BENEFICIAL INFLUENCE OF ELEPHANT DUNG ON CONVENTIONAL VERMICOMPOSTING TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

The study was aimed to evaluate the nutrient element of vermicompost produced from different vermibed materials viz elephant dung and cow dung. Triplicate vermireactors were run distinctly by the addition of precomposted cow dung, elephant dung and garden soil with various proportions, which comprises 100% elephant dung, 100% cow dung, 50% elephant dung+50% cow dung, 50% elephant dung+50% garden soil and 50% cow dung+50%garden soil. Vermireactors were operated with ten individuals of fully clitellated earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae and maintained for 45 days. The result revealed that all the macro nutrients were found to be significantly higher in compost made from elephant dung as one of the vermibed material. The C/N ratio was decreased in all vermicompost and maximum reduction was observed in elephant dung compost by 11.28 ± 0.48. The pH of the vermicompost was neutralized and slightly alkaline which indicate the maturity and stability of the vermicompost. The present studies were concluded that the supplementation of elephant dung along with conventional vermiculture practices has the potential to increase the bioenrichment of the vermicompost.