Author/Authors :
Majlessi، Monireh نويسنده Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public health, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Eslami، Akbar نويسنده Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Najafi Saleh، Hossein نويسنده Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Neyshabour University of Medical Science, Neyshabour, Iran , , Mirshafieean، Simin نويسنده Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public health, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Babaii، Sara نويسنده Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public health, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran ,
Abstract :
The vermicompost using earthworms (Eisenia Fetida) was produced from food waste and chemical parameters (EC,
pH, carbon to nitrogen contents (C/N)) and germination bioassay was examined in order to assess the stability and
maturity indicators during the vermicomposting process. The seed used in the germination bioassay was cress. The
ranges of EC, pH, C/N and germination index were 7.5-4.9 mS/cm, 5.6-7.53, 30.13-14.32% and 12.8-58.4%,
respectively. The germination index (GI) value revealed that vermicompost rendered as moderate phytotoxic to
cress seed. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationship between the parameters. High
statistically significant correlation coefficient was calculated between the GI value and EC in the vermicompost at
the 99% confidence level. The C/N value showed that the vermicompost was stable. As a result of these
observations, stability test alone, was not able to ensure high vermicompost quality. Therefore, it appears that
determining vermicompost quality requires a simultaneous use of maturity and stability tests.
