Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

CHANGES IN C: N RATIO OF DIFFERENT SUBSTRATES DURING VERMICOMPOSTING

Jyoti Yadav , R.K. Gupta and Deepak Kumar

Abstract

A study of 90 days duration was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of an exotic earthworm species (epigeic- Eisenia fetida) for decomposition of different kind of organic substrates. Five experimental vermibeds along with three replicates each were prepared by using cowdung along with different combinations of wheat straw, rice straw, vegetable waste and sugarcane bagasse having ratio 5:1. The results obtained indicate reduction in C: N ratio, which indicates the reduction in biodegradable organic content and increase in nitrogen content. The decrease in carbon and increase in nitrogen content improves the quality of vermicompost as manure. The carbon and nitrogen content of the vermicompost was analyzed at the 0 day, 30 day, 60 day and 90 day where the levels of carbon decreased and the levels of nitrogen increasedsubsequently. Decrease in carbon and increase in nitrogen resulted in decrease of C: N ratio. The resultsshowed the decrease in C: N in tubs with CD+ RS (22.5) followed by CD+ WS (20.8), CD (19.04), CD+ VW (17.22) and CD+ SB (10.8).