Chemical changes during vermicomposting (Eisenia fetida) of sheep manure mixed with cotton industrial wastes

Castings of Eisenia fetida from sheep manure alone and mixed with cotton wastes analysed for their properties and chemical composition every 2 weeks for 3 months and compared with the same manures in the absence of earthworms. The results showed that earthworms accelerated the mineralization rate and converted the manures into castings with a higher nutritional value and degrees of humification. The castings obtained from manure mixed with cotton wastes exhibited good agronomic quality, suggesting that this kind of industrial residue may be used in vermicomposting. © 1988 Springer-Verlag.