On the Quality of Vermicompost and Millipede Compost

Saprophagous fauna (e.g., earthworms and millipedes) involves the mineralization of plant detritus and enriches soil fertility. The quality of composts (physicochemical features and mineral composition) produced by earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae) and millipedes (Arthrosphaera magna) in mesocosms using leaf litter with cow dung slurry has been compared in this study. Except for moisture and water-holding capacity, the rest of the features (conductivity, bulk density, specific gravity, and porosity) were significantly higher in vermicompost (p<0.05) than in millipede compost. Among the nutrients, organic matter, organic carbon, nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and iron contents were significantly higher in vermicompost (p<0.05) compared to millipede compost. There was no significant difference in total carbon, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, manganese, and zinc (p>0.05), while chloride was below the detectable limit. Copper, selenium, silicon, aluminum, chromium, and sulfur were in trace amounts in vermicompost, while below detectable limits in millipede compost. The conversion efficiency of lignocellulosic material by saprophagous fauna may be dependent on the microbial consortium in their gut and lignocellulose. Although some amendments are necessary to improve the quality of manure, mixing suitable proportions of vermicompost and millipede compost may circumvent such inadequacy.