Research Article Open Access

Nutrient Composition and Characterization of Vermicompost from Various Organic Materials in Bedele District, Ethiopia

Abstract

Vermicomposting is simple biotechnological process of composting, which certain species of earthworms are used to enhance the process of waste conversion and produce better homogenized end product. Therefore, this study was conducted to prepare and characterization of vermicompost nutrients made from different sources of organic materials. The experiment was carried out during 2023/2024 at Bedele Agricultural Research Center. Vermicomposting was done using Eisenia fetida with seven treatments: Wheat straw, maize stalk, sorghum stalk, haricot bean straw, soybean straw, finger millet straw and faba bean straw. The data were analyzed by SAS software version 9.3. results indicated that for all the seven treatments the pH fluctuated in the range of 6.88 to 8.90 and the highest pH value was recorded from soybean straw with animal manure (8.90) whereas the lowest obtain from wheat straw with animal manure. Electrical Conductivity (EC) of vermicompost were ranged from 2.02 to 4.44 ds/m and the highest value of EC was recorded from soybean with animal manure (4.44 ds/m) and the lowest from maize stalk with animal manure (2.02 ds/m). The organic carbon of the vermicompost were ranged from 15.18% to 16.54%. The highest and lowest value of organic carbon was recorded from faba bean straw and haricot bean with animal manure (16.54% and 15.18%) respectively. The obtained total nitrogen was ranged from 1.28% to 1.43%. However, the highest was obtained from faba bean straw with animal manure and lowest recorded from maize stalk with cow manure (1.43% and 1.28%) respectively. The available phosphorus of vermicompost ranged from 24.65 to 27.75 ppm, from these results the highest and the lowest was recorded from wheat straw with animal manure and soybean straw with animal manure (27.75 and 24.65 ppm) respectively. The harvested vermicompost had an excellent nutrient rank, confirmed by chemical analysis and contained all the essential selected macronutrients.

Bati Dube, Dagne Chimdessa, Gedefa Sori

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