Vermicomposting of soybean and maize straw residues as an agro waste management initiative
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Subtitle: Vermicomposting of soybean and maize straw residues as an agro waste management initiative
Author list: Muzenda, Edison
Publisher: SAGE Publications (UK and US) / Wiley: No OnlineOpen
Publication year: 2017
Journal: Waste Management & Research : The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy (0734-242X)
Issue number: 2
Start page: 2
End page: 9
Number of pages: 8
ISSN: 0734-242X
eISSN: 1096-3669
Languages: English-United States (EN-US)
Abstract
In this study, maize waste and soy bean residue were vermicomposted as a way of harnessing bio products from agro waste in a bid to promote sustainability and proper waste management to bio fertilizers. Maize and soy bean residues were vermicomposted in a 9m by 1m vermicomposting bed over a period of 30 days using Eisenia Fetida earthworms at standard conditions. The physicochemical parameters of the organic waste including the organic loading (OC), nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK) content as well as trace elements such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) were determined using standard methods. The behavior of the earthworms in terms of mass and length was also quantified. Upon increase in the vermicomposting period, the OC increased by 38%, NPK composition by 50%, 50% and 35% respectively. The Ca, Mg and Na composition by 10%, 23% and 30% respectively. The earthworms mass and length increased by 60% and 20% respectively. From the results obtained, vermicomposting offers a sustainable opportunity for crop waste management to bio fertilizers
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