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Management of sugar mill industry sludge by vermicomposting employing Eisenia foetida and Perionyx excavatus

N.M.Ghadge, Jay S.Samant

The sugar industry semi-solid sludge, despite repeated recycling, requires treatment prior to disposal. The present study was carried out to dispose the sugarmill sludge biologically using two earthwormspecies like Eisenia foetida (exotic species) and Perionyx excavatus (indigenous species). The sugar mill sludge was mixed with bedding material, by the 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%(V/V) proportion. During study, all vermi-beds were analyzed for chemical changes (i.e. pH, Organic Carbon, Total Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium) content of waste before and after treatment. The total number of cocoonwas greater in 25%concentration of sludge for Eisenia foetida species and 10% concentration for Perionyx excavatus species as compared with control. Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content of the wastes were significantly increased after the treatment with two species of earthworms. The 25%and 10%mixing of the sludge were recommended for the vermi-culture and vermicompost Eisenia foetida and Perionyx excavatus species respectively. It could be concluded that sugar industry sludge was toxic to a remarkable extent.