title: Feasibility of vermicomposting for vegetable greenhouse waste recycling.
abstract: This study was conducted in order to evaluate the feasibility of Eisenia andrei for vermicomposting heterogeneous-plant (HP), tomato-plant (P), and damaged tomato-fruit (T) greenhouse vegetable wastes. Earthworm growth and reproduction were monitored over a 12-week period, and variations in chemical parameters, enzyme activity, phytotoxicity test, and genetic fingerprinting of bacterial communities were evaluated. While high rates of salinity prevented earthworm survival in HP and P (>10 dS m(-1)), T was vermicomposted recording an adequate earthworm growth and cocoon production. The latter waste was successfully stabilized, as indicated by the significant decrease in its TOC content ( approximately 13-26%) and C:N ratio ( approximately 16-36%) and its high germination indices ( approximately 39-72%). The similar enzyme activities levels and bacterial community fingerprintings recorded in diverse vermicomposts obtained from T waste indicate that this type of waste favoured the existence of analogous bacterial communities responsible for the high degree of stabilization and maturity detected.
authors: Department of Environmental Protection, Estación Experimental del Zaidín (EEZ), CSIC, Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain. manuelj.fernandez@eez.csic.es
authors: Manuel J
authors: MJ
authors: Fernández-Gómez
authors: Esperanza
authors: E
authors: Romero
authors: Rogelio
authors: R
authors: Nogales
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D018525:Germination; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000378:metabolism*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D059027:Recycling; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012098:Reproduction; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012987:Soil; D012964:Sodium