Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

UTILIZATION OF SULPHUR WASTE RESIDUE IN AGRICULTURE THROUGH VERMICOMPOSTI 2; AND ITS EFFECT ON THE POPULATION STRUCTURE OF EARTHWORM, EUDRILUS EUGENIAE

H.S. GANGADHAR, RADHA D. KALE, M.L. KANTHARAJU AND ANDANI GOWDA

Abstract

Owing to industrialisation and mining, there is disastrous impact on Biosphere. Sulphur waste residue being a by-product of copper mines is dumped in large quantities. This waste poses threat to environment causing pollution hazard. The feasibility of using this waste beneficially in agriculture was carried out by subjecting the waste with other organic waste for vermicomposting. The preponderance effects of this waste blended with organic matter when fed to earthworm had distinct advantage in accelerating its population. However there was spectacular reduction in biomass of earthworms when 8% sulphur waste residue was used along with organic matter.