Comparative Analysis of Vermicomposting Practices Utilizing Agroforestry Farm Materials

Comparative Analysis of Vermicomposting Practices

Abstract

Vermicomposting is an effective and eco-friendly method of converting biodegradable materials into fertilizers that promote plant growth and development. This study aimed to assess the efficiency and quality of vermicompost and vermiworms produced using combinations of biodegradable farm materials in agroforestry systems. The materials used for the 6 treatments included combinations of the following materials: fresh leaves of leguminous plants (Gliricidia sepium, Flemingia macrophylla, and Senna spectabilis), fresh cattle manure, and other plant materials (rice straw and banana trunk). Using a 90:10 ratio of plant residues and cattle manure, respectively, a substrate of 100 kg was prepared for each treatment stocked with 350 g (39 worms) of African nightcrawlers (Eudrilus eugeniae). The 6 treatments were: G. sepium leaves, cattle manure, banana trunk (T1); G. sepium leaves, cattle manure, rice straw (T2); F. macrophylla leaves, cattle manure, banana trunk (T3); F. macrophylla leaves, cattle manure, rice straw (T4); S. spectabilis leaves, cattle manure, banana trunk (T5); and S. spectabilis leaves, cattle manure, rice straw (T6). Results revealed that T2 produced the highest quantity of vermicast, which is significantly higher than all other treatments except T4. Both T5 and T6 had significantly lower vermicast output than all other treatments, while the top 3 treatments with good vermicast quality were T5, T1, and T2. The treatments that produced the highest amount of vermiworms (800 g) were T3 and T4, while the least amount (275 g) was observed in T5, with no significant difference observed across all treatments. Overall, the findings suggest that T5 has the potential to produce good-quality vermicast (N, P, K, organic matter, and organic carbon), while T1 and T2 may yield substantial quantities of good-quality vermicast compared with the other treatments due to high organic raw material recovery efficiency and good chemical composition of the vermicast.