Microbial Diversity from the Gut of Earthworms Involved in The Process of Vermicomposting Using Vegetable and Temple Waste

Abstract : Vermicomposting is an eco-friendly and economical technique for managing various organic wastes, including agricultural, temple, and vegetable. As crucial soil invertebrates, Earthworms exhibit beneficial effects on the soil environment, influencing both physical properties and organic matter. They play a key role in recycling organic matter. Within the earthworm’s gut, numerous aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, as well as fungi, are present. These microflorae establish a mutual symbiotic relationship with the earthworm’s digestive tract. The bacterial community functions as plant growth promoters, free-living nitrogen fixers, biocides, or phosphate solubilizers. Recognizing the immense importance of these gut microflora, a present investigation was conducted to study the microbial diversity in the gut of earthworms involved in vermicompost preparation using vegetable and temple waste. The selected earthworm species for this study was Eisenia fetida. Cow dung, vegetable, and temple waste were used in a ratio of 1:1 for vermicompost preparation. The experiment spanned approximately 60 days. The microbial diversity isolated from the gut of earthworms involved in the process of vermicomposting of vegetable and temple waste included various species of bacteria and fungi such as Escherichia, Staphylococcus, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, Mucor, Rhizopus, Aspergillus, etc.