Experiment and study on compost and vermicompost

Authors

  • Laurentiu Urechescu University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest Author
  • Adrian Peticilă University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest Author
  • Elena Dobrin University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest Author
  • Elena Drăghici University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest Author

Keywords:

vermicompost , compost, worms

Abstract

The experiment conducted at the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest, Faculty of Horticulture, during 2021-2022 focused on the utilization of kitchen food scraps, organic cow manure compost, vermicompost, and other organic inputs to demonstrate the benefits of diverting food scraps from landfills. This approach aimed to produce compost and vermicompost, thereby reducing the reliance on nutrient solutions and increasing crop yields.

The study involved testing a variant, with three repetitions, to produce vermicompost in trays. Compost worms, specifically Eisenia andrei (California Red Wigglers), were employed to transform the food scraps and organic cow manure compost over a 47-week period. The resulting vermicompost had a neutral pH of 7.19 and was proven to be non-harmful to plants.

The efficient conversion of food scraps, compost, and other organic inputs into vermicompost highlighted the potential for sustainable practices such as composting to reduce waste and improve soil fertility in agricultural systems. The vermicompost generated from this process was subsequently used in greenhouse experiments for various agricultural applications.

Overall, the study underscores the importance of adopting environmentally friendly practices like composting to mitigate waste generation and promote soil health and fertility in agricultural settings.

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Print ISSN 2285-5653, CD-ROM ISSN 2285-5661, Online ISSN 2286-1580, ISSN-L 2285-5653 http://horticulturejournal.usamv.ro/index.php/scientific-papers/current-issue

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Published

2024-07-18

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