MANAGEMENT OF WASTE BY COMPOSTING, VERMICOMPOSTING AND IT'S USE FOR IMPROVEMENT OF GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF FODDER MAIZE

Disposal of organic waste from various sources like domestic, agriculture and industries has caused serious environmental hazards. In India, about 320 million tones of agricultural wastes are generated annually. A field experiment was carried out in the research farm located at Shibala, Maharashtra, India to evaluate proper waste management method among different composting, vermicomposting methods and enhancement of growth, quality and yield of fodder maize by applying prepared manures. The vegetable waste and agricultural waste was used for preparation of different composts, vermicomposts. The fodder maize (Zea mays L.) was cultivated. The ten treatments were VAC, VBC, VBV, VPV, AAC, ABC, ABV, APV, NPK and control (CON) with four replicates each. Growth analysis as well as chemical analysis was carried out of maize plant for dry matter, N, P, K, Ca, water soluble reducing sugar etc. Total yield was also calculated after harvesting. The results show significance increase in growth, yield and nutrient quality of maize treated by organic manure. Vegetable waste has great potential for use as starting material for composting and vermicomposting than agricultural waste. Vermicomposting by worm bin method and composting by NADEP aerobic method gave better results. Composting and vermicomposting are appropriate technologies which convert waste to wealth.