title: Nutrient changes and biodynamics of Eisenia fetida during vermicomposting of water lettuce (Pistia sp.) biomass: a noxious weed of aquatic system.
abstract: This paper reports the results of vermicomposting of water lettuce biomass (WL) spiked with cow dung at ratios of 20, 40, 60, and 80 % employing Eisenia fetida. A total of four treatments were established and changes in chemical properties of mixtures were observed. Vermicomposting caused a decrease in pH, TOC, volatile solids, and C/N ratio by 1.01-1.08-fold, 0.85-0.92-fold, 0.94-0.96-fold, 0.56-0.70-fold, respectively, but increase in EC,totN,totP,totK,totCa,totZn,totFe, andtotCu, by 1.19-1.42-fold, 1.33-1.68-fold, 1.38-1.69-fold, 1.13-1.24-fold, 1.04-1.11-fold, 1.16-1.37-fold, 1.05-1.113-fold, 1.10-1.27-fold, respectively. Overall, the treatment with 60-80 % of WL showed the maximum decomposition and mineralization rates. The earthworm showed the growth and reproduction rate in considerable ranges in all treatment setups but setups with 60-80 % WL proportion exhibited the optimum results. Results reveal that biomass of water lettuce can be utilized effectively for production of valuable manure through vermicomposting system.
authors.affiliation: School of Environment & Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248001, India. suthariitd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Surindra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suthar
authors.affiliation: School of Environment & Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248001, India.
authors.forename: Bhawna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: School of Environment & Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248001, India.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gusain
authors.affiliation: School of Environment & Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248001, India.
authors.forename: Rubia Zahid
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Gaur
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, National Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110040, India.
authors.forename: Kapil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029064:Araceae; D018533:Biomass; D002417:Cattle; D005243:Feces; D008372:Manure; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D057685:Plant Weeds; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008372:Manure; D012987:Soil
keywords: Aquatic weeds; Biohazards; C/N ratio; E. fetida; Nutrient recycling; Waste recycling