Abstract
Vermicomposting is the process of composting using worms and is applied in waste management to produce high-quality organic fertilizer. Garden waste (GW) is often mixed with other raw materials for vermicomposting. In the present study, the feasibility of vermicomposting using only GW was investigated in comparison with cow dung (CD). The total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) contents and the electrical conductivity increased, while total organic carbon (TOC) and the C/N ratio decreased in both substrates after vermicomposting. The nutrient content (TN, TP, and TK) of the GW vermicompost was promoted less than that in CD. Scanning electron microscopy images and specific surface area analysis showed that the vermicompost was strongly disaggregated and became more compacted and fragmented compared with the raw substrates. No mortality of earthworms was observed in GW; however, the earthworms had a higher mean body weight and reproduction rate in CD than that in GW. There were higher bacterial community richness and diversity in the vermicompost than that in the raw materials, and the dominant phylum species were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that TN, C/N ratio, and TOC play an important role in bacterial community dynamics. These data indicate that vermicomposting is a robust process that is suitable for the management of GW.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aira M, Olcina J, Pérez-Losada M, Domínguez J (2016) Characterization of the bacterial communities of casts from Eisenia andrei fed with different substrates. Appl Soil Ecol 98:103–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2015.10.002
Alidadi H, Hosseinzadeh A, Najafpoor AA, Esmaili H, Zanganeh J, Dolatabadi Takabi M, Piranloo FG (2016) Waste recycling by vermicomposting: maturity and quality assessment via dehydrogenase enzyme activity, lignin, water soluble carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and other indicators. J Environ Manag 182:134–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.07.025
Ananthavalli R, Ramadas V, John Paul JA, Karunai Selvi B, Karmegam N (2019) Seaweeds as bioresources for vermicompost production using the earthworm, Perionyx excavatus (Perrier). Bioresour Technol 275:394–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.12.091
Arora M, Kaur A (2019) Scanning electron microscopy for analysing maturity of compost/vermicompost from crop residue spiked with cattle dung, Azolla pinnata and Aspergillus terreus. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26:1761–1769. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3673-8
Bhat SA, Singh J, Vig AP (2018) Earthworms as organic waste managers and biofertilizer producers. Waste Biomass Valorization 9:1073–1086. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-017-9899-8
Chen Y, Zhang Q, Zhang Y et al (2015a) Changes in fibrolytic enzyme activity during vermicomposting of maize stover by an anecic earthworm Amynthas hupeiensis. Polym Degrad Stabil 120:169–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2015.06.018
Chen Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Q, Xu L, Li R, Luo X, Zhang X, Tong J (2015b) Earthworms modify microbial community structure and accelerate maize stover decomposition during vermicomposting. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:17161–17170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4955-z
Chen Y, Chang SKC, Chen J, Zhang Q, Yu H (2018) Characterization of microbial community succession during vermicomposting of medicinal herbal residues. Bioresour Technol 249:542–549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.10.021
Chen M, Huang Y, Liu H et al (2019) Impact of different nitrogen source on the compost quality and greenhouse gas emissions during composting of garden waste. Process Saf Environ Protect 124:326–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2019.03.006
Cui G, Li F, Li S, Bhat SA, Ishiguro Y, Wei Y, Yamada T, Fu X, Huang K (2018) Changes of quinolone resistance genes and their relations with microbial profiles during vermicomposting of municipal excess sludge. Sci Total Environ 644:494–502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.015
Das D, Bhattacharyya P, Ghosh BC, Banik P (2016) Bioconversion and biodynamics of Eisenia foetida in different organic wastes through microbially enriched vermiconversion technologies. Ecol Eng 86:154–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.11.012
Fracchia L, Dohrmann AB, Martinotti MG, Tebbe CC (2006) Bacterial diversity in a finished compost and vermicompost: differences revealed by cultivation-independent analyses of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 71:942. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-005-0228-y
Fu X, Huang K, Chen X, Li F, Cui G (2015) Feasibility of vermistabilization for fresh pelletized dewatered sludge with earthworms Bimastus parvus. Bioresour Technol 175:646–650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.11.007
Gabhane J, William SPMP, Bidyadhar R et al (2012) Additives aided composting of green waste: effects on organic matter degradation, compost maturity, and quality of the finished compost. Bioresour Technol 114:382–388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.040
Gong X, Cai L, Li S et al (2018) Bamboo biochar amendment improves the growth and reproduction of Eisenia fetida and the quality of green waste vermicompost. Ecotox Environ Safe 156:197–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.03.023
Gong X, Li S, Chang SX et al (2019) Alkyl polyglycoside and earthworm (Eisenia fetida) enhance biodegradation of green waste and its use for growing vegetables. Ecotox Environ Safe 167:459–466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.10.063
Goyal S, Dhull SK, Kapoor KK (2005) Chemical and biological changes during composting of different organic wastes and assessment of compost maturity. Bioresour Technol 96:1584–1591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2004.12.012
Grycova B, Pryszcz A, Lestinsky P, Chamradova K (2018) Influence of potassium hydroxide and method of carbonization treatment in garden and corn waste microwave pyrolysis. Biomass Bioenergy 118:40–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2018.07.022
Hanc A, Chadimova Z (2014) Nutrient recovery from apple pomace waste by vermicomposting technology. Bioresour Technol 168:240–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.02.031
Haynes RJ, Zhou Y-F (2016) Comparison of the chemical, physical and microbial properties of composts produced by conventional composting or vermicomposting using the same feedstocks. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23:10763–10772. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6197-0
Huang K, Li F, Wei Y, Chen X, Fu X (2013) Changes of bacterial and fungal community compositions during vermicomposting of vegetable wastes by Eisenia foetida. Bioresour Technol 150:235–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.10.006
Hussain N, Abbasi T, Abbasi SA (2016) Vermiremediation of an invasive and pernicious weed salvinia (Salvinia molesta). Ecol Eng 91:432–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.03.010
Karmegam N, Vijayan P, Prakash M, John Paul JA (2019) Vermicomposting of paper industry sludge with cowdung and green manure plants using Eisenia fetida: a viable option for cleaner and enriched vermicompost production. J Clean Prod 228:718–728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.04.313
Khalil A, Domeizel M, Prudent P (2008) Monitoring of green waste composting process based on redox potential. Bioresour Technol 99:6037–6045. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2007.11.043
Lazcano C, Gómez-Brandón M, Domínguez J (2008) Comparison of the effectiveness of composting and vermicomposting for the biological stabilization of cattle manure. Chemosphere 72:1013–1019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.04.016
Li X, Xing M, Yang J, Huang Z (2011) Compositional and functional features of humic acid-like fractions from vermicomposting of sewage sludge and cow dung. J Hazard Mater 185:740–748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.09.081
Lim SL, Wu TY (2015) Determination of maturity in the vermicompost produced from palm oil mill effluent using spectroscopy, structural characterization and thermogravimetric analysis. Ecol Eng 84:515–519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.09.050
Lim SL, Wu TY, Lim PN, Shak KPY (2015) The use of vermicompost in organic farming: overview, effects on soil and economics. J Sci Food Agric 95:1143–1156. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.6849
Lim SL, Lee LH, Wu TY (2016) Sustainability of using composting and vermicomposting technologies for organic solid waste biotransformation: recent overview, greenhouse gases emissions and economic analysis. J Clean Prod 111:262–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.08.083
Liu J, Lu Z, Yang J, Xing M, Yu F, Guo M (2012) Effect of earthworms on the performance and microbial communities of excess sludge treatment process in vermifilter. Bioresour Technol 117:214–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.04.096
Liu D, Lian B, Wu C, Guo P (2018) A comparative study of gut microbiota profiles of earthworms fed in three different substrates. Symbiosis 74:21–29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-017-0491-6
Lowell S, Shields JE, Thomas MA, Thommes M (2012) Characterization of porous solids and powders: surface area, Pore Size and Density. Springer Science & Business Media
Lv B, Xing M, Yang J, Zhang L (2015) Pyrosequencing reveals bacterial community differences in composting and vermicomposting on the stabilization of mixed sewage sludge and cattle dung. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 99:10703–10712. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-015-6884-7
Lv B, Xing M, Yang J (2018) Exploring the effects of earthworms on bacterial profiles during vermicomposting process of sewage sludge and cattle dung with high-throughput sequencing. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25:12528–12537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1520-6
Malińska K, Zabochnicka-Świątek M, Cáceres R, Marfà O (2016) The effect of precomposted sewage sludge mixture amended with biochar on the growth and reproduction of Eisenia fetida during laboratory vermicomposting. Ecol Eng 90:35–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.01.042
Mupambwa HA, Mnkeni PNS (2018) Optimizing the vermicomposting of organic wastes amended with inorganic materials for production of nutrient-rich organic fertilizers: a review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25:10577–10595. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1328-4
Nelson DW, Sommers LE (1982) Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In: Page AL (ed) Methods of soil analysis, Part, vol 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, pp 539–580. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronmonogr9.2.2ed.c29
Owojori OJ, Reinecke AJ (2009) Avoidance behaviour of two eco-physiologically different earthworms (Eisenia fetida and Aporrectodea caliginosa) in natural and artificial saline soils. Chemosphere 75:279–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.12.051
Ren G, Xu X, Qu J, Zhu L, Wang T (2016) Evaluation of microbial population dynamics in the co-composting of cow manure and rice straw using high throughput sequencing analysis. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 32:101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-016-2059-7
Sharma K, Garg VK (2018) Comparative analysis of vermicompost quality produced from rice straw and paper waste employing earthworm Eisenia fetida (Sav.). Bioresour Technol 250:708–715. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.11.101
Sharma D, Yadav KD, Kumar S (2018) Role of sawdust and cow dung on compost maturity during rotary drum composting of flower waste. Bioresour Technol 264:285–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.05.091
Shi Y, Ge Y, Chang J et al (2013) Garden waste biomass for renewable and sustainable energy production in China: potential, challenges and development. Renew Sust Energ Rev 22:432–437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.02.003
Soobhany N, Mohee R, Garg VK (2015) Experimental process monitoring and potential of Eudrilus eugeniae in the vermicomposting of organic solid waste in Mauritius. Ecol Eng 84:149–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.08.003
Soobhany N, Gunasee S, Rago YP, Joyram H, Raghoo P, Mohee R, Garg VK (2017) Spectroscopic, thermogravimetric and structural characterization analyses for comparing municipal solid waste composts and vermicomposts stability and maturity. Bioresour Technol 236:11–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.03.161
Suthar S (2007) Nutrient changes and biodynamics of epigeic earthworm Perionyx excavatus (Perrier) during recycling of some agriculture wastes. Bioresour Technol 98:1608–1614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2006.06.001
Suthar S (2009) Vermistabilization of municipal sewage sludge amended with sugarcane trash using epigeic Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta). J Hazard Mater 163:199–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.06.106
Swarnam TP, Velmurugan A, Pandey SK, Dam Roy S (2016) Enhancing nutrient recovery and compost maturity of coconut husk by vermicomposting technology. Bioresour Technol 207:76–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.01.046
Varma VS, Yadav J, Das S, Kalamdhad AS (2015) Potential of waste carbide sludge addition on earthworm growth and organic matter degradation during vermicomposting of agricultural wastes. Ecol Eng 83:90–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.05.050
Vig AP, Singh J, Wani SH, Singh Dhaliwal S (2011) Vermicomposting of tannery sludge mixed with cattle dung into valuable manure using earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny). Bioresour Technol 102:7941–7945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2011.05.056
Xing M, Lv B, Zhao C, Yang J (2015) Towards understanding the effects of additives on the vermicomposting of sewage sludge. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:4644–4653. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3708-8
Yadav A, Garg VK (2019) Biotransformation of bakery industry sludge into valuable product using vermicomposting. Bioresour Technol 274:512–517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.12.023
Yu Q, Chen L, Wang W et al (2018) Impact of blending on hydrolysis and ethanol fermentation of garden wastes. J Clean Prod 190:36–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.04.164
Zhang L, Sun X (2016) Influence of bulking agents on physical, chemical, and microbiological properties during the two-stage composting of green waste. Waste Manag 48:115–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2015.11.032
Zhang J, Zeng G, Chen Y, Yu M, Yu Z, Li H, Yu Y, Huang H (2011) Effects of physico-chemical parameters on the bacterial and fungal communities during agricultural waste composting. Bioresour Technol 102:2950–2956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.11.089
Funding
This research was supported by Key projects of Shanghai Municipal Agricultural Commission (2016 No. 6-3-2).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Additional information
Responsible editor: Chris Lowe
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, Y., Yang, X., Gao, W. et al. Comparative study of vermicomposting of garden waste and cow dung using Eisenia fetida. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 9646–9657 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-07667-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-07667-x