VERMICOMPOSTING PROCESS PARAMETER OPTIMIZATION FOR FEED OF BIOMETHANATION SLUDGE, FRUITS AND VEGETABLE WASTE (FVW) USING EISENIA FETIDA SPECIESA.I. Mulla and G.R. PathadeAbstract The present research work was carried out with an objective to optimize important parameters viz., incubation period, pH and moisture percent for vermicomposting using biomethanation sludge, fruits and vegetable waste (FVW) and earthworm species Eisenia fetida. The biomethanation digester running on FVW was used for the sludge collection. The FVW was collected from Gultekadi Market Yard, Pune and used for experiments after its processing. The dewatered sludge was admixed with partially decomposed fruits and vegetable waste (PDFVW). The plastic trays of 1kg working capacity were used for optimization of parameters. The results showed that incubation period of six weeks, pH 7.0 and moisture content of 80-90% were optimum condition for vermicomposting using Eisenia fetida. The average growth rate mg/worm /day for optimized incubation period, pH and moisture % was 4.9±0.18, 5.7±0.06 and 7.3±0.3, respectively and at all the three optimized conditions, it was 8±0.04. |