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Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

Year: 2013 | Volume: 6 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 63-78
DOI: 10.3923/jest.2013.63.78
Effects of Various C/N Ratios During Vermicomposting of Sewage Sludge Using Eisenia fetida
Ashish Kumar Nayak, V. Sudharsan Varma and Ajay S. Kalamdhad

Abstract: Sewage sludge is an unavoidable by-product of wastewater treatment processes; its disposal is generally costly or easy to contaminate the environment. Being rich in micro-and macronutrients; therefore, the present study is aimed at alteration of sewage sludge into quality compost product using vermicomposting. In addition, nutrients balance plays a crucial role in the composting process which is expressed as, Carbon to Nitrogen (C/N) ratio. Hence, compost materials were prepared by mixing sewage sludge, cattle manure and saw dust in five different proportions (R1, C/N 15; R2, C/N 20; R3, C/N 25; R4, C/N 30 and R5, control) based on C/N ratios employing an epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida. The results showed that carbon content was decreased during the process and nitrogen content was enhanced. The C/N ratio decreased with time in all the reactors indicating a stabilization of the waste and it can be used in agricultural fields as manure. It was observed that the trial R4 of C/N ratio 30 using sewage sludge along with cattle manure and saw dust produced the best compost, showed higher loss in Total Organic Carbon (TOC), soluble Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and higher gain in total nitrogen and phosphorus, implying the total amount of biodegradable organic material is stabilized. In addition, higher final concentration of nutrients and limited metal content suited the quality of compost.

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How to cite this article
Ashish Kumar Nayak, V. Sudharsan Varma and Ajay S. Kalamdhad, 2013. Effects of Various C/N Ratios During Vermicomposting of Sewage Sludge Using Eisenia fetida. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 6: 63-78.

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