Poultry Litter Vermicompost by mixing Dry Leaves - A Wealth out of Waste initiative by ICAR-DPR, Hyderabad

Giving a new dimension to the concept of “Wealth out of Waste”, the ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad has prepared a Poultry Litter Vermicompost by mixing the dry leaves. The initiative will be helpful in solving one of the major issues of accumulation of large amounts of wastes, especially, manure and litter, generated by intensive production leading to the major environmental problems being faced by the poultry industry.

1.     Compost preparation with C/N ratio of 35:1

The compost preparation started with C/N ratio of 35:1 by mixing poultry litter with dry leaves having Relative Humidity 48%, pH 5.2 and Temperature 36.2⁰C. 13 Kg of litter was mixed with 46 Kg of dry leaves. The humidity was maintained at around 50%. The temperature was changing due to the growth of the microbes inside the pile. The compost was ready on 57^th day. The Relative Humidity was 50%, pH was 5.0 and Temperature was 30.2⁰C on 57^th day.

2.     Compost preparation with C/N ratio of 25:1

The compost preparation started with C/N ratio of 25:1 by mixing litter with dry leaves as supplement having Relative Humidity 47%, pH 5.3 and Temperature was 36⁰C. 40 Kg of litter was taken and mixed with 40 Kg of dry leaves. The final product, compost, was ready on 57^th day. The Relative Humidity was 50%, pH was 5.0 and Temperature was 30.2⁰C on the final day.  

Vermicompost preparation with Poultry Litter and Dry Leaves:

The Vermicompost was prepared with two compost samples having 35:1 and 25:1 C/N ratios.

1.     Vermicompost having C/N ratio of 35:1

Vermicompost was prepared with the poultry litter compost. As the poultry litter is nitrogen toxic where the earthworms will not survive and the nitrogen toxicity was neutralized first by making compost. After making compost, the same was subjected to form the Vermicompost by introducing earthworms which multiplied and converted the waste into useful products. The Vermicompost was ready within 80 days and at the end, a good number of earthworms were left behind.

2.     Vermicompost having C/N ratio of 25:1

In this group, the nitrogen toxicity of the poultry litter was first of all neutralized by making 25:1 C/N ratio compost and afterwards, the same was subjected to form the Vermicompost. Earthworms were introduced and the Vermicompost was ready within 80 days.

(Source: ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad)