Enhancing Microbial and Enzyme Activity: The Effect of Vermicomposting with Eudrilus eugeniae Using Cow Dung , Sugarcane bagasse and Gliricidia sepium

Understanding the interplay between earthworms, microbes, and enzymes is crucial for assessing soil functionality and health. This study investigates the activities of microbes and enzymes in vermicompost produced by Eudrilus eugeniae, using different ratios of sugarcane bagasse (SCB), Gliricidia sepium (GM), and cow dung (CD). Five substrate treatments were evaluated: VCT1 , VCT2 , VCT3, VCT4 , and VCT5 . The initial microbial CFU and the finalmicrobialCFU (worm-worked and worm-unworked) in the vermibed substrates were Calculated to one-way ANOVA. Enzyme activities in vermicompost were analyzed using specific laboratory methods. The study spanned 50 days, with microbial populations and enzyme activities analyzed. Initial microbial counts increased significantly up to 30 days, then stabilized, with the highest levels observed in VCT4 . Enzyme activities, including dehydrogenase, urease, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, protease, and cellulase, initially increased but declined towards the end of vermicomposting. VCT4 consistently showed the highest enzyme activities. The findings suggest that VCT4 group of sugarcane bagasse, cow dung, and Gliricidia sepium is optimal for producing nutrient-rich vermicompost using Eudrilus eugeniae.