Investigation of rice straw and kitchen waste degradation through vermicomposting

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of vermicomposting on the degradation of rice straw and kitchen waste. Different ratios of straw and kitchen waste mixtures were used as feedstocks. After vermicomposting the substrates for 45 days under 20–25 °C moisture 60%, the vermicomposting resulted in a significant increase in phosphorous (31.38–55.89%) and potassium (33.40–63.15%), whereas a decrease was seen in TOC (38.24–43.49%) as well as TN (9.01–32.52%). The growth rate of earthworm (Eisenia foetida) was obtained in all feedstocks, the optimal rice straw/kitchen waste ratio for the earthworm growth was 3/2, excessive kitchen waste as negative impacts on the growth of earthworms. The result indicated that vermicomposting rice straw and kitchen waste with Eisenia foetida promoted nutrition content in a short period of time.