Effect of Drying on Vermicompost Macronutrient Composition
M. M. Manyuchi.1, A. Phiri.2, P. Muredzi3, N. Chirinda4
1Musaida Mercy Manyuchi, Department of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering, Harare Institute of Technology, P O Box BE 277, Belvedere, Harare, Zimbabwe.
2Anthony Phiri, Department of Chemical and Process Systems Engineering, Harare Institute of Technology, P O Box BE 277, Belvedere, Harare, Zimbabwe.
3Perkins Muredzi, Dean, School of Engineering and Technology, Harare Institute of Technology, P O Box BE 277, Belvedere, Harare, Zimbabwe.
4Ngoni Chirinda, Director, Technology Center, Harare Institute of Technology, P O Box BE 277, Belvedere, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Manuscript received on September 10, 2013. | Revised Manuscript Received on September 20, 2013. | Manuscript published on September 20, 2013. | PP: 1-5 | Volume-1, Issue-10, September 2013.
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© The Authors. Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering & Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Vermicomposting is widely being used for bio-conversion of organic wastes into bio-fertilizers. Vermicompost which was obtained from various food wastes was dried at 105◦C for 5 minutes in a moisture analyzer. The dried vermicompost macronutrient composition was analyzed and quantified over the raw vermicompost. The dried vermicompost total nitrogen content was 31.25% lower as compared to the raw vermicompost whereas , the phosphorous and potassium content were 63.75% and 72.86% higher in the dried vermicompost compared to the raw vermicompost respectively. Vermicompost can be dried for easier packaging, storage and transportation as the drying process in overall enhances nutritional value to the vermicompost.
Keywords: Drying, earthworms, food wastes, nutrient composition, vermicompost