and Tare 2012; Malińska et al. 2016; Babaei et al. 2016; Malińska et al. 2017) are
employed for improving the live environment of earthworms and enhancing the
activity of microbes by regulating the carbon to nitrogen rate. The pelletization
method can increase the specific surface area of dewatered sludge and elevate its
aerobic extent, which is used in recent vermicomposting (Fu et al. 2016; Huang et al.
2018). However, these methods are complicated; the effectively simplified
pretreatment methods are desired to be explored in the future.
4.5 Conclusions
Vermicomposting is a biochemical degradation process of organic materials involving the interactions of earthworms and microbes, which is considered one of the
environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches for recycling municipal sludge.
In vermicomposting process, the feeding and digestion, mucus and casting secretion,
and biological disturbance of earthworms directly affect the decomposition process
of organic matter in sludge. Comparatively, the species, density, and retention time
of earthworms along with temperature, carbon to nitrogen rate, and pretreatment
method strongly affect the vermicomposting performance. However, the studies of
optimal condition for vermicomposting of municipal sludge are still needed in the
future.
References
Ahadi N, Sharifi Z, Hossaini SM, Rostami A, Renella G (2019) Remediation of heavy metals and
enhancement of fertilizing potential of a sewage sludge by the synergistic interaction of
woodlice and earthworms. J Hazard Mater 385:121573
Aira M, Monroy F, Domínguez J (2006) C to N ratio strongly affects population structure
of Eisenia fetida in vermicomposting systems. Eur J Soil Biol 42:S127–S131
Azizi AB, Lim MPM, Noor ZM, Abdullah N (2013) Vermiremoval of heavy metal in sewage
sludge by utilising Lumbricus rubellus. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 90:13–20
Babaei AA, Goudarzi G, Neisi A, Ebrahimi Z, Alavi N (2016) Vermicomposting of cow dung,
kitchen waste and sewage sludge with bagasse using Eisenia fetida. J Adv Environ Health Res 4
(2):88–94
Babić S, Dragun Z, Klobučar RS, Ivanković D, Bačić N, Fiket Ž et al (2015) Indication of metal
homeostasis disturbance in earthworm Eisenia fetida after exposure to semi-solid depot sludge.
Sci Total Environ 526:127–135
Bhat SA, Singh S, Singh J, Kumar S, Vig AP (2018) Bioremediation and detoxification of industrial
wastes by earthworms: vermicompost as powerful crop nutrient in sustainable agriculture.
Bioresour Technol 252:172–179
Biruntha M, Karmegam N, Archana J, Selvi BK, Paul JAJ, Balamuralikrishnan B et al (2019)
Vermiconversion of biowastes with low-to-high C/N ratio into value added vermicompost.
Bioresour Technol 297:122398
Brown GG (1995) How do earthworms affect microfloral and faunal community diversity? Plant
Soil 170(1):209–231
4 Recycling of Municipal Sludge by Vermicomposting
65
employed for improving the live environment of earthworms and enhancing the
activity of microbes by regulating the carbon to nitrogen rate. The pelletization
method can increase the specific surface area of dewatered sludge and elevate its
aerobic extent, which is used in recent vermicomposting (Fu et al. 2016; Huang et al.
2018). However, these methods are complicated; the effectively simplified
pretreatment methods are desired to be explored in the future.
4.5 Conclusions
Vermicomposting is a biochemical degradation process of organic materials involving the interactions of earthworms and microbes, which is considered one of the
environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches for recycling municipal sludge.
In vermicomposting process, the feeding and digestion, mucus and casting secretion,
and biological disturbance of earthworms directly affect the decomposition process
of organic matter in sludge. Comparatively, the species, density, and retention time
of earthworms along with temperature, carbon to nitrogen rate, and pretreatment
method strongly affect the vermicomposting performance. However, the studies of
optimal condition for vermicomposting of municipal sludge are still needed in the
future.
References
Ahadi N, Sharifi Z, Hossaini SM, Rostami A, Renella G (2019) Remediation of heavy metals and
enhancement of fertilizing potential of a sewage sludge by the synergistic interaction of
woodlice and earthworms. J Hazard Mater 385:121573
Aira M, Monroy F, Domínguez J (2006) C to N ratio strongly affects population structure
of Eisenia fetida in vermicomposting systems. Eur J Soil Biol 42:S127–S131
Azizi AB, Lim MPM, Noor ZM, Abdullah N (2013) Vermiremoval of heavy metal in sewage
sludge by utilising Lumbricus rubellus. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 90:13–20
Babaei AA, Goudarzi G, Neisi A, Ebrahimi Z, Alavi N (2016) Vermicomposting of cow dung,
kitchen waste and sewage sludge with bagasse using Eisenia fetida. J Adv Environ Health Res 4
(2):88–94
Babić S, Dragun Z, Klobučar RS, Ivanković D, Bačić N, Fiket Ž et al (2015) Indication of metal
homeostasis disturbance in earthworm Eisenia fetida after exposure to semi-solid depot sludge.
Sci Total Environ 526:127–135
Bhat SA, Singh S, Singh J, Kumar S, Vig AP (2018) Bioremediation and detoxification of industrial
wastes by earthworms: vermicompost as powerful crop nutrient in sustainable agriculture.
Bioresour Technol 252:172–179
Biruntha M, Karmegam N, Archana J, Selvi BK, Paul JAJ, Balamuralikrishnan B et al (2019)
Vermiconversion of biowastes with low-to-high C/N ratio into value added vermicompost.
Bioresour Technol 297:122398
Brown GG (1995) How do earthworms affect microfloral and faunal community diversity? Plant
Soil 170(1):209–231
4 Recycling of Municipal Sludge by Vermicomposting
65