Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

UTILIZATION OF SAGO INDUSTRIAL WASTES FOR THE CULTURE OF A COMPOST EARTHWORM EURDRILUS EUGENIAE (KINBERG)

A. Mary Violet Christy and R. Ramalingam

Abstract

The fibrous residue (thippi) (1.5 million ton/year) left out after starch production and the effluent (30000-40000 litre/ton) coming out from settling tank are the two major wastes from the sago industry. About 3 million tones of pressmud is produced annually in India from the sugar factories. Ten newely emerged (one dayold) hatchling of Eudrilus eugeniaewere cultured under laboratory conditions with 60-75% moisture in plastic trays containing the follwoing treatments: E1- PM alone, E2- SSW + PM ( I :4), E3-SSW + PM (2:3), E.,- SSW + PM (3: 2), Ec- SLW 15 ml/kg, E6- SLW 30 ml/kg, E7- SLW 45 ml/kg, Es- SLW 60 ml/kg added SSW + PM. Once in 15 days upto 150 days the weight of earth worms and number of hatchlings were determined and analyzed statistically. The results indicated that the efficiency of four treatments to support the growth and reproduction of E. eugeniaecould be ranked in the follwoing order: SSW + PM 2:3 ratio (E3) < I : 4 ratio (E2)< 3:2 ratio (E4)< PM alone (E, ). On the other hand the growth and reproduction of E eugeniaewere proportionately suppressed with increasing volume of sago effluet addition, due to its low pH( 4.5- 5.8), high GOD (42 I 6 mg/I) and COD (59 I 7 mg/I) etc. The growth and reproduction suppressive effect of SLW could be ranked in the follwoing order: 15 ml/kg (E5) <30 mlj kg (Eb) <45 ml/kg (E7) <60 ml/kg (E8). The sago solid waste (thipponm influenced the growth and reproduction of E. eugeniae and so could be used for vermiculture in combination with PM. Since SLW affecting the soil organisms like earthworms not suitable for vermiculture and should be properly treated before relasing to environment.