons/ha ） ＋ lathyrus green manuring （5 tons/ha） in comparison to control and corresponding soils. A significant negative correlation of arsenic with phosphorus （grain P with arsenic in different parts R 2 = 0.627–0.726 at p 0.01） was observed. Similarly, soil arsenic had a negative correlation with soil available phosphorus （R 2 = 0.822 at p 0.001） followed by soil nitrogen （R 2 = 0.762 at p 0.01） and soil potassium （R 2 = 0.626 at p 0.01）. Hence, effective management of contaminated irrigation water along with organic matter could reduce the arsenic build up to plants and soil.展开更多
This study attempted to compare the effect of cow manure vermicompost and inorganic fertilizers on the vegetative growth and fruits of tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum L.). An air dried sandy loam soil was mixed wit...This study attempted to compare the effect of cow manure vermicompost and inorganic fertilizers on the vegetative growth and fruits of tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum L.). An air dried sandy loam soil was mixed with five rates of vermicompost equivalent to 0 (control), 5, 10, 15 and 20 t ha-1 and three rates of NPK fertilizer equivalent to 50% (N-P-K = 69-16-35 kg ha-1), 100% (N-P-K = 137-32-70 kg ha-1) and 200% (N-P-K = 274-64-140 kg ha-1). The treatments were replicated three times. The data revealed that shoot length, number of leaves, dry matter weight of shoots and roots, fruit number and fruit weight were influenced significantly (P < 0.05) by the application of vermicompost and NPK fertilizer in the growth media. The highest dose of vermicompost of 20 t ha-1 increased dry weight of shoot of 52 folds and root of 115 folds, number of fruit(s)/plant of 6 folds and mean fruit weight of 29 folds while the highest rate of NPK fertilizer of 200% increased dry weight of shoot of 35 folds and root of 80 folds, number of fruit(s)/plant of 4 folds and mean fruit weight of 18 folds over the control treatment. The growth performance of tomato was better in the vermicompost amended soil pots than the plants grown in the inorganic fertilizer amended soil pots. This study suggested that the vermicompost served as a potential source of nutrients for plant growth.展开更多
基金This work is supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2018YFD1100600).The authors appreciate Ms.Ning Zhang,Mr.WeiWang,and Mr.Jing Guo for their assistances in analysis.
文摘The development of methods for the efficient treatment and application of food waste digestate is an important research goal.Vermicomposting via housefly larvae is an efficient way to reduce food waste and achieve its valorization,however,studies on the application and performance of digestate in vermicomposting are rarely.The present study aimed to investigate the feasibility of the co-treatment of food waste and digestate as an additive via larvae.Restaurant food waste(RFW)and household food waste(HFW)were selected to assess the effects of waste type on vermicomposting performance and larval quality.Waste reduction rates of 50.9%–57.8%were observed in the vermicomposting of food waste mixed with digestate at a ratio of 25%,which were slightly lower than those for treatments without the addition of digestate(62.8%–65.9%).The addition of digestate increased the germination index,with a maximum value of 82%in the RFW treatments with 25%digestate,and decreased the respiration activity,with a minimum value of 30 mg-O_(2)/g-TS.The larval productivity of 13.9%in the RFW treatment system with a digestate rate of 25%was lower that without digestate(19.5%).Materials balance shows that larval biomass and metabolic equivalent had decreasing trends as the amount of digestate increased and HFW vermicomposting exhibited lower bioconversion efficiency than that of RFW treatment system regardless of the addition of digestate.These results suggest that mixing digestate at a low ratio(25%)during vermicomposting of foodwaste especially RFW could lead to considerable larval biomass and generate relatively stable residues.
文摘This paper is a distillation of thirty-plus years of experience,experimentation,and observations,gleaned while designing,setting up,nunning,refining,and training people to run indoor vemicomposting systems.The objectives of this study are to reduce thevolume of food waste going into the waste stream;produce ligh quality organic fertilizer,improve soil heath,reduce waste-haulingcosts;encourage community members to move away from using chemical fertilizers,herbicides,and pesticides,in their gardens.Thishas been,essentially,a long-term,crowd-conducted,wide-ranging.and ongoing experiment.The design of a system is important,butthe way it is run is more important.For some people,prison inmates,for example,leaning to nun a vermicomposting system,can belife-and mind-altering.
基金Project (No. 1385) supported by the Isfahan University of Tech-nology, Iran
文摘The effect of vermicomposting on kinetic behavior of the products is not well recognized. An incubation study was conducted to investigate C mineralization kinetics of cow manure, sugarcane filter cake and their vermicomposts. Two different soils were treated with the four solid wastes at a rate of 0.5 g solid waste C per kg soil with three replications. Soils were incubated for 56 d. The CO2-C respired was monitored periodically and a first-order kinetic model was used to calculate the kinetic pa-rameters of C mineralization. Results indicated that the percentage of C mineralized during the incubation period ranged from 31.9% to 41.8% and 55.9% to 73.4% in the calcareous and acidic soils, respectively. The potentially mineralizable C (C0) of the treated soils was lower in the solid waste composts compared to their starting materials. Overall, it can be concluded that de-composable fraction of solid wastes has decreased due to vermicomposting.
文摘Every year mushroom wastes are produced in big volumes from edible mushroom production industries. Vermicomposting technology using earthworms as versatile natural bioreactors for effective recycling of organic wastes to the soil is an environmentally acceptable means of converting waste into nutritious composts for crop production. This study was undertaken to use earthworms （eisenia foetida） in vermicomposting on edible mushrooms wastes. The Randomized block design with three treatments in Kimia, Sabalan and Artashahr mushroom production industries were selected and four replications were applied for treatments. The total biomass of earthworms was estimated by counting the number of adults, juveniles and cocoons from each replication. The number of adult and mature worms, egg capsules and wet weight of earthworms were recorded in one month intervals （totally in five months）. Vermicomposting was carried out by these worms in four months in spite of delay in their establishment in mushroom wastes. The worms wet weight, their number and the number of capsules were increased up to fourth month and then decreased. The produced vermicompost had suitable properties for amending soil.
基金We would like to thank the Iranian National Science Foundation(No.96002378)for financially supporting this research.
文摘As the dominant macrofauna in many soils,earthworms play a significant role in mineral weathering and nutrient release from mineral structures into available forms for root uptake.Phlogopite is a trioctahedral micaceous mineral that can be weathered to other minerals through release of its interlayer potassium(K).In this study,we investigated the effect of earthworm activities and associated microbial communities on phlogopite weathering during the production of phlogopite-enriched vermicompost with different quantities of phlogopite added.An experiment was run under laboratory conditions using three levels of phlogopite(0,20%and 40%by weight)in triplicates.Each Petri dish contained 20 g of a mixture of cow manure and phlogopite,and vermicomposting process was performed by inoculation of eight Eisenia foetida earthworms.Changes in clay mineralogy and C/N ratio in each dish were assessed at days 0,45,90,135,and 180 during vermicomposting.The results indicated that phlogopite was partially weathered to vermiculite and interstratified mica-vermiculite during the vermicomposting process.The rate of weathering was higher during the early stages of vermicomposting(the first 90 d).The weathering of phlogopite was influenced considerably by the activity of earthworms and associated microbial communities during the organic matter transformation process.At the early stages of the process,the weathering rate for different levels of phlogopite was not significantly different,but over time it accelerated steadily,and the difference increased.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52000144)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(22120220553,2023-3-YB-11).
文摘Vermicomposting utilizes the synergistic effect of earthworms with microorganisms to accelerate the stabilization of organic matter in biowastes.Nevertheless,the exact mechanism behind the maturity of vermicompost and the growth of earthworms exposed to biochar of varying particle sizes remains unclear.This study presents an investigation of the effect of biochar particle size on earthworm(Eisenia fetida)survival,microbial diver-sity,and the quality of vermicompost products.To address these issues,pelletized dewatered sludge samples from a municipal sewage treatment plant were amended with pine-based biochar with particle sizes of 1-2 mm,25-75μm,200 nm,and 60 nm as the substrate for vermicomposting.This study revealed that the addition of millimeter-scale biochar and micron-scale biochar significantly promoted the degradation of organic matter since the organic matter in the treatment with 1-2 mm biochar at the end of the vermicomposting experiment decreased by 12.6%,which was equivalent to a 1.9-fold increase compared with that of the control.Excessive nanopowdering of nanobiochar significantly affected the survival of earthworms and led to 24.4-33.3%cumulative mortality,while millimeter-scale(mm)biochar and micron-scale(μm)biochar achieved zero mortality.The findings of this study could be used for evaluating the potential impact of nanoscale biochar to earthworms and guiding biochar-augmented vermicomposting.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2019YFC1906603)the Jiangsu Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Bio-Manufacture(Grant No.XTD2217)+1 种基金the Jiangsu Province Science and Technology Program(Grant No.BZ2022052)the Jiangsu Agriculture Science and Technology Innovation Fund(No.CX(21)2015).
文摘Kitchen waste solid residues(KWSR)are secondary organic solid wastes generated from kitchen waste(KW)after oil and slurry separation.In this study,two recycling methods for KWSR were investigated:direct membrane-covered aerobic composting(T1)and a two-stage method combining vermicomposting with membrane-covered aerobic composting(T2).Compared with T1,T2 had a faster increase in pile temperature,a shorter thermal stage,lower greenhouse gas emissions and higher NH_(3)emissions.The vermicomposting promoted the formation of humus and shortened the maturation time during aerobic composting,resulting in a shorter treatment period for T2(18 d)than for T1(21 d).The initial bacterial communities of T1 and T2 were significantly different,but they became similar as composting progressed.The economic feasibility analysis showed that 1000 kg of KWSR generated a profit of 285 CNY using the T2 method,which was higher than that of T1(36 CNY).The outcomes of the present study provide an improved strategy for the management of KWSR.
文摘A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of integrated nano-fertilizer spray and vermicompost in growth and quality of corn yield in calcareous soil at College ofAgricultural Engineering Sciences/University of Baghdad/Iraq during the autumn season of 2022 using Split Split Plot Design in a randomized complete block design with three replicates.Main plots were designated to two types of vermicompost(local and imported).The secondary plots were assigned to vermicompost added to the soil at three levels of 0,10 and 20 Mg ha-1.The third plots were assigned to nano-fertilizer containing N,P,K,Zn,Fe and Mn at 0,50,100 and 150 mg L-1 sprayed on plant at 20,40 and 60 days after planting.The results showed a significant effect of local vermicompost achieving available nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil as 43.31 mg N kg-1 soil and 19.25 mg P kg-1 soil.In the leaves,nitrogen was 3.86%,potassium 4.54%,iron 174.22 mg Fe kg-1 and Zinc was 73.53 mg Zn kg-1,grain yield was 165.48 Mg ha-1.Adding vermicompost to the soil at 20 Mg ha-1 achieving in available nitrogen in the soil of 43.74 mg N kg-1 soil,available phosphorus of 19.72 mg P kg-1 soil and available potassium of 196.93 mg K kg-1 soil.In the leaves,nitrogen was 4.37%,phosphorus was 0.44%,potassium 4.87%,iron was 182.63 mg Fe kg-1,zinc was 73.70 mg Zn kg-1 and grain yield was 168.43 Mg ha-1.Spraying nano-fertilizer on the plant at 150 mg L-1 achieved In the leaves,nitrogen 4.28%,phosphorus of 0.46%,potassium of 5.10%,iron of 204.83 mg Fe kg-1,zinc of 89.28 mg Zn kg-1 and manganese of 234.07 mg Mn kg-1 and grain yield was 172.88 Mg ha-1.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42077355,42277033)the Government Purchasing Project of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs(No.15228002)the Major Science and Technology Project of Yunnan Province(No.202102AE090011)。
文摘The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs)in soil has become a global environmental issue.Vermicomposting is gaining prominence in agricultural practices as a soil amendment to improve soil quality.However,its impact on soil ARGs remains unclear when it occurs in farmland.We comprehensively explored the evolution and fate of ARGs and their hosts in the field soil profiles under vermicompost application for more than 3years.Vermicompost application increased several ARG loads in soil environment but decreased the high-risk bla-ARGs(bla_(ampC),bla_(NDM),and bla_(GES-1))by log(0.04-0.43).ARGs in soil amended with vermicompost primarily occurred in topsoil(approximately 1.04-fold of unfertilized soil),but it is worth noting that their levels in the 40-60 cm soil layer were the same or even less than in the unfertilized soil.The microbial community structure changed in soil profiles after vermicompost application.Vermicompost application altered the microbial community structure in soil profiles,showing that the dominant bacteria(i.e.,Proteobacteria,Actinobacteriota,Firmicutes)were decreased 2.62%-5.48%with the increase of soil depth.A network analysis further revealed that most of ARG dominant host bacteria did not migrate from surface soil to deep soil.In particular,those host bacteria harboring high-risk bla-ARGs were primarily concentrated in the surface soil.This study highlights a lower risk of the propagation of ARGs caused by vermicompost application and provides a novel approach to reduce and relieve the dissemination of ARGs derived from animals in agricultural production.
基金Supported by the Major Project of China Tobacco Corporation in 2014(110201402003)~~
文摘The effects of vermicompost on the agronomic characters and yield and quality of flue-cured tobacco were investigated. The results showed that, the field growth periods of various treatments were 117-118 d, 1-2 days longer than that of the CK. The numbers of effective leaves of the treatments applied with vermicompost were 0.1-0.3 leaf more than the CK. The highest yield and the highest proportion of high-grade tobacco occurred in treatment 3 as 2 095.5 kg/m^2 and 49%, respectively, which were higher than those in the CK by 6.58 kg and 5.3%. In conclusion, the treatment with the application of vermicompost at 7 500-10 500 kg/hm^2 was the best.
文摘This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of vermicomposting by using vermicast as the substrate for the stabilization of municipal activated sludge, called hereafter as direct vermistabilization, in which the pre-treatment and bulking materials required in previous practices were all omitted. For this purpose, two epigeic earthworm species, namely Eisenia foetida and Bimastus parvus, were inoculated into substrate for composting fresh dewatered activated sludge. Direct vermistabilization resulted in significant reductions in pH, TOC, C/N ratio and the content of heavy metals, as well as increases in EC, total N, total P and total K in the final vermicast. Moreover, both Eisenia foetida and Bimastus parvus showed faster growth rate and higher cocoon production. The results of this study suggest that the direct vermistabilization has the advantages of being simple, cost-effective and efficient, and can thus be used as a feasible vermicomposting approach to convert fresh dewatered activated sludge into a valuable product for agricultural use. The results also suggest that Bimastus parvus can be used as a new potential candidate for vermicomposting of municipal activated sludge.
基金supported by the grant from the EU Regional Development Fund through the Polish Innovation Economy Operational Program,contract No.UDA-POIG.01.03.01-10-109/08.
文摘Biofertilization of crops with plant growth promoting microorganisms is currently considered as a healthy alternative to chemical fertilization. Biofertilizers are microbial preparations containing living cells of different microorganisms which have the ability to mobilize plant nutrients in soil from unusable to usable form. They are environmentally friendly, play a significant role in the crop production, help to build up the lost microflora and improve the soil health. Also, they increase crop yield by 20% - 30%, stimulate plant growth, are cost effective and provide optimal conditions for soil biological activity. They suppress pathogenic soil organisms, restore natural soil fertility and provide protection against drought and some soil borne diseases. Moreover, they degrade toxic organic chemicals, improve seed germination and aid in balancing soil pH in reducing soil erosion.
基金the financial assistance as Senior Research Fellowship(No.09/382(0179)/2016-EMR1)from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR),New Delhi,India during the tenure of this research workthe Haryana State Council for Science and Technology,Panchkula,India(Nos.1743 and HSCST/R&D/2017/62)for providing financial support during the tenure of this research work。
文摘Globally,urbanization and a steady increase in population generate a huge amount of wastes,which leads to a series of economic,social,and environmental changes,mainly in developing countries.There is an utmost need for efficient management strategies for the beneficial utilization of these wastes into useful products.Among these strategies,composting is gaining attention due to its benefits of solid waste management,such as proper sterilization,and economical and effective bioconversion of lignocellulosic wastes to valuable products.Composting is an effective and sustainable approach for the management of various lignocellulosic wastes.This process comprises a series of effective waste treatment steps to ensure sustainable agriculture.Different composting methods have been explored for solid waste management.Furthermore,the influence of various factors relevant to composting has been elucidated.Microbes play a significant role in enhancing the degradation of lignocellulosic residues by secreting different hydrolytic enzymes.Compost has been utilized for increasing soil properties and improving plant growth.
文摘Generally discharges from on-site sanitation （OSS） system could be a source of pollution to the environment if not well managed. This work illustrates the potential of subsurface infiltration to treat secondary effluent from a novel on-site vermi-biofiltration system called the Biofil Toilet Technology （BTT）. In practice, the BTT effluent is discharged via sub-surface infiltration. The focus of the research was to determine possible contaminant removal within the first 1.5 m depth of soil column. To achieve this objective, laboratory scale soil columns were designed and constructed for the treatment of secondary domestic wastewater from the BTT. Four different soil columns, each with 1.5 m depth of soil （sandy soil--SS, loamy soil--LS, clayey soil----CS, and red laterite soil--RLS） and fifth column with 0.45 m multi-layer sand filter were constructed and characterized. The columns were fed with the BTT effluent and sampled at ports spaced at 0.3 m, 0.8 m, and 1.5 m depths. Using the samples, parameters like COD, BODs, TSS, T-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, PO4-P, and pathogenic indicator microbes were monitored. RLS and SS columns efficiently removed COD, BODs, and TSS from the BTT effluent below the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency （GH EPA） guideline values. Up to 99% COD removal were observed in RLS column. A two to five log pathogen removal was recorded for the soil columns. The RLS and SS were found to have a high efficacy for contaminant removal with up to 80% of all contaminants being removed at a depth of 0.3 m along the soil columns. Thus the subsurface infiltration system can serve as a promising technology for the BTT effluent treatment. The study recommends the incorporation of infiltration systems to the BTT especially for areas with high water table or clayey soils.
文摘The focus of this experiment was to compare the treatment performance of nutrient and microbial reduction in granite （GR）, shredded polyethylene terephthalate （SP） and palm kernel shell （PKS） composites after solid/liquid separation of blackwater. Laboratory tests were conducted on replicated specimens of the GR, SP, and PKS pervious composites and the mechanisms of microbial reductions and nutrient transformation in blackwater treatment investigated after filtration. Six cylindrical specimens measuring 1 l0 mm x 100 mm and made from the GR, SP, and PKS were used to determine the physical and hydrologic properties （density and permeability） of the specimens. Additional six pervious specimens measuring 0.3 m x 0.3 m ~ 0.05 mm were used for the solid/liquid separation of blackwater. Blackwater was first infiltrated through a layer of coir fibre and net lining and then run through each pervious composite specimen. Nutrient （ammonium, nitrate, nitrite, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus） and microbial （Escherichia coli and coliforms） analyses were conducted on the effluent from the specimens and compared. The GR, SP, and PKS particle sizes were seen to be uniformly graded and similar. The composite specimens did not have significant effects on the nutrient transformations and removal of organic matter but for total phosphorus. However, escherichia coli and other coliforms＇s growth were limited in the SP. Hydrophobic interactions between the SP composite and microbial cells of the microbes could have promoted attachment and limited their growth. It was observed that the mean pH in the effluent filtered through the composites was higher than in the influent partly due to the availability of calcium carbonate in the cement. The study suggests that the SP composite is a promising alternative to the GR composite for the reduction of microbial constituents in blackwater vis-a-vis its light-weight compared to the other pervious composites.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41371305)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2017YFD0202000)
文摘Application of organic waste to saline alkaline soils is considered to be a good practice for soil remediation. The effects of applying different organic amendments （e.g., cattle dung, vermicompost, biofertilizer） and earthworm inoculations （Eisenia fetida） on saline soils and cotton growth were investigated during i year of cotton cultivation. Compared to the control （applied with inorganic NPK fertilizer）, applying organic amendments improved soil physicochemical properties. Biofertilizer application improved available nutrient content, reduced short-term soil electrical conductivity, and produced the highest cotton yield, whereas cattle dung and vermicompost applications resulted in higher soil organic matter content. Application of organic amendments significantly increased soil microbial biomass carbon during the flowering period, which sharply declined at harvest. This was especially true for the biofertilizer treatment, which also exhibited lower nematode abundance compared with the other organic materials. Earthworm inoculation following cattle dung application failed to significantly change soil physicochemical properties when compared to the treatments without earthworm inoculation. Results suggest that biofertilizer application to saline soil would improve soil nutrient status in the short-term, whereas cattle dung application would improve soil organic matter content and increase soil organism abundance to a greater extent. However, different strategies might be required for long-term saline soil remediation.
基金Supported by Yasouj University(Grant No.88/8705)
文摘Objective: To investigate the effect of drought stress and organic fertilizer on German chamomile(Matricaria chamomilla) nutrient uptake, leaf chlorophyll content and osmotic adjustment under field conditions.Methods: This experiment was carried out through a randomized complete block design with a split factorial arrangement of treatments in three replications. The main plots were subjected to the following irrigation treatments: irrigation after 60, 90, 120, 150 and180 mm evaporation from Class A pan. The sub-plots were treated with three vermicompost doses(0, 5 and 10 t/ha).Results: Although drought stress reduced the nutrient percentages in the shoots, application of vermicompost enhanced the nutrient percentages, particularly when the plants were subjected to moderate to severe drought stress conditions. Moreover, the results of this study showed that the interaction between irrigation treatments and vermicompost rates on leaf chlorophyll content was significant. Comparison between the combined treatments indicated that under normal irrigation and moderate drought stress conditions chamomile plants received 5 and 10 t/ha vermicompost showed significantly higher leaf chlorophyll content comparing to the control treatment.Conclusions: Totally, organic fertilization by vermicompost could partly alleviate the effect of drought stress on chamomile by increasing N, P and K uptake and leaf soluble sugar, especially in stressed treatments.
基金the Czech Science Foundation (GACR) for their financial support (Project No. 1304580S)
文摘Soil organic matter (SOM) plays an important role in the Se dynamics in soil. The potential effects of vermicompost and digestate as important sources of SOM on selenium (Se) mobility were assessed in this study. Three soils differing in their physicochemical parameters, fluvisol, chernozem, and luvisol, were chosen, and three types of vermicomposts based on various bio-waste materials as digestate (vermicompost 1), kitchen waste with woodchips (vermicompost 2), and garden bio-waste (vermicompost 3) were used due to their high organic matter content. Additionally, digestate samples alone were applied. To evaluate the potential effect of vermicompost application on sorption characteristics of soils, batch sorption experiments were performed. The results showed a predominant effect on Se species in the soils, where selenite sorbed more intensively compared to selenate, regardless of the soil and ameliorative material applied. In the control, the soil sorption ability of selenite tended to decrease in the order: fluvisol > luvisol > chernozem. However, these differences were not significant. Moreover, the effects of the ameliorative materials depended on both soil and amendment used. In fluvisol, all the amendment applications resulted in a decrease in distribution coefficient ( K d values) of Se, whereas in chernozem, this effect was observed only for the digestate-based vermicompost 1. Increasing K d levels were reported in luvisol treated with digestate;the application of garden bio-waste-based vermicompost 3 tended to decrease the K d values. Further studies are required on long-term effects of these amendments on Se mobility in soils and the role of individual organic matter fractions in this context.
基金supported by the National Agricultural Innovation Project Component-IV(NAIP/C4/C1005/2006-07),Indian Council of Agricultural Research,Pusa,New Delhi,India
文摘The arsenic contamination in soil-water-plant systems is a major concern of where, the groundwater is being contaminated with arsenic （above 0.01 mg/L） in the Indian subcontinent. The study was conducted with organic matter to find out the reducing effect on arsenic load to rice （cv. Khitish）. It was observed that intermittent ponding reduced arsenic uptake （23.33% in root, 13.84% in shoot and 19.84% in leaf） at panicle initiation stage, instead of continuous ponding. A decreasing trend of arsenic accumulation （root straw husk whole grain milled grain） was observed in different plant parts at harvest. Combined applications of lathyrus ＋ vermicompost ＋ poultry manure reduced arsenic transport in plant parts （root, straw, husk, whole grains and milled grain） which was significantly at par （p 0.05） with chopped rice straw （5 tons/ha ） ＋ lathyrus green manuring （5 tons/ha） in comparison to control and corresponding soils. A significant negative correlation of arsenic with phosphorus （grain P with arsenic in different parts R 2 = 0.627–0.726 at p 0.01） was observed. Similarly, soil arsenic had a negative correlation with soil available phosphorus （R 2 = 0.822 at p 0.001） followed by soil nitrogen （R 2 = 0.762 at p 0.01） and soil potassium （R 2 = 0.626 at p 0.01）. Hence, effective management of contaminated irrigation water along with organic matter could reduce the arsenic build up to plants and soil.
文摘This study attempted to compare the effect of cow manure vermicompost and inorganic fertilizers on the vegetative growth and fruits of tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum L.). An air dried sandy loam soil was mixed with five rates of vermicompost equivalent to 0 (control), 5, 10, 15 and 20 t ha-1 and three rates of NPK fertilizer equivalent to 50% (N-P-K = 69-16-35 kg ha-1), 100% (N-P-K = 137-32-70 kg ha-1) and 200% (N-P-K = 274-64-140 kg ha-1). The treatments were replicated three times. The data revealed that shoot length, number of leaves, dry matter weight of shoots and roots, fruit number and fruit weight were influenced significantly (P < 0.05) by the application of vermicompost and NPK fertilizer in the growth media. The highest dose of vermicompost of 20 t ha-1 increased dry weight of shoot of 52 folds and root of 115 folds, number of fruit(s)/plant of 6 folds and mean fruit weight of 29 folds while the highest rate of NPK fertilizer of 200% increased dry weight of shoot of 35 folds and root of 80 folds, number of fruit(s)/plant of 4 folds and mean fruit weight of 18 folds over the control treatment. The growth performance of tomato was better in the vermicompost amended soil pots than the plants grown in the inorganic fertilizer amended soil pots. This study suggested that the vermicompost served as a potential source of nutrients for plant growth.
