Effect of different bedding materials temperature and yield potential of vermicompost

Present research study was carried out between December 2024 and March 2025 to examine how different organic bedding materials, when combined with half-decomposed cow dung, influence the quality, quantity and maturity of vermicompost using the earthworm Eisenia fetida. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) for the experiment, testing five treatments: 30% bedding materials comprising Cattle shed waste (T1), Green gliricidia leaves (T2), Fresh congress grass (T3), Market vegetable waste (T4) and Green neem tree leaves (T5), combined with 70% Half-decomposed cow dung. Vermicomposting was conducted in HDPE beds measuring 1.22 m × 0.91 m × 0.61 m. After a pre-decomposition period of 21 days, earthworms of the species Eisenia fetida were added at a rate of 50 worms for every 10 kg of substrate. Throughout the process, various physical parameters were monitored to evaluate the dynamics and quality of the vermicomposting. Temperature patterns revealed an initial increase, followed by a phase of stabilization. The peak temperature reached 46.1 °C in 30% Cattle shed waste + 70% Half-decomposed cow dung (T1), while 30% Market vegetable waste + 70% Half-decomposed cow dung (T4) recorded the lowest at 43.9 °C. During maturation, temperatures were observed to fluctuate between 19.7 °C and 21.5 °C. The highest yield of vermicompost was attained in 30% Cattle shed waste + 70% Half-decomposed cow dung (T1), amounting to 49.16 kg, with a recovery rate of 69.30%. Conversely, 30% Market vegetable waste + 70% Half-decomposed cow dung (T4) produced the lowest yield of 38.63 kg, corresponding to a recovery of 55.03%. Maturity was achieved most rapidly in 30% Market vegetable waste + 70% Half-decomposed cow dung (T4) (60 DAF), while 30% Cattle shed waste + 70% Half-decomposed cow dung (T1) experienced the longest maturation period (90 DAF), likely attributable to the fibrous composition of the cattle shed waste. Notably, weed seed germination was exclusively observed in 30% Fresh congress grass + 70% Half-decomposed cow dung (T3). The minimal average observed across all four replications was just 2.13 seeds per kg, even after congress grass was used for vermicomposting had full seed setting.