Citation

Lokeshwari M, Nanjunda Swamy C. Pollution Research 2010; 29(3): 513-517.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

India is an agricultural based country. Farmers are the back bones of our nation. In early days farmers were using locally available natural materials like after harvest trashes, weeds, cow dung etc. as manure. Later on they started using chemical fertilizers in view of fast growth and good yield. Though they got good results in early days, after 10-15 years of continuous use agricultural land becomes barren, crops becomes less resistant to environmental conditions. To dispose the agriculture waste they started burning it and digest anaerobically in the land itself, which leads to air pollution, release of obnoxious and green house gases. Use of chemicals as fertilizers is not only expensive but also they go on accumulating in soil, crops, undergoes bio-magnification which leads to health disorders. Chemical fertilizers are not feasible from economical, health, environmental point of view and for this Indian farmers are committing suicide, instead they could use indigenous technology and improve agricultural land. In view of this a study was conducted on agricultural waste management through vermicomposting. Representative samples were collected from a typical agricultural farm and allowed to decompose aerobically for about 22 days and then transferred to vermipits. Chemical analysis of samples shows significant decrease in carbon content and good N,P,K in the final compost. Pre aerobic decomposition outside the vermipit cut off the leachate and odour problem in vermipit and also reduces the overall time required for composting. Present study gives bio-remedial recycling technology for agricultural waste which meets a part of agricultural input and also conserves the environment. Copyright © EM International.

Language: en

Keywords

India; public health; decomposition; health risk; agricultural land; Agricultural waste; atmospheric pollution; Barren land; Chemical fertilizer; chemical pollutant; compost; crop yield; geoaccumulation; greenhouse gas; recycling; Soil enrichment; Vermicompost; waste disposal