Vermicomposting of Animal Dung and its Laboratory Evaluation

A laboratory studies were conducted on the evaluation of vermicompost obtained from Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and FYM prepared from the same feedstock by only thermophilic processing. Processing of animal dung at a moisture content of around 60% consisted of 6 treatments (T 1 ) no earthworms, no moisture, no turning, no microbial culture (E 0 M 0 T 0 C 0 ), (T 2 ) no earthworms, moisture, weekly turning, no microbial culture (E 0 M 1 T 1 C 0 ), (T 3 ) Eisenia fetida earthworms, moisture,weekly turning, no microbial culture (E 1 M 1 T1C 0 ), (T 4 ) Eisenia fetida earthworms, moisture, no turning, no microbial culture (E 1 M 1 T 0 C 0 ), (T 5 ) no earthworms, moisture, weekly turning, microbial culture added (E 0 M 1 T 1 C 1 ), (T 6 ) Eisenia fetida earthworms, moisture, weekly turning, microbial culture added (E 1 M 1 T 1 C 1 ). Laboratory analysis for nutrient composition revealed that there was no appreciable change in nutrient composition in the vermicompost over FYM. Therefore, composting the animal dung by scientific means is as efficient as vermicomposting the animal dung.