The intensive poultry production results in generation of large quantities of poultry litter. The litter is disposed-off in the field without any treatment causes the environmental problems. The poultry litter generated, could be successfully converted into compost by mixing with saw chips in proper ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N ratio) content present in the litter and the saw chips. The ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad and ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad developed the Poultry Litter Compost and Vermicompost by mixing the saw chips (Wealth out of Waste) and introducing the earthworms into the pile of compost.

Vermicompost preparation with C/N ratio of 35:1

• The compost was prepared having a C/N ratio of 35:1 by mixing poultry litter with saw chips having Relative Humidity 50%, pH 5.0 and Temperature 340C.
• 15 Kg of litter was mixed with 48 Kg of saw chips.
• 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 70th day.
• Once the compost was ready, the earthworms were introduced into the pile of compost for converting it into the Vermicompost.
• The final product (Vermicompost) was ready on 80th day after the introduction of the earthworms.
• The Relative Humidity was 30%, pH was 6.0 and Temperature was 250C on 80th day.

Vermicompost preparation with C/N ratio of 30:1

• The compost was prepared having a C/N ratio of 30:1 by mixing litter with saw chips as a supplement having Relative Humidity 50%, pH 5.0 and Temperature 340C.
• 18 Kg of litter was mixed with 42 Kg of saw chips.
• The compost was ready on 70th day.
• Once the compost was ready, the earthworms were introduced into the pile of compost for converting it into the Vermicompost.
• The final product (Vermicompost) was ready on 80th day after the introduction of the earthworms.
• The Relative Humidity was 35%, pH was 6.0 and Temperature of the pile was 250C on the final day.

Vermicompost preparation with C/N ratio of 25:1

• The compost was prepared having a C/N ratio of 25:1 by mixing litter with saw chips as a supplement having Relative Humidity 50%, pH 5.0 and Temperature 250C.
• 25 Kg of litter was mixed with 36 Kg of saw chips.
• The compost was ready on 70th day.
• After the compost was ready, the earthworms were introduced into the pile for converting it into the Vermicompost.
• The final product (Vermicompost) was ready on 80th day after the introduction of the earthworms.
• The Relative Humidity was 35%, pH was 6.0 and Temperature was 250C on the final day of the Vermicompost formation.

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