Substrate 0 days 20 days 40 days TOC TKN TOC TKN TOC TKN Control 36.00 ± 0.12* 0.95 ± 0.21 27.74 ± 0.01* 1.49 ± 0.10* 25.66 ± 0.20* 1.39 ± 0.01* S1 45.50 ± 0.21* 0.92 ± 0.01 33.66 ± 0.15* 1.57 ± 0.12 27.70 ± 0.15* 1.42 ± 0.02 S2 53.40 ± 0.25* 0.93 ± 0.03 49.40 ± 0.18* 1.45 ± 0.10 41.50 ± 0.01* 1.42 ± 0.01 S3 55.00 ± 0.10* 0.84 ± 0.02 53.40 ± 0.20* 1.48 ± 0.10 51.48 ± 0.01* 1.36 ± 0.10 S4 47.52 ± 0.10* 0.86 ± 0.01 45.50 ± 0.05* 1.42 ± 0.20 43.56 ± 0.05* 1.32 ± 0.01 S5 35.64 ± 0.21 0.84 ± 0.03 33.66 ± 0.31* 0.89 ± 0.10* 31.68 ± 0.24* 0.81 ± 0.02*

All values are mean (n=3) ± S.D. and given in percentage. *Significant (P<0.001).

Table 3: Percentage of total organic carbon (TOC), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) in different substrate composition during microbial composting (0–20 days) and subsequent vermicomposting (20 days).