Change in CO2 Emissions and Physicochemical Properties of Composted Cow manure, Sugarcane Bagasse and Sawdust in the presence and absence of Earthworm (Eisenia foetida)

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

Nowadays, safe and secure disposal of agricultural and industrial solid waste such as sawdust and sugarcane bagasse is really important. Improper disposal such as burning or dumping may cause direct and indirect emissions of greenhouse gases.Therefore, substitution of burning or dumping process with biological methods is more advisable. This study was implemented to investigate CO2 emissions and physic-chemical changes of composts derived from cow manure, sugarcane bagasse and sawdust in the presence and absence of Eisenia foetida. A completely randomized design with factorial arrangement and threereplications was employed in this experiment. Experimental factors include six different substrates (cow manure, cow manure + sugar cane bagasse, cow manure + sawdust in the presence and absence of Eisenia foetida) and five levels of times (0, 15, 30, 45, 75 and 90 days).  The results showed thehighestCO2 emissions observed fifteen days after incubation (23.8µg CO2g-1h-1). Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in vermicomposts derived from different substrates (cow manure, cow manure + sugar cane bagasse, cow manure + sawdust) were (1.81, 1.47 and 1.53%), (0.50, 0.39 and 0.60%), (1.13, 1.15 and 0.83%) respectively. It seems it is possible to dispose sawdust and sugarcane bagasse during vermicompsting process.

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