Bioresource Technology 99 (2008) 8699–8704

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Bioresource Technology
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/biortech

Vermiconversion of industrial sludge for recycling the nutrients

Pritam Sangwan, C.P. Kaushik, V.K. Garg *
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar 125001, Haryana, India

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The aim of the present study was to investigate the transformation of sugar mill sludge (PM) amended
Received 23 February 2008 with biogas plant slurry (BPS) into vermicompost employing an epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida. To
Received in revised form 5 April 2008 achieve the objectives experiments were conducted for 13 weeks under controlled environmental condi-
Accepted 8 April 2008
tions. In all the waste mixtures, a decrease in pH, TOC, TK and C:N ratio, but increase in TKN and TP was
Available online 19 May 2008
recorded. Maximum worm biomass and growth rate was attained in 20% PM containing waste mixture. It
was inferred from the study that addition of 30–50% of PM with BPS had no adverse effect on the fertilizer
Keywords:
value of the vermicompost as well as growth of E. fetida. The results indicated that vermicomposting can
Sugar mill
Press mud
be an alternate technology for the management and nutrient recovery from press mud if mixed with bul-
Biogas plant slurry king agent in appropriate quantities.
Nutrient recovery Ó 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Eisenia fetida

1. Introduction microbes (Sangwan et al., 2008; Yaduvanshi and Yadav, 1990;

Ranganathan and Parthasarathi, 1999). Farmers are reluctant to ap-
The sugar industry occupies a vital place in Indian economy and ply it directly due to its bad odor, transportation cost and fear that
contributes substantially to its exports earnings. Amongst the 83- its application may lead to crust formation, pH variation and pollu-
cane sugar producing countries in the world, India is the second tion problem. Wax content of press mud (8.15%) affects the soil
largest producer of sugarcane and sugar (Rao, 2005). The industry property by direct application (Thopate et al., 1997) and its high
achieved a spectacular growth as it has 1062 sugar mills of large to rate of direct application (upto 100 tonnes/acre) leads to soil sick-
medium capacities (Sangwan et al., 2008) as compared to 138 dur- ness and water pollution (Bhawalkar and Bhawalkar, 1993). Con-
ing 1950–1951. According to Department of Agriculture and Co- ventional composting of press mud takes about 6 months and
operation, sugarcane production in 2004–2005 was estimated at also does not remove the foul odor completely (Sen and Chandra,
232.3 MT. But it has been identified as one among the most pollut- 2006). The compost so obtained has less nutritive value and more
ing industries. Sugarcane mills mainly use activated sludge process compactness. Therefore, appropriate press mud management tech-
for wastewater treatment, which generates huge quantity of nology is desired which not only protect and conserve the environ-
sludge commonly known as press mud (PM). Murty et al. (2006) ment and land resources but also to recover the nutrients present
have reported pollution status for some factories in India. For about in it.
134 million tonnes of sugarcane crushed, 4.0 million tonnes of Earthworms have been used in the vermiconversion of urban,
press mud are generated (Yadav, 1995). According to Parthasarthi industrial and agro-industrial wastes to produce biofertilizers
(2006) approximately 12 million tonnes press mud is produced in (Elvira et al., 1998; Gupta and Garg, 2008; Suthar, 2006). It is well
India annually. Due to the prohibitive cost of sludge disposal, it is established that a large number of organic wastes can be ingested
either dumped in open or along roadsides or railway tracks or by earthworms and egested as peat like material termed as vermi-
stored in the sugar mill premises where it causes adverse impacts compost. It is much more fragmented, porous and microbially ac-
on the ambient environment. Apart from this, such practices entail tive than parent material (Edwards et al., 1998; Edwards and
wastage of organic and inorganic nutrients present in the sludge Bohlen, 1996) due to humification and increased decomposition.
that might be put to good use (Elvira et al., 1985). Kaushik and Garg (2003, 2004) have reported the vermicompo-
Press mud has significant fertilizer value as it is a rich source of sting of textile mill sludge using Eisenia fetida. Butt (1993) showed
organic matter, organic carbon, sugar, protein, enzymes, micronu- that solid paper mill sludge was a suitable feed for Lumbricus
trients (N, P and K) and macronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, etc.) and terrestis under laboratory conditions. Elvira et al. (1998) have
reported vermicomposting of paper mill sludge using Eisenia
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 1662 275375; fax: +91 1662 276240.
andrei under laboratory as well as field conditions. Nogales et al.
E-mail address: vinodkgarg@yahoo.com (V.K. Garg). (2005) have reported the vermicomposting of winery waste using

0960-8524/$ - see front matter Ó 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2008.04.022
8700 P. Sangwan et al. / Bioresource Technology 99 (2008) 8699–8704

E. andrei under laboratory conditions. Gajalakshmi et al. (2002) All waste mixtures were turned over manually for 15 days in or-
studied the vermicomposting of paper waste using anecic earth- der to pre-compost it so it becomes palatable to earthworms. After
worm Lampito mauriti. Suthar (2006) has reported the vermicom- 15 days of pre-composting, 5 adult clitellated earthworms of E. fet-
posting of guar gum industrial waste using Perionyx excavatus. ida species were inoculated in each vermicomposter. All the vermi-
Sugarcane processing mill wastewater treatment plant sludge con- composter were operated in dark at a laboratory temperature of
tains a significant percentage of organic matter and is a rich source (25 ± 3 °C). The moisture content was maintained at 70 ± 10% by
of nitrogen. In our laboratory, the work is in progress to explore the periodic sprinkling of distilled water. During the experimental per-
potential of earthworms in management of industrial sludges iod no extra waste mixture was added at any stage in any vermi-
(Kaushik and Garg, 2003, 2004; Garg and Kaushik, 2005). The pres- composter. The worms were separated from vermicomposter by
ent contribution reports the results of laboratory-based experi- hand sorting, counted, washed, dried by paper towels and weighed
ments performed to investigate the ability of earthworms for the weekly and transferred back to the respective vermicomposters.
management of press mud. It was hypothesized that the viability No corrections for gut content were applied to any of the data.
of different vermicomposters would be affected by different per- All the vermicomposters were maintained in triplicate with earth-
centages of press mud and BPS. worm density of five in each container. Same set up for each vermi-
composter was established without worms, which acted as a
2. Methods control.
At the end of experiment worms, cocoons and hatchlings were
2.1. Eisenia fetida, cow dung (CD), biogas plant slurry (BPS) and press removed and so produced vermicompost was air dried at room
mud (PM) temperature and packed in airtight plastic bottles for further phys-
ico-chemical and nutrient content analysis.
Healthy clitellated specimen of E. fetida weighing 350–400 mg
live biomass were randomly picked up for the experiment from 2.3. Physico-chemical analysis
stock culture maintained in the laboratory taking cow dung as cul-
turing medium by authors. All the vermicomposters were operated for 13 weeks and
Fresh CD was collected from an intensively live stocked farm homogenized samples of all feed substrates were drawn at 0, 15,
situated at Hisar, India. Anaerobically digested BPS was collected 30, 45, 60, 75 and 91 days. Here 0 day refer to the day of inocula-
from post-methanation storage tank of an on-farm biogas plant sit- tion of earthworms after pre-composting. The physico-chemical
uated at Agroha, Hisar, India. Sugar mill sludge (PM) was procured analysis was done on dry weight basis. All the chemicals used were
from effluent treatment plant of a sugar mill (The Jind Cooperative analytical reagent (AR) grade. Double distilled water was used for
Sugar Mill Ltd.) located at Jind, India. The main characteristics of analytical work. All the samples were analyzed in triplicate and re-
CD, BPS and PM are given in Table 1. sults were averaged.
The pH was determined using double distilled water suspension
2.2. Experimental set-up of each mixture in ratio of 1:10 (w/v). Total organic carbon (TOC)
was measured using the method of Nelson and Sommers (1982),
Seven waste mixtures having different ratios of BPS and PM Total Kjeldhal nitrogen (TKN) was determined by digesting the
were prepared including one with cow dung and biogas plant slur- samples with conc. H2SO4 and HClO4 (9:1, v/v) by Bremner and
ry each. One hundred and fifty grams of each waste mixture were Mulvaney (1982) procedure. Total phosphate was analyzed by
filled in 1-l circular plastic containers (diameter 16 cm, depth using the spectrophotometric method with molybdenum in sul-
10 cm), called vermicomposter, on dry weight basis. The composi- phuric acid. Total potassium (TK) was determined by flame pho-
tion of different waste mixtures is given in Table 2. tometer (Elico, CL 22 D, Hyderabad, India) after digesting the
sample in diacid mixture (conc. HNO3, conc. HClO4; 4:1, v/v) (Kaus-
hik and Garg, 2004; Bansal and Kapoor, 2000).
Table 1
One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the significant differences
Initial physico-chemical characteristics of different feed materials among different vermicomposters for studied parameters. Tukey’s
test was performed to identify the homogeneous type of vermi-
Parameter Cow dung Biogas plant slurry Press mud
composters for the various parameters. The probability levels used
pH 8.20 ± 0.3 8.10 ± 0.2 7.10 ± 0.2 for statistical significance of tests were p < 0.05.
TOC (g/kg) 499 ± 22 464 ± 21 440 ± 19
TKN (g/kg) 12.8 ± 0.5 15.8 ± 0.9 24 ± 0.7
TP (g/kg) 4.6 ± 0.3 5.50 ± 0.4 5.1 ± 0.6
TK (g/kg) 20.9 ± 1.6 17.4 ± 0.8 8.3 ± 0.9
3. Results and discussion
C:N ratio 39.0 ± 4.5 29.4 ± 3.8 18.3 ± 0.7
3.1. Nutrient quality of the waste mixtures in different
vermicomposters

Table 2 Table 3 shows the nutritional quality of different waste mix-

Initial content (percentage) of different wastes in different vermicomposters
tures and their final products. A decrease in pH was observed in
Vermicomposter Biogas plant Press mud Cow dung all the waste mixtures during vermicomposting (Table 3). Most
number slurry (BPS) (g) (PM) (g) (g) of other reports on vermicomposting (Sangwan et al., 2008; Gunadi
1 0 0 150 (100)a and Edwards, 2003; Garg and Kaushik, 2005) have also reported
2 150 (100)a 0 0 similar results. The decrease in pH may be due to mineralization
3 135 (90)a 15 (10)a 0 of nitrogen and phosphorus into nitrites/nitrates and orthophos-
4 120 (80)a 30 (20)a 0
5 105 (70)a 45 (30)a 0
phates and bioconversion of the organic material into intermediate
6 90 (60)a 60 (40)a 0 species of organic acids (Ndegwa and Thompson, 2000). Different
7 75 (50)a 75 (50)a 0 waste mixtures could result in the production of different interme-
a
The figures in parentheses indicate the percentage content in initial feed
diate species and hence different waste mixtures show a different
mixtures. behavior in pH shift. Decrease in pH in vermicomposter no. 2, 4, 5,
 P. Sangwan et al. / Bioresource Technology 99 (2008) 8699–8704 8701

Table 3
Physico-chemical characteristics of initial waste mixtures and vermicompost obtained from different vermicomposters (g/kg)

Vermicomposters number pH TP TOC TKN TK Ash content

Initial physico-chemical characteristic of waste mixtures in different vermicomposters after pre-composting of 15 days
1 8.0 ± 0.2 4.9 ± 0.2 499 ± 21.6 14.9 ± 1.4 20.7 ± 1.1 140 ± 8.0
2 7.8 ± 0.3 3.8 ± 0.1 464 ± 20.6 16.3 ± 1.2 20.9 ± 1.4 200 ± 12
3 7.7 ± 0.1 4.7 ± 0.4 475 ± 14.6 16.5 ± 1.1 17.6 ± 1.2 180 ± 10
4 7.6 ± 0.2 4.9 ± 0.2 464 ± 17.5 17.5 ± 1.5 17.4 ± 1.2 200 ± 14
5 7.6 ± 0.2 4.3 ± 0.3 452.3 ± 19.6 17.8 ± 1.4 15.3 ± 0.9 220 ± 16
6 7.4 ± 0.1 5.4 ± 0.5 452.4 ± 15 18.1 ± 1.7 13.8 ± 0.7 220 ± 13
7 7.4 ± 0.3 3.5 ± 0.3 440 ± 11.1 18.5 ± 1.9 13.2 ± 1.3 240 ± 17
Nutrient content in the vermicompost obtained from different vermicompostersA (mean ± SE, n = 3)
1 7.4 ± 0.1a 8.5 ± 0.2a 429 ± 21.6a 21.8 ± 4.3a 18.1 ± 0.3a 260 ± 20a
2 6.8 ± 0.1bc 5.9 ± 0.2b 423 ± 17.6a 24 ± 2.6a 18.5 ± 0.5a 270 ± 26.4a
3 7.1 ± 0.2ab 9.5 ± 0.15d 417 ± 19.6a 21 ± 3.6a 15.4 ± 0.4b 280 ± 20a
4 6.7 ± 0.15c 6.9 ± 0.2c 429.3 ± 25.4a 20.8 ± 2.4a 15.6 ± 0.8b 260 ± 10a
5 6.6 ± 0.2c 6.7 ± 0.4bc 440 ± 21.9a 23.3 ± 1.5a 14.5 ± 0.4b 240 ± 10a
6 6.7 ± 0.1c 6.5 ± 0.3bc 417.6 ± 18.6a 26.5 ± 1.5a 12.3 ± 0.6c 280 ± 30a
7 6.8 ± 0.06ac 6.7 ± 0.5bc 417.6 ± 20a 23 ± 2.6a 12.2 ± 0.7c 280 ± 20a
A
Mean values followed by different letters in same column are statistically different (ANOVA; Tukey’s test, p < 0.05).

6 and 7th was insignificant with each other and significant with 1 composters. Final TKN content of the vermicomposts was in the
and 3. Total phosphate (TP) was higher in vermicompost than the range of 26.5 ± 1.5 to 20.8 ± 2.4 g/kg in different vermicomposters.
waste mixtures. It was highest in vermicomposter no. 3 followed The increase was in the range of 1.4 ± 0.3-fold in different vermi-
by 1 and lowest in no. 2 (Table 3). Vermicomposting can be an effi- composters. The increase in TKN content was higher in earth-
cient technology for the transformation of unavailable forms of worm-inoculated vermicomposters than controls without
phosphorus to easily available forms for plants (Ghosh et al., earthworms (Fig. 2). According to Viel et al. (1987) losses in organic
1999). TOC was lesser in all vermicomposters by the end of the ver- carbon might be responsible for nitrogen addition. Addition of
micomposting. TOC loss was 5–14% in different vermicomposters nitrogen in the form of mucous, nitrogenous excretory substances
(Table 3). TOC losses were insignificant (p < 0.05) with each other has been reported which were not initially present in feed sub-
in all the vermicomposters. TOC loss was higher in earthworm con- strates. A decrease in total potassium (TK) was reported in the ver-
taining vermicomposters than controls without worms (Fig. 1). Tri- micompost than the initial feed mixtures (Table 3). Our data is
pathi and Bhardwaj (2004) too have reported a lesser decrease of supported by Orozco et al. (1996) and Kaushik and Garg (2003)
TOC in controls than earthworm inoculated vermicomposters. who reported a decrease in TK in coffee pulp and textile mill
There was an increase in Total Kjeldhal nitrogen (TKN) in all vermi- sludge, respectively, during vermicomposting. This decrease may
be due to leaching of soluble potassium by excess water. The ash
content in the final vermicompost was higher than the initial feed
520 substrates (Table 3). This may be due to mineralization during ver-
micomposting (Gupta et al., 2007; Gupta and Garg, 2008).

500

30
480

25
460
TOC (g/Kg)

20
440
TKN (g/Kg)

15
420

10
400

5
380

360 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Vermicomposter No. Vermicomposter No.

Initial TOC Final TOC Without worm TOC Initial TKN Final TKN without worms TKN

Fig. 1. Changes in TOC during vermicomposting. Fig. 2. Changes in TKN during vermicomposting.
8702 P. Sangwan et al. / Bioresource Technology 99 (2008) 8699–8704

Table 4
Changes in C:N ratio of different vermicomposters during vermicomposting

Vermicomposters number Time (days)

0 30 75 91 Without worms
1 33.5 ± 6.9a 29.7 ± 6.8a 26.3 ± 8.5a 19.6 ± 4.0a 30.2 ± 7.3a
2 28.5 ± 6.1a 22.6 ± 5.0a 21.4 ± 6.3a 17.6 ± 3.5a 25.9 ± 4.6a
3 28.8 ± 5.9a 26.5 ± 6.2a 26.2 ± 7.6a 19.8 ± 3.2a 25.1 ± 4.2a
4 26.5 ± 7.9a 25.7 ± 5.7a 22.8 ± 5.5a 20.1 ± 3.8a 24.3 ± 4.2a
5 25.4 ± 5.3a 24.1 ± 4.8a 22.1 ± 6.1a 18.4 ± 3.9a 23.3 ± 5.0a
6 25.0 ± 6.1a 20 ± 6.0a 17.1 ± 4.5a 18.9 ± 2.8a 22.6 ± 2.5a
7 23.8 ± 5.5a 20.8 ± 6.8a 19.9 ± 4.4a 15.8 ± 2.8a 21.5 ± 4.5a

Mean values followed by different letters are significantly different (ANOVA; Tukey’s test, p < 0.05).

The variation in C:N ratio in different vermicomposters with 1 was insignificant (Table 5). Maximum biomass was attained in
time has been encapsulated in Table 4. The C:N ratio, which is 7th week in all vermicomposters except vermicomposter no. 1.
the indicator of maturity of organic matter, decreased with time After this period a consistent decrease in biomass was observed
in all the feed mixtures. Initial C:N ratios of different waste mix- in all vermicomposters which might be due to exhaustion of food
tures were in the range of 23.8 ± 5.5 to 33.5 ± 6.9 and final C:N ra- (Fig. 3). The maximum net biomass gain was observed in vermi-
tios were in the range of 15.8 ± 2.8 to 20.1 ± 3.8. The C:N ratios of composter no. 4 (886 ± 42 mg/earthworm) and minimum was ob-
worm-inoculated vermicomposters were lesser than controls served in vermicomposter no. 1 (522 ± 29.3 mg/worm). The worm
without worms. The differences in C:N ratios of the final product biomass gain in vermicomposter no. 4 was 1.4 ± 0.3-fold greater
obtained from different vermicomposters were insignificant than other vermicomposters (Table 5).
(p < 0.05). The loss of carbon as carbon dioxide in the process of The growth rate (mg biomass gained/worm/day) has been con-
respiration and production of mucus and nitrogenous excreta en- sidered a good comparative index to compare the growth of earth-
hance the level of nitrogen, which lower the C:N ratio (Senapati worms in different feeds (Edwards et al., 1998). The highest growth
et al., 1980). rate (18.1 ± 0.85 mg/worm/day) was observed in vermicomposter
no. 4. The lowest growth rate was obtained in vermicomposter
3.2. Growth and fecundity of E. fetida in different vermicomposters no. 1 (6.8 ± 0.38 mg/worm/day) (Table 5). Average biomass pro-
duction per unit of feed mixture was also highest in vermicompos-
All the vermicomposters were operated for 13 weeks and there ter no. 4 and minimum in vermicomposter no. 1.
was no mortality in any vermicomposter during this period. But Table 6 describes the reproductive potential of E. fetida in differ-
earthworms’ showed different behavior in terms of growth and ent vermicomposters. All the worms were clitellated and sexually
reproduction in different vermicomposters. Fig. 3 shows the mature in all vermicomposters. Cocoon production was started in
weekly growth curves of E. fetida in different vermicomposters. 3rd week in vermicomposters no. 1–3 but in 4th week in vermi-
Maximum earthworm biomass was observed in the vermicompos- composters no. 4–7. After 13 weeks maximum number of cocoons
ter no. 4 (1264 ± 33.4 mg/earthworm) which was significantly was observed in vermicomposter no. 6 (228 ± 15.7), followed by 7,
higher (p < 0.05) from all other vermicomposters. The minimum 5 and 4, 3, 2 and 1 (Table 5). The variation in the number of co-
biomass was observed in vermicomposter no. 2 (918 ± 22 mg/ coons in vermicomposter no. 4–7 was insignificant (p < 0.05). The
earthworm). The biomass variation in vermicomposters no. 2 and cocoon production in vermicomposter no. 6 was 3.6, 2.9, 1.3, 1.3,
1.1 and 1.1 times greater than the vermicomposter no. 1–5 and
7, respectively.
The mean number of cocoons produced per worm per day was
1400
highest in vermicomposter no. 6 and minimum was in vermicom-
poster no. 1. The maximum number of hatchlings was observed in
1200
vermicomposter no. 5 followed by vermicomposter no. 4, 3, 6, 7, 2
Mean individual biomass (mg)

and 1 (Table 6). The maximum numbers of clitellated hatchlings

1000 were reported in vermicomposter no. 7. Maximum biomass of
hatchlings was also reported in vermicomposter no. 7 followed
800 by no. 5. It was due to the more growth of hatchlings in these ver-
micomposters (Table 6). The difference between biomass and co-
coon production in different vermicomposters could be related to
600
the biochemical quality of the waste mixtures, which is one of
the important factors in determining onset of cocoon production
400 (Flack and Hartenstein, 1984). Recently, Suthar (2007) reported
that along with feed quality the microbial biomass and decompo-
200 sition activities are also important. After the 11th week biomass
decrease was observed in all vermicomposters. It may be due to
0 the exhaustion of food. When E. fetida received food below a main-
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 tenance level, it lost weight at a rate, which depended upon the
Week No. quantity and nature of its ingestible substrates (Neuhauser et al.,
vermicomposter No. 1 vermicomposter No. 2 1980). The feeds that provide earthworms with a sufficient amount
vermicomposter No. 3 vermicomposter No. 4 of easily metabolizable organic matter and non-assimilated carbo-
vermicomposter No. 5 vermicomposter No. 6
vermicomposter No. 7
hydrates favor the growth and reproduction of the earthworms
(Edwards, 1988). The results showed higher growth and reproduc-
Fig. 3. Growth curves of Eisenia fetida in different vermicomposters. tion of earthworms in vermicomposters containing BPS and press
 P. Sangwan et al. / Bioresource Technology 99 (2008) 8699–8704 8703

Table 5
Growth of E. fetida (mean ± SD) in different vermicomposters (n = 3)

Vermicomposter Mean initial biomass/ Maximum biomass Maximum biomass Net biomass gain/ Growth rate/ Biomass gained per unit
number earthworm (mg) achieved/earthworm (mg) achieved in (week) earthworm (mg) worm/day (mg) feed waste (mg/g)
1 400 ± 17.4ab 922 ± 19.7a 11th 522 ± 29.3a 6.8 ± 0.38a 3.4 ± 0.21a
2 368 ± 16.5a 918 ± 22a 7th 550 ± 27.0abc 11.2 ± 0.55b 3.7 ± 0.18a
3 374 ± 12.5ab 1052 ± 23.1b 7th 678 ± 33.7bd 13.8 ± 0.68d 4.5 ± 0.23b
4 378 ± 10.4ab 1264 ± 33.4c 7th 886 ± 42c 18.1 ± 0.85c 5.9 ± 0.28c
5 378 ± 8.7ab 1180 ± 21.3d 7th 804 ± 25.1ce 16.4 ± 0.51ce 5.4 ± 0.16cd
6 400 ± 14.8ab 1160 ± 27.8d 7th 760 ± 34.7de 15.5 ± 0.71de 5.1 ± 0.23bd
7 412 ± 11.8b 1152 ± 11.8d 7th 740 ± 20.4de 15.1 ± 0.42de 4.9 ± 0.14bd

Mean values followed by different letters in same column are statistically different (ANOVA; Tukey’s test, p < 0.05).

Table 6
Reproduction by E. fetida (mean ± SD) in different vermicomposters (n = 3)

Vermicomposter Cocoon production started Total no. of cocoons after Reproduction rate Total no. of No. of clitellated Biomass of
number in (week) 91 days (cocoons/worm) hatchlings hatchlings hatchlings (g)
1 3rd 63 ± 7.5a 12.6 ± 1.5ab 20 ± 3.0a Nil 0.5 ± 0.03a
2 3rd 79 ± 12.3a 15.8 ± 2.5a 31.6 ± 6.6a 2 ± 0.1 0.7 ± 0.06a
3 3rd 177 ± 14.1b 35.4 ± 2.8c 177.3 ± 18.0b 4 ± 0.3 2.6 ± 0.4b
4 4th 180 ± 20.0b 36 ± 4.0c 179.3 ± 16.2b 5 ± 0.6 1.8 ± 0.2c
5 4th 201 ± 18.5bc 40.2 ± 3.7bcd 195 ± 23.6b 7 ± 0.9 3.4 ± 0.2d
6 4th 228 ± 15.7c 45.6 ± 3.14d 175 ± 19.1b 5 ± 0.4 2.4 ± 0.3bc
7 4th 204 ± 18.3bc 40.8 ± 3.7cd 161 ± 17.5b 10 ± 2.0 6.3 ± 0.4e

Mean values followed by different letters are statistically different (ANOVA; Tukey’s test, p < 0.05).

mud than control. Sangwan et al. (2008) have observed similar re- Edwards, C.A., Bohlen, P.J., 1996. Biology and Ecology of Earthworm, third ed.
Chapman and Hall, New York/London.
sults in waste mixtures of filter cake and horse dung.
Edwards, C.A., Dominguez, J., Neuhauser, E.F., 1998. Growth and reproduction of
Perionyx excavatus (Perr.) (Megascolecidae) as factors in organic waste
4. Conclusion management. Biol. Fertil. Soils 27, 155–161.
Elvira, C., Sampedro, L., Dominguez, J., Mato, S., 1985. Vermicomposting for the
paper pulp industry. Biocycle 36 (6), 62–63.
Press mud has significant fertilizer value but due to prohibitive Elvira, C., Sampedro, L., Benitez, E., Nogales, R., 1998. Vermicomposting of sludge
cost of sludge disposal, it is dumped in open where it adversely af- from paper mill and dairy industries with Eisenia andrei: a pilot scale study.
Bioresour. Technol. 64, 205–211.
fects the ambient environment. Apart from this, such practices en- Flack, F.M., Harte nstein, R., 1984. Growth of the earthworm Eisenia fetida on
tail wastage of organic and inorganic nutrients present in the pres microorganisms and cellulose. Soils Biol. Biochem. 16, 491–495.
mud that might be put to good use. The management and nutrient Gajalakshmi, S., Ramasamy, E.V., Abbasi, S.A., 2002. Vermicomposting of paper
waste with the anecic earthworm Lampito mauriti Kingburg. Indian J. Chem.
recovery from press mud has been attempted by vermicomposting
Technol. 9, 306–311.
after mixing it with biogas plant slurry in appropriate quantities. Garg, V.K., Kaushik, P., 2005. Vermistablisation of solid textile mill sludge spiked
The final products was nutrient rich, odour free, more mature with poultry droppings by an epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida. Bioresour.
Technol. 96, 1063–1071.
and stabilized. The results showed that carbon content was de-
Ghosh, M., Chattopadhyay, G.N., Baral, K., 1999. Transformation of phosphorus
creased during the process and nitrogen content was enhanced. during vermicomposting. Bioresour. Technol. 69, 149–154.
The C:N ratio decreased with time in all the feed mixtures indicat- Gunadi, B., Edwards, C.A., 2003. The effect of multiple applications of different
ing a stabilization of the waste. The product so obtained can be organic wastes on the growth, fecundity and survival of Eisenia fetida (Savigny)
(Lumbricidae). Pedobiologia 47 (4), 321–330.
used in agricultural fields as manure. Maximum earthworm bio- Gupta, R., Garg, V.K., 2008. Stabilization of primary sewage sludge during
mass was observed in the vermicomposter 80% BPS + 20% PM feed vermicomposting. J. Hazard. Mater. 153, 1023–1030.
mixture which was significantly higher (p < 0.05) from all other Gupta, R., Mutiyar, P., Rawat, N., Saini, M.S., Garg, V.K., 2007. Development of water
hycinth based vermireactor using an epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida.
feeds. This study provides a platform for the utilization of press Bioresour. Technol. 98, 2605–2610.
mud amended with BPS for the process of vermicomposting. Our Kaushik, P., Garg, V.K., 2003. Vermicomposting of mixed solid textile mill sludge
results demonstrate that if press mud is mixed 30–50% with BPS and cow dung with the epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida. Bioresour. Technol. 90,
311–316.
and vermicomposted employing E. fetida, its manurial value can Kaushik, P., Garg, V.K., 2004. Dynamics of biological and chemical parameters
be increased, so avoiding its harmful effects on the environment. during vermicomposting of solid textile mill sludge mixed with cow dung and
agricultural residues. Bioresour. Technol. 94, 203–209.
Murty, M.N., Kumar, S., Paul, M., 2006. Environmental regulation, productive
References
efficiency and cost of pollution abatement: a case study of sugar industry in
India. J. Environ. Manage. 79, 1–9.
Bansal, S., Kapoor, K.K., 2000. Vermicomposting of crop residues and cattle dung Ndegwa, P.M., Thompson, S.A., 2000. Effects of stocking density and feeding rate on
with Eisenia fetida. Bioresour. Technol. 73, 95–98. vermicomposting of biosolids. Bioresour. Technol. 71, 5–12.
Bhawalkar, V.S., Bhawalkar, V.V., 1993. Vermiculture biotechnology. In: Thampan, Nelson, D.W., Sommers, L.E., 1982. Total carbon and organic carbon and organic
P.K. (Ed.), Organic Farming in Soil Health and Crop Production. Peekay Tree matter. In: Page, A.L., Miller, R.H., Keeney, D.R. (Eds.), Method of Soil Analysis.
Crops Development Foundation, Cochin, pp. 69–85. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, pp. 539–579.
Bremner, J.M., Mulvaney, R.G., 1982. Nitrogen total. In: Page, A.L., Miller, R.H., Neuhauser, E.F., Hartenstein, R., Kaplan, D.L., 1980. Growth of the earthworm Eisenia
Keeney, D.R. (Eds.), Method of Soil Analysis. American Society of Agronomy, fetida in relation to population density and food rationing. OIKOS 35, 93–98.
Madison, pp. 575–624. Nogales, R., Cifuentes, C., Benitez, E., 2005. Vermicomposting of winery wastes: a
Butt, K.R., 1993. Utilization of solid paper mill sludge and spent brewery yeast as a laboratory study. J. Environ. Sci. Health Pt. B 40, 659–673.
feed for soil-dwelling earthworms. Bioresour. Technol. 44, 105–107. Orozco, F.H., Cegarra, J., Trujillo, L.M., Roig, A., 1996. Vermicomposting of coffee pulp
Edwards, C.A., 1988. Breakdown of animal, vegetable and industrial organic wastes using the earthworm Eisenia fetida: effects on C and N contents and the
by earthworm. In: Edwards, C.A., Neuhauser, E.F. (Eds.), Earthworms in Waste availability of nutrients. Biol. Fertil. Soils 22, 162–166.
and Environmental Management. SPB, The Hague, pp. 21–31.
8704 P. Sangwan et al. / Bioresource Technology 99 (2008) 8699–8704

Parthasarthi, K., 2006. Aging of press mud vermicasts of Lampito mauriti (Kinberg) Suthar, S., 2007. Nutrient changes and biodynamics of epigeic earthworm Perionyx
and Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg) – reduction in microbial population and excavatus (perrier) during recycling of some agriculture wastes. Bioresour.
activity. J. Environ. Biol. 27 (2), 221–223. Technol. 98, 1608–1614.
Ranganathan, L.S., Parthasarathi, K., 1999. Precocious development of Lampito Thopate, A.M., Hapase, P.R., Jadhau, S.B., 1997. Sugarcane by-products-an important
mauriti (Kinberg) and Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg) reared in pressmud. source for vermicompost production. Seminar on Recycling of Biomass and
Pedobiologia 43, 904–908. Industrial By-products of Sugarcane. TNAU, Cuddalore, India. pp. 49–53.
Rao, P.J.M., 2005. Comparative performance of cane sugar industry in seven Tripathi, G., Bhardwaj, P., 2004. Comparative studies on biomass production, life
countries. Cooperat. Sugar 37 (1), 49–52. cycles and composting efficiency of Eisenia fetida (Savigny) and Lampito mauriti
Sangwan, P., Kaushik, C.P., Garg, V.K., 2008. Feasibility of utilization of horse dung (Kinberg). Bioresour. Technol. 95, 77–83.
spiked filter cake in vermicomposters using exotic earthworm Eisenia fetida. Viel, M., Sayag, D., Andre, L., 1987. Optimization of agricultural, industrial waste
Bioresour. Technol. 99, 2442–2448. management through in-vessel composting. In: de Bertoldi, M. (Ed.), Compost:
Sen, B., Chandra, T.S., 2006. Chemolytic and solid-state spectroscopic evaluation of Production, Quality and Use. Elsevier Applied Science, Essex, pp. 230–237.
organic matter transformation during vermicomposting of sugar industry Yadav, D.V., 1995. Recycling of sugar factory press mud in agriculture. In: Tandon,
waste. Bioresour. Technol. 98, 1680–1683. H.L.S. (Ed.), Recycling of Crop, Animal, Human and Industrial Wastes in
Senapati, B.K., Dash, M.C., Rane, A.K., Panda, B.K., 1980. Observation on the effect of Agriculture. Fertilizer Development and Consultation Organization
earthworms in the decomposition process in soil under laboratory conditions. Publication, New Delhi, pp. 91–108.
Comp. Physiol. Ecol. 5, 140–142. Yaduvanshi, N.P.S., Yadav, D.V., 1990. Effect of sulphitation press mud and nitrogen
Suthar, S., 2006. Potential utilization of guar gum industrial waste in vermicompost fertilizer on biomass, nitrogen economy, plant composition in sugarcane and
production. Bioresour. Technol. 97, 2474–2477. soil chemical properties. J. Agric. Sci. 114, 259–263.