Progress report on vermicomposting, Lab Reports of Environmental Science

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Progress report

Topic –Vermicomposting as technology for

management of agricultural waste

Submitted by –Pooja

Roll no. -

Under guidance of –prof. Dr. S.P Nehra



Agricultural development is accompanied by

wastes from irrational application of intensive

farming methods and the abuse of chemicals

used for cultivation, remarkly affecting the rural

environment. The waste generated is dependent

on the type of agricultural activities carried out.

The major waste generation areas are:



Waste from cultivation activities



Wastes from livestock production



Wastes from aquaculture

Agricultural waste generation

AWMS consists of six basic functions these are:



Production



Collection



Storage



Treatment



Transfer



Utilization

Production is a function of amount and nature of

agricultural waste generated. the waste require

management if quantities produced is sufficient enough to

become a resource concern. A complete analysis of

production includes the kind , consistency, volume,

location, and timing of the waste produced.

Agricultural waste management

system

Collection refers to initial capturing of the generated waste from point of origin or

deposition. The AWMS plan should identify the method of collection , location of

collection points , scheduling of the collection, labor requirement , necessary

equipment or structural facilities management and installation costs of components,

and the impact that collection has on consistency of the waste.

The storage function has to do with the temporary containment or holding of the

waste. The waste management system should identify the storage period ;the

required storage volume ;the type ; the estimated size, location and installation

cost of the storage facility ; the management cost of the storage process; and

impact of the storage on the consistency of the waste.

Treatment is any function designed to reduce the pollution or toxic potential of

the waste, including physical, chemical , biological and chemical treatment

increases its potential beneficial use. It includes pre treatment activities such as

analysis of characteristics of waste following treatment; the selection of the type;

the estimated size , location and installation cost of treatment facility; and the

management cost of treatment process.

It is the process of composting organic waste into worm castings

using selected species of worms such as earthworm, red wrigglers,

and white worms. It is the nature’s way of recycling organic nutrients

from dead tissue back into living organisms. The vermicomposting

process takes place in long trough where the temperature is

maintained below 35°C. The vermicompost produced contain water

soluble nutrient and serves as excellent nutrient rich organic fertilizer

and soil conditioner. They contain reduced level of contaminants and

a higher saturation of nutrients than the organic waste before

vermicomposting. This process is practiced in homes , for kitchen

waste garden waste ,eggshells ,leaves, grass clippings. In large scale

it is practiced for waste that include cattle waste , sewage sludge ,

cotton mill waste , grocery waste, wood chips, agricultural waste

Vermicomposting

Phases of vermicomposting

Collection and separation

Digestion of organic waste

Preparation of earthworm bed

Collection of vermicompost

Storage of compost

Selection of suitable location

The earthworms should be cultured in shaded place to protect the worms from

excessive rain, sunlight

. it requires shaded place with high humidity and a cool environment. The waste

layered or heaped in vermicomposting

pit can be covered with moist gunny bags to avoid dryness and maintain

moisture.

Vermiculture bed

The bedding material can be prepared by placing sawdust/ husk /coir waste /

sugarcane trash at the bottom of the container with a layer of fine sand and garden

soil spread over the culture bed. The layer should be moistened with water.

Bedding materials

The selection of bedding material is very important for successful

vermicomposting. shredded paper or cardboard combined with typical on farm

organic resources such as straw and hay makes an excellent bedding. paper mill

sludge with high absorbency and small particle size can also be used as bedding

material. It has high C:N ratios and good bulking properties of straw , bark or

wood shavings.

THANK YOU