EFFICIENCY OF EARTHWORM TO CONVERT POULTRY WASTES INTO VERMICOMPOST WITH DIFFERENT ADDITIVES UNDER CHANGE OF SEASONSNAAbstract A pot experiment was conducted during 2007-08 & 2008-09 in order to study the efficiency of earthworm species Eisenia fetida to convert poultry- waste alone and in combination with different additives under various seasons, into vermicompost. A total of 18 treatment combinations, consists of 2 substrata Poultry litter (PL), and poultry excreta (PE), 3 additives (without additive (A0), cowdung (A1) and Trichoderma viridi (A2) and 3 seasons (Rainy, Winter and Summer). These treatments were arranged in a Randomized Block Design (Factorial) replicated thrice. Dry weight of substrata recorded after 30 days of partial decomposition reveal higher reduction (17.40%) in weight of poultry excreta as compared to (%) poultry litter. Weight gain by earthworms (119.59 g) with multiplication ratio of 1.58 were noted with poultry excreta. Cowdung used as additive proved to be more effective with respect to reduce dry weight, over Trichoderma, weight gain as well as multiplication ratio. Rainy season favoured these parameters followed by summer and winter. The highest production (6.08 kg) as well as recovery of vermicompost (60.85%) was noted during rainy season which was markedly higher over summer and winter season.
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