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A review on vermicomposting of organic wastes
Author(s) -
Ali Usman,
Sajid Nida,
Khalid Azeem,
Riaz Luqman,
Rabbani Muhammad Muaz,
Syed Jabir Hussain,
Malik Riffat Naseem
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
environmental progress and sustainable energy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.495
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1944-7450
pISSN - 1944-7442
DOI - 10.1002/ep.12100
Subject(s) - compost , waste management , municipal solid waste , environmental science , environmentally friendly , biodegradable waste , biogas , vermicompost , biogas production , green waste , raw material , nutrient , anaerobic digestion , engineering , ecology , biology , methane
Generation of the huge amount of solid waste around the globe is a major ecological and technical problem. Vermicomposting may be the viable option to handle solid waste in an environmentally friendly way. This review provides a general overview of viability of vermicomposting processes as an ecofriendly approach. The integrated approach of composting and vermicomposting processes provides better results. Further, to optimize the process of vermicomposting, codigestion of organic wastes provides better opportunity for both microorganisms and earthworms to convert the organic fraction of solid waste under controlled environmental conditions. Feeding, stocking density, pH, C/N ratio, temperature, and moisture, by inference, seem to be the critical factors that influence the vermicomposting process. Furthermore, the end product of vermicomposting, the nutrient‐rich compost, could be used for biogas production. Hence, the management of solid waste and energy production can be achieved at the same time with no further costs. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 1050–1062, 2015