Effect of indigenous earthworm Lampito mauritii (Kinberg) and Perionyx excavates (Perrier) on microbial diversity and activity during bioconversion of poultry waste

Influence of poultry waste (PW) amended with cow dung (CD) and pressmud (PM) and comparative studies of indigenous earthworm L. mauritii and P. excavates were performed to evaluate biological potential during vermicomposting. A total of six different vermicomposters were maintained for this study and the experiments were monitored for 60 days. The results suggested that the total microbial population of vermicompost produced by both worms were significantly higher than initial substrate. Similarly, the microbial activities of vermicompost obtained from all the vermicomposter for both species of worms were significantly increased after vermicomposting. Results also revealed that both the worms had considerable effects on microbial population and activity during vermicomposting of PW amended with organic waste than PW alone. Periodical analysis of above mentioned microbial population and enzyme activity of final vermicompost indicated that equal proportion (1:1:1 ratio) of CD, PM and PW are probably the optimum composition to obtain best quality vermicompost.

Author(s): I. Meharaj and S. Manivannan*

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