Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

NUTRIENT ANALYSIS OF PAPER WASTE DEGENERATED THROUGH THE PROCESS OF VERMICOMPOSTING IN AN INSTITUTIONAL SETUP

C. Amita Paul and Pawlin Vasanthi Joseph

Abstract

Pulp and paper constitute one of the most important segments of India’s industrial economy and is treated as a basic sector. The importance of paper and paper products in the modern life is so obvious that no other manufactured product possess such diversity of use. Correspondingly more landfill space will be required for dumping the organic solid waste generated. Paper degradation at a faster pace could be a solution to tackle this problem for safe disposal and to achieve a stable end product. Vermicomposting is an eco biotechnological process that transforms energy rich and complex organic substances into a stabilized humus like product. In the present study, the experiments were conducted in triplicates for each treatment taken, (T1) – newspaper waste and cow dung, (T2) – written paper and cow dung. The epigeic earthworm species, Eisenia foetida is used in the study. The earthworms were bred in both the treatments and their controls were devoid of worms. A comparison of the macronutrient and micronutrient status at the end of the experimental period of 60 days was analyzed. It was found that vermicomposting significantly modified the nutrient status for both the treatments against their control. It was also interesting to note that vermicomposted newspaper waste contained higher macronutrient content and written paper had higher micronutrient content. The data reveals that vermicomposting using E. foetida is a suitable technology for conversion of different paper wastes into value added material