Feasibility of vermicomposting for the management of terrestrial weed Ageratum conyzoides using earthworm species Eisenia fetida

This study illustrates the feasibility of vermicomposting of an invasive terrestrial weed Ageratum conyzoides for environment and economic benefits. This study presents the different mix proportion of substrate and cow dung as blending material in the vermicomposting process. It also advocates the potential of earthworm species Eisenia fetida for the bioconversion of A. conyzoides into a valuable end product. The work is based on biochemical characterization along with earthworm growth and cocoon production to evaluate the properties of the final product. The vermicompost obtained from all the reactors attained stabilization with increase in nutrients and decrease in total organic carbon (TOC), CO2 evolution rate after the end of the process. The pH was obtained in the range of 6.7-7.4 during vermicomposting. The final C/N ratio falls within 12-17 in all the reactors. The highest Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) value observed in the final vermicompost was 2.67% which was higher than the initial value 1.83%. TOC decreased up to 30.05% at the end of the process. The earthworm biomass increased in a similar trend in all the reactors with highest biomass change of 25.75%. The results indicate that the biomass of A. conyzoides can be efficiently utilized to produce a mature vermicompost with the potential of further applications. It may be inferred from the findings that vermicomposting can be an alternative environment friendly option for the management of A. conyzoides and recommendable for on site management of the weed in an economical way. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.