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Dynamics of microbiological parameters, enzymatic activities and worm biomass production during vermicomposting of effluent treatment plant sludge of bakery industry

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Abstract

This paper reports the changes in microbial parameters and enzymatic activities during vermicomposting of effluent treatment plant sludge (ETPS) of bakery industry spiked with cow dung (CD) by Eisenia fetida. Six vermibins containing different ratios of ETPS and CD were maintained under controlled laboratory conditions for 15 weeks. Total bacterial and total fungal count increased upto 7th week and declined afterward in all the bins. Maximum bacterial and fungal count was 31.6 CFU × 106 g−1 and 31 CFU × 104 g−1 in 7th week. Maximum dehydrogenase activity was 1921 μg TPF g−1 h−1 in 9th week in 100 % CD containing vermibin, whereas maximum urease activity was 1208 μg NH4 −N g−1 h−1 in 3rd week in 100 % CD containing vermibin. The enzyme activity and microbial counts were lesser in ETPS containing vermibins than control (100 % CD). The growth and fecundity of the worms in different vermibins were also investigated. The results showed that initially biomass and fecundity of the worms increased but decreased at the later stages due to non-availability of the palatable feed. This showed that quality and palatability of food directly affect biological parameters of the system.

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Acknowledgments

One of the authors (Anoop Yadav) is thankful to Council of Scientific and industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi (India), for providing financial assistance in the form of Senior Research Fellowship (Extended) to conduct this work.

Compliance with ethical standards

1. There is no conflict of interest.

2. This Research work does not involve Human Participants and/or large Animals. Earthworms have been used for the vermicomposting.

3. All authors mutually agree to submit manuscript to ESPR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, 125001, Haryana, India

    Anoop Yadav & V. K. Garg

  2. School of Environment and Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun, 248001, Uttarakhand, India

    S. Suthar

Authors
  1. Anoop Yadav
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  2. S. Suthar
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  3. V. K. Garg
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. K. Garg.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Yadav, A., Suthar, S. & Garg, V.K. Dynamics of microbiological parameters, enzymatic activities and worm biomass production during vermicomposting of effluent treatment plant sludge of bakery industry. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 14702–14709 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4672-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4672-7

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