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Effects of carbon to nitrogen ratio on vermicomposting of rice husk and cow dung with fresh biosolid

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Title Effects of carbon to nitrogen ratio on vermicomposting of rice husk and cow dung with fresh biosolid
 
Creator Kendie, H.A.
 
Subject RICE HUSKS
FERTILIZERS
 
Description Vermicomposting is the process of turning organic debris into worm castings. Although earthworms have been found to improve the chemical properties of the vermicompost, there has not received due attention of the investigators in Ethiopia. This study was conducted for 70 days with objectives: to determine the effects of variation of C/N ratio on chemical properties of vermicompost; and earthworm biomass. The experiment was arranged in completely randomized design with three replications. The predetermined treatment, C/N ratio of the substrate were 15:1, 25:1, 35:1, 45:1, and 55:1 with and without earthworm. The 15 sample bins were incubated with 60 adult Eisenia foetida earthworms per each bin for the purpose of vermicomposting and a total of 1800 worms were used. The experiment was performed in worm bin of 10-liter capacity. The bins were initially filled to a 2 cm height with about 12 mm in size chips of stone, which was then covered with 2 cm thick layer of 1 – 4 mm size gravel to ensure proper air and water circulation. The bins were kept under shade and maintained at moisture content of 70% to ensure the optimum functioning of earthworms. The samples were analyzed to determine which methods most successfully produce highly usable materials. The results of this experiment revealed that addition of earthworm on the substrata at C/N ratio of 25:1 had significantly (P < 0.05) increased contents of available Phosphorus, Potassium, Organic carbon and creates favorable condition for earthworm to survive and reproduce since in these bin there was the highest biomass production as compared to some of the treatments and also relatively neutral of pH.
Canadian International Development Agency
 
Date 2010-02-22T11:30:04Z
2010-02-22T11:30:04Z
2009-01-15
 
Type Thesis
 
Identifier Kendie, H.A. 2009. Effects of carbon to nitrogen ratio on vermicomposting of rice husk and cow dung with fresh biosolid. MSc thesis (Tropical Land Resource Management). 99p. Mekelle (Ethiopia): Mekelle University.
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/705
 
Language en
 
Publisher Mekelle University