Correlation of fertilizer and vermicompost puts fertility back in soil. Greater yield
of potato, spinach, and turnip was recorded upon vermicompost application
(Ahirwar and Hussain 2015). Use of vermicompost on various harvests like wheat,
paddy, and sugarcane enhanced the yield as accounted previously in literatures by
Ansari et al. (2016) and Saranraj and Stella (2012). An improvement in rooting, time
of blooming, expansion of leaf region, advancement and stretching of internodes
were seen earlier (Padmavathiamma et al. 2008). Few more investigations like
tallness of rice plant (Shukla and Singh 2010), spreading of leaf region in maize
plant (Joshi et al. 2015), expansion of root knobs in mung bean (Singh and Sharma
2003) are also reflection of utilization of manure in modern-day farming. Further
expansion of such application goes to increment in development and yield of some
nursery plants (Arancon and Solarte 2019). Spectroscopical information such as
FT-IR and GC-MS shows the nearness of a few humic acids like substances which
are likely to function as natural conditioner of soil (Ganguly and Chakraborty 2019).
However, enhanced humic acid content was found in vermicompost in contrast to
conventional composting. Manivannan et al. (2009) likewise demonstrated that the
freely accessible minerals such as N, P, K, Zn, Mg, Ca, Na were exponentially
expanded in soil enriched with vermicompost. Utilization of vermicompost
expanded the mineralizable nitrogen and accessible phosphorus content in the soil
(Ganguly and Chakraborty 2019). Therefore, mineral enrichment and lowering of
C/N ratio demonstrate its utility in waste management. Furthermore, nitrate accumulation was also lowered upon full-term vermicomposting which lowers the risk of
nitrogen leaching from organic wastes.
Mineralization of organic matter and squalor of complex aromatics (lignin, polyphenols) by earthworms into simpler compounds (carbohydrates, lipids) can be
analysed by FT-IR spectroscopy. FT-IR spectroscopy method point towards compost mellowness or firmness and has emerged to be an efficient technique for the
recognition of functional groups in the decomposing wastes during
vermicomposting. Different spectral bands correspond to the absence or presence
of certain functional groups which in turn envisage the processes of degradation or
stabilization and therefore act as an excellent tool in establishing maturity and
stability of the sample. FT-IR spectra during different times (0th and 60th days) of
composting for paper mill sludges using Eisenia fetida have displayed an intense
wide band in between 3300 and 3500 cm
À1 which indicates an –OH stretching of
acid, phenols, and alcohols group (Hussain et al. 2016) (Fig. 10.4). The intensity of
the band declines with the progression of vermicomposting for both types of paper
mill sludge. Spectral bands around 2920 cm
À1 correspond to C–H stretching of
aliphatic compounds mainly symbolized by alkenes (Ganguly and Chakraborty
2019). A sharp turn down of this band to a substantial point reflects evidence of
intense biodegradation coupled with compost maturity. Furthermore, a decrease in
the band intensity at 2531 cm
À1 demonstrates a huge break down of complex –SH
groups of paper mill squanders. A surreptitious decrease of band intensity at
2359 cm
À1 reflects the breakdown of inorganic silanes which are used as coupling
agents in paper mill industries. Increase in band intensity at 1790 cm
À1 indicates
C¼O stretching of different esters and anhydrides. Decrease in band intensity at
10 Eco-management of Industrial Organic Wastes Through the Modified Innovative. . .
171
of potato, spinach, and turnip was recorded upon vermicompost application
(Ahirwar and Hussain 2015). Use of vermicompost on various harvests like wheat,
paddy, and sugarcane enhanced the yield as accounted previously in literatures by
Ansari et al. (2016) and Saranraj and Stella (2012). An improvement in rooting, time
of blooming, expansion of leaf region, advancement and stretching of internodes
were seen earlier (Padmavathiamma et al. 2008). Few more investigations like
tallness of rice plant (Shukla and Singh 2010), spreading of leaf region in maize
plant (Joshi et al. 2015), expansion of root knobs in mung bean (Singh and Sharma
2003) are also reflection of utilization of manure in modern-day farming. Further
expansion of such application goes to increment in development and yield of some
nursery plants (Arancon and Solarte 2019). Spectroscopical information such as
FT-IR and GC-MS shows the nearness of a few humic acids like substances which
are likely to function as natural conditioner of soil (Ganguly and Chakraborty 2019).
However, enhanced humic acid content was found in vermicompost in contrast to
conventional composting. Manivannan et al. (2009) likewise demonstrated that the
freely accessible minerals such as N, P, K, Zn, Mg, Ca, Na were exponentially
expanded in soil enriched with vermicompost. Utilization of vermicompost
expanded the mineralizable nitrogen and accessible phosphorus content in the soil
(Ganguly and Chakraborty 2019). Therefore, mineral enrichment and lowering of
C/N ratio demonstrate its utility in waste management. Furthermore, nitrate accumulation was also lowered upon full-term vermicomposting which lowers the risk of
nitrogen leaching from organic wastes.
Mineralization of organic matter and squalor of complex aromatics (lignin, polyphenols) by earthworms into simpler compounds (carbohydrates, lipids) can be
analysed by FT-IR spectroscopy. FT-IR spectroscopy method point towards compost mellowness or firmness and has emerged to be an efficient technique for the
recognition of functional groups in the decomposing wastes during
vermicomposting. Different spectral bands correspond to the absence or presence
of certain functional groups which in turn envisage the processes of degradation or
stabilization and therefore act as an excellent tool in establishing maturity and
stability of the sample. FT-IR spectra during different times (0th and 60th days) of
composting for paper mill sludges using Eisenia fetida have displayed an intense
wide band in between 3300 and 3500 cm
À1 which indicates an –OH stretching of
acid, phenols, and alcohols group (Hussain et al. 2016) (Fig. 10.4). The intensity of
the band declines with the progression of vermicomposting for both types of paper
mill sludge. Spectral bands around 2920 cm
À1 correspond to C–H stretching of
aliphatic compounds mainly symbolized by alkenes (Ganguly and Chakraborty
2019). A sharp turn down of this band to a substantial point reflects evidence of
intense biodegradation coupled with compost maturity. Furthermore, a decrease in
the band intensity at 2531 cm
À1 demonstrates a huge break down of complex –SH
groups of paper mill squanders. A surreptitious decrease of band intensity at
2359 cm
À1 reflects the breakdown of inorganic silanes which are used as coupling
agents in paper mill industries. Increase in band intensity at 1790 cm
À1 indicates
C¼O stretching of different esters and anhydrides. Decrease in band intensity at
10 Eco-management of Industrial Organic Wastes Through the Modified Innovative. . .
171