Effect of Tuber Crop WastesByproducts on Nutritional and Microbial Composition of Vermicomposts and Duration of the Vermicomposting Process

Abstract EN

A pot culture experiment on vermicomposting of cassava and sweet potato wastes/byproducts was conducted for March–May (season I) and June–August (season II) during 2010 at the Regional Centre of Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Bhubaneswar, Orissa.

The study revealed that the vermicompost prepared from biomass and byproducts of tuber crops had fairly higher levels of nitrogen (1.12–2.23%), phosphorus (0.26–0.88%), and potassium (0.33–1.29%) compared to initial status.

The vermicompost prepared from sweet potato dry leaves had the highest nitrogen (2.23% and 2.03%), phosphorus (0.88% and 0.69%), and potassium (1.29% and 0.84%) content during both the years of study.

Cassava thippi (tuber residue) required 40–43 days for the complete conversion into vermicompost, whereas all other biomass and byproducts needed more time (43–65 days).

The rate of increase of earthworm weight and population was higher in vermicompost made from cassava and sweet potato thippi.

Microbial counts indicated that populations of bacteria and fungi were higher in season I, whereas actinomycetes were higher in season II.

The study indicated that all the biomass and byproducts of tuber crops can be effectively converted into high-value vermicompost.