![]() |
Journal of Environmental BiologypISSN: 0254-8704 ; eISSN: 2394-0379 ; CODEN: JEBIDP |
Google Search the Journal web-site: |
Abstract - Issue Nov 2009, 30 (6) BackComparative assessment in enzyme activities and microbial
populations during normal and vermicomposting S. Department of Applied Microbiology, (Received: Abstract: Changes in extracellular
enzyme activities and microbial populations were studied during the normal
composting and vermicomposting of fruitpulp,
vegetable waste, groundnut husk and cowdung.? The microbial numbers and their extracellular enzyme profiles showed relative variation and
were found increasingly more abundant in vermicompost
than in normal compost leading to the conversion of agricultural waste into
value added product.? In vermicompost, the maximum enzyme activities (cellulase, amylase, invertase,
protease and urease) were observed during 21-35
days.? The cellulase,
amylase and protease activities of vermicompost
reached the maximum values by 28th day of
1175, 825 ?g reducing sugar g-1 hr-1
and 28 ? mol of aminoacid g-1 hr-1
of vermicompost samples respectively. Similarly the invertase and urease activities
reached to peak values of 876 ?g reducing sugar g-1 hr-1
and 197 ?g -N g-1 ha-1 sample on 35th
day respectively. Most of the enzymes showed correlation with change in number
and types of different microbial groups like bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes during vermicomposting
with maximum number of 126 x 106, 28 x 104 and 93 x 105
CFU g-1 sample respectively. In contrast delayed greatest enzyme
activities were observed on 42-49th day
i.e., last days of normal composting. Earthworms stimulated biochemical
activity and nutrient cycling by 40-45% contributing to the reduction of period
of degradation of agricultural wastes resulting in maturation of vermicompost by 28th
day. Key
words: ?????????? PDF of full length
paper is available online Copyright ? 2009 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any
form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity
of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest
completely with the author(s). |