Microorganisms in the conversion of pretreated agricultural waste to compost and vermicompost

Compost is mixture of organic residues contain animal dung and urine along with other residues, such as fodder ruminant, stubble, weeds and leaves. Composted organic material can be used as a source of important nutrients for sustainable crop productivity. Therefore the investigated study was designed to evaluate the maize straw to integrated management of composting and vermicomposting. Experimental trial was carried out at Agricultural college, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) having three replications and four treatments. Cellulose degrading microbes were isolated from different soil samples, efficient cellulose degrading microorganisms was identified, the outstanding isolates were used for the pretreatment of agricultural waste (maize straw). The elevated temperatures found during the thermophilic phase are essential for rapid degradation of lignocellulose. Vermicomposting results in significant decreased in pH, Total organic carbon (TOC), electrical conductivity (EC) and C:N ratio while significant increase in total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium and calcium in vermicomposts/vermiwash. This study clearly indicates that vermicomposting of animal, agro/kitchen wastes not only produced a valuable vermicompost/vermiwash but also increased level of plant growth supplements in final vermicompost.