Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, PBX1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.
Waste Manag. 2014 Nov;34(11):2000-6. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2014.05.018. Epub 2014 Jul 1.
Vermitechnology is gaining recognition as an environmental friendly waste management strategy. Its successful implementation requires that the key operational parameters like earthworm stocking density be established for each target waste/waste mixture. One target waste mixture in South Africa is waste paper mixed with cow dung and rock phosphate (RP) for P enrichment. This study sought to establish optimal Eisenia fetida stocking density for maximum P release and rapid bioconversion of RP enriched cow dung-paper waste mixtures. E. fetida stocking densities of 0, 7.5, 12.5, 17.5 and 22.5 g-worms kg(-1) dry weight of cow dung-waste paper mixtures were evaluated. The stocking density of 12.5 g-worms kg(-1) resulted in the highest earthworm growth rate and humification of the RP enriched waste mixture as reflected by a C:N ratio of <12 and a humic acid/fulvic acid ratio of >1.9 in final vermicomposts. A germination test revealed that the resultant vermicompost had no inhibitory effect on the germination of tomato, carrot, and radish. Extractable P increased with stocking density up to 22.5 g-worm kg(-1) feedstock suggesting that for maximum P release from RP enriched wastes a high stocking density should be considered.
蚯蚓生物技术作为一种环保的废物管理策略正在得到认可。其成功实施需要确定关键操作参数，如蚯蚓放养密度，以适应每种目标废物/废物混合物。在南非，一种目标废物混合物是用牛粪和磷矿粉（RP）混合的废纸，用于 P 富集。本研究旨在确定最佳的赤子爱胜蚓放养密度，以实现最大的 P 释放和 RP 富集的牛粪-废纸废物混合物的快速生物转化。评估了 0、7.5、12.5、17.5 和 22.5 g-蚯蚓 kg(-1) 牛粪-废纸混合物干重的蚯蚓放养密度。12.5 g-蚯蚓 kg(-1) 的放养密度导致蚯蚓生长速度最快，RP 富集废物混合物腐殖化程度最高，最终堆肥中的 C:N 比<12，腐殖酸/富里酸比>1.9。发芽试验表明，所得堆肥对番茄、胡萝卜和萝卜的发芽没有抑制作用。可提取的 P 随放养密度的增加而增加，最高可达 22.5 g-蚯蚓 kg(-1) 饲料，这表明从 RP 富集废物中释放最大量的 P 时，应考虑采用高放养密度。
