vermicomposting of paper mill sludge with cowdung, pig waste and water hayacinth in to valuable manure using earthworm perionyx excavatus

Research Article
Nirmala Natarajan* and Gajendran M
DOI: 
xxx-xxxx-xxx
Subject: 
science
KeyWords: 
Paper Mill Sludge (PMS), Bedding Material (PM), P. excavates, vermicomposting, cocoon.
Abstract: 

The present study aimed in management of Paper Mill Sludge (PMS) by vermicomposting. PMS was mixed with Bedding Materials (BM), cow dung, pig waste and water hyacinth leaves in three different ratios and pre digested by over turning and sprinkling water at intervals. There were three treatments with three replications for each. The experiments were conducted in small earthen pots. In each pot different combinations of PMS with BM were taken. The experiments were carried out for 75 days. The parameters pH, OC, total N, P, K, Ca and Mg were analyzed and all the values significantly increased in T1 and T3. The cocoon production was found to be high in T1 and T2 were the ratio of PMS was less. This proves that PMS with 25% and 50% were found to be the best for the management of PMS by vermicomposting. The result proved vermicomposting was simple and economical alternative technology for recycling of PMS using P.excavatus.