[01] Okareh O. T., Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. [02] Oloye T. O., Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. [03] Taiwo L. B., Institute of Agricultural Research & Training, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Improper management of organic waste in Nigeria constitutes one of the major health risks to the public. Vermicomposting has been identified to be a potential technique for the efficient management of organic wastes. However, little is known about vermicomposting and its usefulness in Nigeriia. This study was therefore designed to assess the effectiveness of Eudrilius eugeniae in the management of organic waste. Fresh kitchen wastes were collected, shredded and mixed with cow dung from an abattoir in a ratio 2:1. Samples were analysed for physicochemical parameters; pH, Organic Carbon (OC), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) using American Public Health Association (APHA) Method. Six kilogramme of the waste mixture was precomposted and vermicomposted using earthworms of the species Eudrilius eugeniae for 2 months. Vermicomposting parameters; temperature (0C) and Moisture Content MC (%) were determined weekly. Eudrilius eugeniae and vermicompost were harvested and weighed. Vermicompost (VC) was analysed for physicochemical parameters. The pH, proportions of OC, N, P, K and Carbon-Nitrogen (C-N) ratio of the waste mixture were: 5.6, 20.2 %, 0.9 %, 0.1 %, 0.3 %, and 23.4 respectively. The mean temperature and proportion of MC of the vermicomposting process were 25.6 ± 8.30C and 54.1 ± 5.9% respectively. An odourless, granular and homogenous vermicompost of 2.8 kg was obtained. The pH, proportions of OC, N, P, K and C-N ratio of vermicompost were: 7.3, 11.3 %, 1.3 %, 2.0 %, 2.5 % and 8.8 respectively. The optimum temperature, reduction in organic carbon, carbon: nitrogen ratio and the high mineralization of nitrogen showed that verrmicomposting is an environmentally acceptable and economically viable technique for recycling organic waste (kitchen waste) into vermicompost.

Eudrilius Eugeniae, Recycling Organic Waste, Vermicomposting, Kitchen Waste, Cow Dung

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