Utilization of paper cup waste and rain tree (Samanea saman) leaves by vermicomposting process with cow dung and coffee ground as bulking agent

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine the appropriate ratio of paper cup waste and rain tree leaves by vermicomposting process combined cow dung and coffee grounds as bulking agents using earthworms species Eudrillus eageniae. The vermicomposting was conducted for 60 days. From the analysis of physical and chemical properties found that all treatments (T1 to T5) on the final vermicomposting had the values of pH, EC and C/N ratio were in the range of 8.16-8.41, 1.24-1.55 dS/m and 2.36-2.71 respectively. The total organic carbon content and total organic matter content had the highest value in treatment 4 (T4) was 33.47 ± 0.56% and 57.56 ± 0.96% respectively and the lowest value in treatment 3 (T3) was 32.09 ± 0.61% and 55.20 ± 1.06% respectively. For the primary macronutrients, including total Kjeldahl nitrogen content available phosphorus content and exchangeable potassium content found that the total Kjeldahl nitrogen content had the highest in the treatment 4 (T4) and the lowest in treatment 1 (T1) with the value of 14.17 ± 0.46% and 12.24 ± 0.48% respectively. Available phosphorus content had the highest in the treatment 1 (T1) and the lowest in treatment 5 (T5) with the value of 1,418.08 ± 305.45 ppm and 472.69 ± 57.98 ppm respectively. Exchangeable potassium content had the highest in the treatment 1 (T1) and the lowest in treatment 3 (T3) with the value of 8,146.81 ± 739.40 ppm and 3,861.98 ± 1,024.56 ppm, respectively. In addition, the seed germination test found that the highest value in treatment 1 (T1) was 45.00 ± 10.00% and the lowest value in the treatment 2 (T2) was 31.67 ± 23.63%. The comparison with the compost quality standards of the Department of Agriculture (2005) presented that T1 to T5 can help improve the physical properties of the soil.