An attempt was made for vermicomposting of wild elephant’s dung in presence of sugarcane press-mud (the residue of filtration of sugarcane juice) using Perionyx excavatus earthworms and also to find out thepossible utilisation of these dung in vermicomposting of young and soft uloo grass (Imperata cylindrica)which is grown profusely in uncultivable lands and bunds. The experiment showed that vermicompostingof elephant dung alone was possible in 5.5 months time. Addition of equal quantity of press-mud helped infaster vermicomposting by reducing 1.5 months time. Elephant dung also helped in vermicomposting ofUloo grass within 5 months. Press-mud showed positive impact in vermicomposting of these tough grassesin less time. Vermicomposts of elephant dung and uloo grass were slightly acidic in pH (5.3 to 5.9).Addition of press-mud made those neutral in nature (6.7 -7.6). Elephant dung vermicompost contained1.16% total nitrogen, 0.47% total phosphorus, 1.39% total potassium, 1.29% total sodium, 0.87% totalcalcium and 0.58% total sulphur. Vermicomposts made from equal quantity of Uloo grass and elephant dung, on the other hand, recorded 1.25% N, 0.39% P, 1.33% K, 1.26% Na, 0.82% Ca and 0.85% S. Addition of Press-mud having a good quantity of nutrients, however, improved all nutrients’ status further. The experiment, therefore, confirmed that vermicomposting is the right solution for beneficial utilisation of elephant dung as an economical asset. This can be easily adopted by villagers for their earning measure which will be helpful in mitigation of Human-Elephant Conflict. Mixing of Press-mud with elephant dung during vermicomposting produced nutrient rich vermicompost in lesser time.
