Mekelle University The School of Graduate Studies Faculty of ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

DeclarationThis is to certify that this thesis entitled “Effects of Carbon to Nitrogen ratio onvermicomposting of Rice husk and Cow dung with fresh Biosolid.” submitted in partialfulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of M.Sc., in Tropical LandResource Management to the School of Graduate Studies, Mekelle University, throughthe Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection, done byMr. Hailu Kendie Addis, Id.No. FDA/PS0030/98 is an authentic work carried out byhim under our guidance. The matter embodied in this project work has not beensubmitted earlier for award of any degree or diploma to the best of our knowledge andbelief.Name of the student Hailu Kendie Addis Signature & date ________________________Name of the major Advisor Prof. Mitiku Haile Signature & date____________________Name of the supervisor Kiros Habtegebriel (PhD) Signature & date _________________Name of the supervisor Charlas Yamoah (PhD) Signature & date ___________________ii
AbstractVermicomposting is the process of turning organic debris into worm castings. Althoughearthworms have been found to improve the chemical properties of the vermicompost,there has not received due attention of the investigators in Ethiopia. This study wasconducted for 70 days with objectives: to determine the effects of variation of C/N ratioon chemical properties of vermicompost; and earthworm biomass. The experiment wasarranged in completely randomized design with three replications. The predeterminedtreatment, C/N ratio of the substrate were 15:1, 25:1, 35:1, 45:1, and 55:1 with andwithout earthworm. The 15 sample bins were incubated with 60 adult Eisenia foetidaearthworms per each bin for the purpose of vermicomposting and a total of 1800 wormswere used. The experiment was performed in worm bin of 10-liter capacity. The binswere initially filled to a 2 cm height with about 12 mm in size chips of stone, which wasthen covered with 2 cm thick layer of 1 – 4 mm size gravel to ensure proper air and watercirculation. The bins were kept under shade and maintained at moisture content of 70%to ensure the optimum functioning of earthworms. The samples were analyzed todetermine which methods most successfully produce highly usable materials. The resultsof this experiment revealed that addition of earthworm on the substrata at C/N ratio of25:1 had significantly (P < 0.05) increased contents of available Phosphorus, Potassium,Organic carbon and creates favorable condition for earthworm to survive and reproducesince in these bin there was the highest biomass production as compared to some of thetreatments and also relatively neutral of pH.Key words: Biosolid, Compost, Cow Dung, Eisenia foetida, Rice Husk,Vermicomposting, Worm Cast.iii
Page 1: Mekelle UniversityThe School of Gra
Page 5 and 6: AcronymsANRS-----------------------
Page 7 and 8: 4.2 DISCUSSIONS ...................
Page 9 and 10: Chapter 1: Introduction1.1 Backgrou
Page 11 and 12: ConclusionUSCIRF has and will conti
Page 13 and 14: Introduction of earthworms to areas
Page 15 and 16: 1.4 General objectiveThe objective
Page 17 and 18: segments of sexually mature individ
Page 19 and 20: scab fungus, spores of which are tr
Page 21 and 22: compaction caused by agricultural t
Page 23 and 24: 2.6 Palatability of the Substrata t
Page 25 and 26: circumstances. As Eisenia foetida t
Page 27 and 28: the field. Lumbricus terrestris is
Page 29 and 30: earthworms were added to soil made
Page 31 and 32: 2.14 Production of Earthworm CastsA
Page 33 and 34: sand, respectively (Borowski, 1995)
Page 35 and 36: A recent study found that earthworm
Page 37 and 38: Chapter 3: Materials and Methods3.1
Page 39 and 40: exchangeable capacity using ammoniu
Page 41 and 42: And the three ingredient equation f
Page 43 and 44: The four-ingredient equation for mo
Page 45 and 46: Without earthwormPredetermined mixW
Page 47 and 48: Chapter 4: Results and Discussions4
Page 49 and 50: Figure 2: Effects of C/N ratio on C
Page 51 and 52: Figure 4: Effects of C/N ratio on C
Page 53 and 54:
4.2 DiscussionsAddition of earthwor
Page 55 and 56:
earthworm dead tissue, nitrogen exc
Page 57 and 58:
esults were found by Ndegwa and Tho
Page 59 and 60:
is bound in organic matter in a for
Page 61 and 62:
Therefore, developing countries lik
Page 63 and 64:
Bostrom, U. (1986). The effect of s
Page 65 and 66:
Gerard, B.M. and R.K.M. Hay. (1979)
Page 67 and 68:
Marinissen, J.C.Y. Dexter, A.R. (19
Page 69 and 70:
Rao S, Subba Rao A, Takkar PN (1996
Page 71 and 72:
Simek, M. and V. Pizl. (1989). The
Page 73 and 74:
www.vermico.comYeates, G.W. (1981).
Page 75 and 76:
2: Calculated Mass of Ingredients u
Page 77 and 78:
Ingredient % Moisture % Carbon % Ni
Page 79 and 80:
Ingredient % Moisture % Carbon % Ni
Page 81 and 82:
4: Data analysis using JMP modelTab
Page 83 and 84:
Table 2. Oneway Analysis of Organic
Page 85 and 86:
Table 3. Oneway Analysis of Availab
Page 87 and 88:
Table 4. Oneway Analysis of Total N
Page 89 and 90:
Table 5. Oneway Analysis of CEC (cm
Page 91 and 92:
Table 6. Oneway Analysis of Ex. Ca
Page 93 and 94:
Table 7. Oneway Analysis of Ex. K (
Page 95 and 96:
Table 8. Oneway Analysis of Ex. Mg
Page 97 and 98:
Table 9. Oneway Analysis of Ex. Aci
Page 99:
5: Summary of number of Earthworm f
show all

Mekelle University The School of Graduate Studies Faculty of ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?