Enumeration of synergistic relationship between carbon dioxide evaluation and nutrient budget during vermicomposting of cereal grain processing industry sludge

Abstract

Despite the growing concerns about global warming issues, very little emphasis is being given to understand the dynamics of CO2 emission in a vermicomposting system. The present study was designed to investigate the synergistic relationship between nutrient budget and CO2 evaluation rate during the vermistabilization of cereal grain processing industry sludge employing Perionyx excavatus. The results obtained from Principal Component Analysis and correlation studies revealed a negative correlation among both variables indicating that a periodical increase in nutrient budget decreases the CO2 evaluation rate during vermicomposting. The vermicomposting treatment containing 5 % Cow dung was deemed superior in terms of physico-chemical, maturity, phytotoxicity as well as nutritional parameters (pH, Conductivity, Total organic carbon, exchangeable acidity, heavy metal content, BOD, COD, NPK). Finally, statistical interpretation coupled with apropos analysis was employed to conclude that enriching the raw materials prior to any vermicomposting practice is key to reducing the emission of CO2.