Vermicomposting in Solid Waste Management:A Review

Vermicomposting is a bio-conversion process which is widely being used for solid waste management. In this bio-conversion process, earthworms feed on the organic waste to produce more earthworms, vermicompost, and vermiwash as products. Earthworms which include Megascolex Mauritii, Eisenia Fetida, Eudrilus Eugeniae, Perionnyx Excavatus, Lampito Mauritii, Eisenia Andrei, Lampito Rubellus and Drawida Willis have been widely used for vermicomposting. Vermicomposting has been done for various wastes including animal, plant, pharmaceutical, food waste and sewage waste over vermicomposting periods ranging from 28-120 days using these earthworms. The process conditions during vermicomposting ranged from 18- 67°C for temperature, pH 5.9-8.3 and moisture content 10.6- 80%. Vermicompost yields of 30-50% have been achieved for various organic wastes and composting periods. The vermicompost and vermiwash produced were rich in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK). The vermicompost obtained had NPK compositions ranging from 0.3-4.19%, 0.2- 1.6% and 0.2-6.18% respectively. The vermiwash obtained had NPK composition ranging from 0.14-1.58%, 0.05-7.53% and 0.47-1.26% respectively. Vermicompost and vermiwash have been applied on cowpea, soybean, maize, and marigold as bio-fertilizers. Vermicomposting can be used for solid waste management and the production of bio-fertilizers.