Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Open Access

Abstract

Large volumes of organic and inorganic wastes are produced all over the world due to unprecedented increase in population, unplanned urbanization and inadequate industrial and agricultural techniques. Disposal of these wastes has become a major problem in recent years due to shortage of dumping sites, more strict national waste disposal regulations and public awareness. Sugar industry sludge resulting from different industrial operations and wastewater treatment plants commonly known as filter cake, is identified as a heavily polluter and it has potentially harmful effects on the public health and ambient environment. It causes odour problem and potential source of surface and ground water pollution. It is generally managed through destructive methods like incineration and land filling which have their own limitations and such practices also entail wastage of organic and inorganic nutrients present in the sludge that might be put to good use. So in this study a scientific and cost effective approach was adopted in which six different vermibins were established with filter cake mixed with other organic wastes like cow dung, horse dung and Bio gas plant slurry mixed with parthenium which is also a very harmful weed, in different ratios and inoculated with an epegeic E. fetida worms. Experiments were conducted for 13 weeks in laboratory under controlled environmental conditions and monitored for physico-chemical changes at regular intervals for pH, total organic carbon, total available phosphorus, total calcium, total potassium, C: N ratio and heavy metals like Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Ni. A significant decrease in the pH, TK and C: N ratio and increase in TKN, TAP, and TC showed that the final product was value added and more stabilized than the initial substrates. Total micronutrients in vermicompost obtained were lower than the maximum levels allowed and falls in the range of European and American limits of micronutrients in the compost. Based on the investigations it is concluded that vermitechnology can be an alternative technology for the management of filter cake and to reclaim the valuable substances present in the waste for possible reuse as soil conditioners.

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