Treatment of Organic Waste by Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting 에 의한 유기성 폐기물의 처리

A study was made to investigate the possibility of treating various organic waste of cattle manure, swine manure, goat manure, apple pomace, chinese medicine residue and coffee less by feeding these to earthworms and then by studying the growth and reproductive efficiency of earthworms, and the chemical composition of worm cast and its production. The results are summarized as follows. 1. When the feed for earthworms were in good condition which were cattle manure, swine manure and apple pomace, the reproductive efficiency of earthworms was improved however in worse condition the feed of which were goat manure and chinese medicine residue, the increasing rate(IR) became faster. 2. Despite the high content of organic matter(OM) in coffee lees, the earthworms fed coffee lees showed significantly lower reproductive efficiency and increasing rate(IR) than those fed other organic waste due mainly to its lower pH and lower total nitrogen(TN) content. Therefore, when coffee lees is considered to be fed to earthworms, it is believed necessary to be mixed with addiveves or other organic waste in order to improve the feed condition. 3. pH in swine manure, goat manure, apple pomace, chinese medicine residue and coffee lees became neutralized by being fed by earthworms. 4. Available P2O5 and exchangeable cation(EC) of earthworm cast were a little increased compared to those of feed. The contents of Mn, Fe and Cu in earthworm cast were a little decreased to compared to those of feed. 5. The contents of Mn, Fe and Cu in earthworm cast were a little a decreased to compared to those of feed. 6. Mean fresh weight of earthworm at final time(FW2) was negatively correlated with number of young worms(NY)(P<0.01), but positively with increasing rate(IR) (P<0.001) and C/N ratio(P<0.05) respectively. Number of cocoons (NC) and fresh weight of cocoons(WC) were positively(P<0.01) correlated with fresh weight of young worms (WY) and digested matter(DI) but negatively(P<0.001) correlated with residual matter(WY) and digested matter(DI) but negatively(P<0.001) correlated with residual matter(RW). Number of young worms(NY) and fresh weigh of young worms(WY) were negatively(P<0.001) correlated with increasing rate(IR), however increasing rate(IR) of earthworm was positively(P<0.05) correlatedd with C/N ratio.