Effect of Californian Red Worm (Eisenia foetida) on the Nutrient Dynamics of a Mixture of Semicomposted Materials

Abstract

The efficiency of composting processes with and without the addition of Californian red worms (Eisenia foetida) was evaluated, using manure of dairy cows to generate organic fertilizer. Several parameters were assessed as physiochemical indicators of maturity, such as temperature, pH, C/N ratio, phytotoxicity and macro and micronutrients at 25 and 54 wk (mature and stored products, respectively). A linear model was used in the statistical analysis, with four replicates that included as fixed effects, the composting systems and time. At 25 wk, both systems reduced the C/N ratio to values of 15.5 in vermicompost and 17.1 in semi-compost. The content of total N, N-NO3, Ca and some micronutrients also increased. K and Na concentrations were higher in the compost than in the vermicompost. The mean of pH presented differences in the two systems of decomposition. The germination index, using lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa L.) var. Grandes Lagos in vitro, of the decomposition products increased in week 25, indicating the degree of maturity reached. The effect of storage was greater stability of the products by reducing the C/N ratio to 8.13 for vermicompost and 7.05 for compost, as well as an increase in available N content in the form of N-NO3 in the case of compost and in the content of Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Mn and Cu in both systems.

Identificación de bacterias cultivables patógenas al humano en semicompostas de residuos agrícolas

“…Sin embargo, se ha encontrado que representa una tecnología viable para el reciclaje de residuos agrícolas y pecuarios, ya que al final del proceso, las semicompostas presentan características físicoquímicas típicas de los productos del compostaje (Castillo et al, 2010;Hernández-Rodríguez et al, 2013).…”

Effect of vermicompost tea on yield and nitrate reductase enzyme activity in saladette tomato

“…Livestock organic residues represent a serious ecological problem if they are not handled properly (Castillo et al, 2010). Agriculture, particularly cattle farming, is an important economic activity in the state of Coahuila, México.…”

Comparison of three systems of decomposition of agricultural residues for the production of organic fertilizers

“…In VC no thermophilic temperatures were present and the recorded temperature ranged from 18 to 34 °C. This coincides with Castillo et al (2010), who worked with dairy cattle manure and pine sawdust and recorded a range of 20 to 40 °C. In VC systems a controlled temperature interval of 20 and 30 °C is fundamental for the survival of the worm and its efficiency to process the residues (Sinha et al, 2009).…”

“…A mixture of bovine manure and sawdust was subjected to three decomposition systems: Composting (CP), semicomposting (SC) and vermicomposting (VC). For the CP, pallet boxes of a capacity of 1110.9 L, for SC and VC 60 L plastic containers were filled, and for VC, 10 adult Californian red earthworms (Eisenia fetida [Savigny, 1826]) were added per liter of substrate at 6 d after the experiment (DAE) (Castillo et al, 2010). Irrigation maintained moisture between 50% and 60% in CP and SC, and between 75% and 85% for VC (Castillo et al, 2010), which was determined by touch test (Soto and Muñoz, 2002).…”