Vermiremediation of toxic jute mill waste employing Metaphire posthuma.
India has a giant jute-producing basket which produces considerable quantity of toxic jute mill waste (JMW). Conversely, report on usability potential of JMW is rather scanty. The present study illustrates the efficiency of vermicomposting in bioconversion of JMW for agricultural use. Various combinations of JMW, cow dung, and vegetable waste were fed to Metaphire posthuma in vermireactors. Rapid increment of earthworm count, body weight, and cocoon production was evidenced. Total organic carbon and pH reduction was noteworthy, but N, P, and K availability, formation of stable humic acid C, fulvic acid C, and microbial biomass C substantially increased due to vermicomposting. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed a higher stability of vermicomposted JMW over the composted product. A significant decline in heavy metal concentration (Cr, Pb, Fe, and Zn) in the vermicomposted JMW further establishes the potential of vermicomposting with M. posthuma in successful conversion of the toxic JMW into valuable product.
Soil & Agro Bio-engineering Lab, Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, Assam, India.
Subhasish
S
Das
Soil & Agro Bio-engineering Lab, Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, Assam, India.
Priyanka
P
Deka
Soil & Agro Bio-engineering Lab, Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, Assam, India.
Linee
L
Goswami
Soil & Agro Bio-engineering Lab, Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, Assam, India.
Banashree
B
Sahariah
Soil & Agro Bio-engineering Lab, Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, Assam, India.
Nazneen
N
Hussain
Soil & Agro Bio-engineering Lab, Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, Assam, India. satya72@tezu.ernet.in.
Satya Sundar
SS
Bhattacharya
D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D002417:Cattle; D032381:Corchorus / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D007194:India; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000254:growth & development*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis
D006256:Hazardous Waste; D006812:Humic Substances; D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
Jute waste; Metal remediation; Metaphire posthuma; Seed viability; Vermicomposting