IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF VERMICOMPOST FROM PAPER MILL WASTE

摘要

The main objective of this study was to enrich the quality of vermicompost prepared from Paper Mill Waste (PMW) by adding a consortium of microbes. Paper mill waste comprising wood dust, fly ash and sludge from effluent treatment plant were blended with cowdung and vermicomposting done. To this mixture (Industrial Waste Vermi Compost, IWVC) a consortium of microorganisms were added in two stage, i.e. one during the precomposting stage of vermicomposting and other after precomposting for 30 days and vermicomposting for 60 days. The nutritional analysis of both the types of vermicompost were done. From the nutritional analysis, it was observed that the microbial consortia addition was effective after the vermicompost was ready and just before removing the earthworms. Comparison of this enriched compost was made with plain soil and garden waste vermicompost (GWVC) to study the growth of crops like ladies finger and brinjal. Addition after 90 days just before removing the earthworms from the compost proved more effective and the dose of vermicompost @ 2.0 tonnes per hectare gave maximum benefits. Trials were also done using different combinations of vermicompost on the growth of Gaillardia in pots. The addition of live formulates of biological organisms helped in mineralization of immobilised materials improving plant growth.