Juxtaposing the quality of compost and vermicompost produced from organic wastes amended with cow dung

Composting is a propitious technology to change bio-degradable solid waste into organic fertilizers. Considering this, five types of organic waste viz., leaf litter (Tectona grandis), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), cauliflower waste (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis), coir pith, and mushroom spent waste were composted with and without the use of earthworm (Eisenia fetida). The reaction (pH) and electrical conductivity of compost and vermicompost ranged from 6.98 to 7.45 and 6.97 to 7.36, 0.11 to 0.21 dSm−1, and 0.11 to 0.25 dSm−1, respectively. The chemical oxygen demand both the compost and vermicompost ranged from 687 to 1170 mg l−1 and 633–980 mg l−1 respectively. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) ranged from, 75 to 121 (c mol (p+) kg−1, and 80 to 127 (c mol (p+) kg−1, respectively. The C:N of compost and vermicompost varied from 16:1 to 33:1 and 12:1 to 19:1, respectively. The organic carbon content was decreased (18.3–38.7%), while secondary and micronutrient contents increased over the initial concentration. The NH4+ and NO3− content of compost and vermicompost ranged from 270 to 510 mg kg−1 and 230–430 mg kg−1, 560 to 105 mg kg−1, and 690–1100 mg kg−1, respectively. The nitrification index (NH4+/NO3−) ranged from 0.3 to 0.9 in composts and 0.3 to 0.6 in vermicomposts. The dehydrogenase and urease activity varied from 685 to 1696 μg g−1 hr−1 and 938–2549 μg TPF g−1 day−1 respectively. The bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes population were 2–3, 0.3–0.7 and 3–8 times more in vermicompost over the corresponding compost. This study confirmed that compared to compost, vermicompost showed better nutrients and microbial properties.