Effects of Four Different Media from Selected Agricultural Wastes on the Total Production and Nutrient Profile of Vermicompost

Large volumes of agricultural waste and residue are produced by agricultural activities in the tropics annually. Burning is still a common method of disposal, although it pollutes the environment. Vermicomposting is an alternate technique for managing agricultural waste. This study was conducted to ascertain the yield and particular chemical characteristics of vermicompost produced by earthworm breeding in various agricultural wastes. Agricultural waste including mushroom culture by-products, cow dung, oil palm branch residue, and sugarcane bagasse were used as raising base of African Nightcrawler earthworms (Eudrillus eugeniae). The completed vermicompost yields and selected chemical properties were determined. Earthworms in cow dung produced the maximum amount of vermicompost in terms of dry weight, followed by those in mushroom culture by-products, oil palm branch residue, and bagasse. The largest amounts of humic acid, nitrogen (N), and potassium (K) were found in vermicompost from cow dung. The maximum electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter, magnesium (Mg), and manganese (Mn) were found in ermicompost from oil palm branch residue. Bagasse vermicompost had the greatest pH, phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) values. Vermicompost derived from different feedstocks will produce different total nutrients contents and vermicompost quality. As a result, cow dung is recommended to be used as the primary material and mixed with specific other agricultural waste products as raising base materials to generate high grade vermicompost.