Abstract

Vermicomposting is a non-thermophilic biodegradation of organic material through interaction between earthworm and micro-organisms resulting in production of vermicompost. This study emphasizes on the heterotrophic microbial count during vermicomposting of the organic content of municipal solid waste. The heterotrophic microbial count (bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes) of the vermicomposts of municipal organic solid waste (MOSW) and agricultural waste (AW) comprising of crop residue was done for about 90 days taking the microbial count at an interval of 15 days till 90 days. Two species of earthworms viz Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus euginae were used for vermicomposting. It was observed that there was a marked increase in the above mentioned microbial count after inoculation of earthworms. The bacterial count of MOSW increased steadily in both species of worms. A similar pattern was also followed in the case of AW. However, the fungal and actinomycetes count had fluctuations which differed in both species in the respective substrates.

Key words: Vermicomposting, earthworm, actinomycetes count, microbial count, municipal solid waste.