Skip to main content
Log in

Influence of vermicomposting on solid wastes decomposition kinetics in soils

  • Published:
Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of vermicomposting on kinetic behavior of the products is not well recognized. An incubation study was conducted to investigate C mineralization kinetics of cow manure, sugarcane filter cake and their vermicomposts. Two different soils were treated with the four solid wastes at a rate of 0.5 g solid waste C per kg soil with three replications. Soils were incubated for 56 d. The CO2-C respired was monitored periodically and a first-order kinetic model was used to calculate the kinetic parameters of C mineralization. Results indicated that the percentage of C mineralized during the incubation period ranged from 31.9% to 41.8% and 55.9% to 73.4% in the calcareous and acidic soils, respectively. The potentially mineralizable C (C 0) of the treated soils was lower in the solid waste composts compared to their starting materials. Overall, it can be concluded that decomposable fraction of solid wastes has decreased due to vermicomposting.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ajwa, H.A., Tabatabai, M.A., 1994. Decomposition of different organic materials in soils. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 18(3):175–182. [doi:10.1007/BF00647664]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alef, K., 1995. Soil Respiration. In: Alef, K., Nannipieri, P. (Eds.), Methods in Applied Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry. Academic Press, New York, USA, p.214–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernal, M.P., Navarro, A.F., Sánchez-Monedero, M.A., Roig, A., Ceggara, J., 1998a. Influence of sewage sludge compost stability and maturity on carbon and nitrogen mineralization in soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 30(3):305–313. [doi:10.1016/S0038-0717(97)00129-6]

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bernal, M.P., Paredes, C., Sánchez-Monedero, M.A., Ceggara, J., 1998b. Maturity and stability parameters of composts prepared with a wide range of organic wastes. Bioresource Technology, 63(1):91–99. [doi:10.1016/S09608524(97)00084-9]

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bernal, M.P., Sánchez-Monedero, M.A., Paredes, C., Roig, A., 1998c. Carbon mineralization from organic wastes at different composting stages during their incubation with soil. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 69(3):175–189. [doi:10.1016/S0167-8809(98)00106-6]

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burket, J.Z., Dick, R.P., 1998. Microbial and soil parameters in relation to N mineralization in soils of diverse genesis under differing management systems. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 27(4):430–438. [doi:10.1007/s003740050454]

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Devliegher, W., Verstraete, W., 1997. The effect of Lumbricus terrestris on soil in relation to plant growth: effect of nutrient enrichment processes (NEP) and gut-associated processes (NEP). Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 29(3–4):341–346. [doi:10.1016/S0038-0717(96)00096-X]

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • García, C., Hernandez, T., Costa, F., 1991. The influence of composting on the fertilizing value of anaerobic sewage sludge. Plant and Soil, 136(2):269–272. [doi:10.1007/BF02150059]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez-Miceli, F., Santiago-Boraz, J., Molina, J.A.M., Nafate, C.C., Abdul-Archila, M., Llaven, M.A.O., Rincón-Rosales, R., Dendooven, L., 2007. Vermicompost as a soil supplement to improve growth, yield and fruit quality of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum). Bioresource Technology, 98(15):2781–2786. [doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2006.02.032]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hachicha, S., Chtourou, M., Medhioub, K., Ammar, E., 2006. Compost of poultry manure and olive mill wastes as an alternative fertilizer. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 26(2):135–142. [doi:10.1051/agro:2006005]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martinez, C.E., Tabatabai, M.A., 1997. Decomposition of biotechnology by-products in soils. Journal of Environmental Quality, 26(4):625–632.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Montemurro, F., Maiorana, M., Convertini, G., Fornaro, F., 2005. Improvement of soil properties and nitrogen utilization of sunflower by amending municipal solid waste compost. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 25(3):369–375. [doi:10.1051/agro:2005038]

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nannipieri, P., Kandeler, E., Ruggiero, P., 2002. Enzyme Activities and Microbiological and Biochemical Processes in Soil. In: Burns, R.G., Dick, R.P. (Eds.), Enzymes in the Environment. Activity, Ecology and Applications. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, USA, p. 1–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nourbakhsh, F., 2006. Fate of carbon and nitrogen from plant residue decomposition in a calcareous soil. Plant, Soil and Environment, 52(3):137–140.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nourbakhsh, F., Sheikh-Hosseini, A.R., 2006. A kinetic approach to evaluate salinity effects on carbon mineralization in a plant-residue amended soil. Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B, 7(10):788–793. [doi:10.1631/jzus.2006.B0788]

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pascual, J.A., Hernandez, T., García, C., Ayuso, M., 1998. Carbon mineralization in an arid soil amended with organic wastes of varying degrees of stability. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 29(7–8):835–846.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Petrussi, F., de Nobili, M., Viotto, M., Sequi, P., 1988. Characterization of organic matter from animal manures after digestion by earthworms. Plant and Soil, 105(1):41–46. [doi:10.1007/BF02371141]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puget, P., Drinkwater, L.E., 2001. Short term dynamics of root-and shoot-derived carbon from a leguminous green manure. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 65(3):771–779.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rasse, D.P., Rumpel, C., Dignac, M.F., 2005. Is soil carbon mostly root carbon? Mechanisms for a specific stabilization. Plant and Soil, 269(1–2):341–356. [doi:10.1007/s11104-004-0907-y]

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riffaldi, R., Levi-Minzi, R., 1983. Effects of Eisenia foetida on humification rate and primary composition of soil amendments. Agrochimica, 27(2):271–274 (in Italian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sáinz, M.J., Taboado-Castro, M.T., Vilarino, A., 1998. Growth, mineral nutrition and mycorrhizal colonization of red clover and cucumber plants grown in sand amended with composted urban wastes. Plant and Soil, 205(1):85–92. [doi:10.1023/A:1004357330318]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saviozzi, A., Levi-Minzi, R., Riffaldi, R., 1993. Mineralization parameters from organic materials added to soil as a function of their chemical composition. Bioresource Technology, 45(2):131–135. [doi:10.1016/0960-8524(93)90101-G]

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tate, R.L., 2000. Soil Microbiology. John Wiley and Sons Inc., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trinsoutrot, I., Recous, S., Bentz, B., Linéres, M., Chéneby, D., Nicolardot, B., 2000. Biochemical quality of crop residues and carbon and nitrogen mineralization kinetics under nonlimiting nitrogen conditions. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 64(3):918–926.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, L., 1988. SYSTAT. The System for Statistics. Evanson, Illinois, USA.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nourbakhsh Farshid.

Additional information

Project (No. 1385) supported by the Isfahan University of Technology, Iran

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nourbakhsh, F. Influence of vermicomposting on solid wastes decomposition kinetics in soils. J. Zhejiang Univ. - Sci. B 8, 725–730 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0725

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0725

Key words

CLC number

Navigation