The influence of exploited compounds type in the vermicompost medium on the quality of produced compost from kitchen waste, garden waste and cow dung by Eisenia fetida

The production of fertilizer from waste by the use of worms (vermicomposting), covers all positive environmental, health and economic aspects. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different media on the quality of produced compost from solid waste.
Three different media including kitchen waste, rotting foliage of trees and animal waste were designated in the present study through 20 treatments. TKN, P, TC, pH, EC, Na, K, and moisture, ash, organic matter contents as well as C/N ratio and physical properties of produced compost were analyzed at the end of composting process.
The results showed that the quality of produced compost was in conformity with current standards in all 20 studied treatments. With regard to the high contents of nitrogen in raw material in some treatments such as M, N, O, Q, R, and U, the corresponding ratio of N in achieved compost was higher than other treatments. A survey of worm growth in studied samples revealed that U (leaf 90% and food waste 10%) and Q (leaf 90% and food waste 10%) treatments superbly overcame other treatments with 266 and 253 worms, respectively.
Our study found that the type of raw material has a paramount importance on the compost quality, so that any change in the composition can affect the compost production process and the reproduction of worms mainly through the changes in the presence or absence of macro and micronutrients. Thus, optimization of media components, is of particular importance affecting the efficient use of capital investments and reducing the time duration of vermicomposting.