VERMICOMPOSTING FROM CASSAVA BAGASSE AND RICE BRAN BY USING PERIONYX EXCAVATUS

Abstract

Unprocessed cassava bagasse from starch factories in Vietnam created pollution issue and should therefore be utilized to minimize its effects on environmental management. In the present study, cassava bagasse was used as a substrate for Perionyx excavatus mediatedvermicomposting. Rice bran was added as a supplement in feeding of P. excavatus and the ratio of 3 cassava bagasse to 1 rice bran (w/w) was observed to give the highest biomass yield. Other optimal conditions included pH 5-7, temperature 26-29 oC and soil moisture 80-85%. After 60 days surveyed, vermicompost quality was similar to certain quality standards for organic fertilizer, including: total organic carbon (TOC) 22.69 %, total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) 1.80%, the C/N ratio of 12.63%, P2O5 4.67% and K2O 1.91%. These results suggest a potential and inexpensive approach to manage environmental problems of cassava bagasse via P. excavatus mediated vermicompost and simultaneously provide a new fertilizer resource for agriculture.

Keywords: Vermicomposting, Perionyx excavatus, cassava bagasse, rice bran.