Role Of Aeration On Vermicomposting Of Pre-Processed Vegetable Waste

Abstract

The bench-scale experimental study aims in accelerating the vermicomposting process by modifying the conventional vermicomposting into engineered vermicomposting. The acceleration was done by enhancing the vermi environment and encourage the worms to participate actively in the digestion process. The engineered process composes of pre-processing the waste and augmenting air artificially with airflow rate of 0.62 L/min in the Vermibin. The aeration was done in vertically elevated Vermibin with five different airflow durations (2 hr, 4 hr, 6 hr, 8 hr and 10 hr) by naming the bin as A l, A2, A3, A4 and A5, respectively. The Optimum airflow duration was identified based on the Substrate volume reduction and biomass growth in the Vermibin. In parallel, the nutrient Status of vermicast also assessed, in order to characterize the vermicast generated in the reactors. Results reveal that 4 hr aeration with airflow rate of 0.67 L/min Performance better and provide suitable environment for vermicomposting process.