Vermicomposting as an effective approach to municipal sewage sludge management through optimization of the selected process variables
In most developing countries, municipal sewage sludge end-use practices appear unsustainable; rather, it poses environmental concerns. This study examined the potential of vermicomposting of municipal sewage sludge and its blend with other biowaste for agricultural application. Using a response surf...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Water Science and Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/88/8/1957 |
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| author | Beauty Banda Nigus Gabbiye Habtu Getachew Dagnew Gebreeyessus Beteley Tekola Meshesha |
| author_facet | Beauty Banda Nigus Gabbiye Habtu Getachew Dagnew Gebreeyessus Beteley Tekola Meshesha |
| author_sort | Beauty Banda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In most developing countries, municipal sewage sludge end-use practices appear unsustainable; rather, it poses environmental concerns. This study examined the potential of vermicomposting of municipal sewage sludge and its blend with other biowaste for agricultural application. Using a response surface methodology and the Box–Behnken design in Design Expert Software (Version 10.0.7), the current study optimized the moisture content (60–90%), turning frequency (1–3 turnings/week), and substrate mixing ratios (50:50 to 80:20 wt.%) to maximize the content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. As a result, an optimal moisture content (72%), substrate mixing ratio (72.34:27.6 wt.%), and turning frequency (2 per week), producing a promising-quality vermicompost with a maximum yield of nitrogen (2.76%), phosphorus (1.80%), and potassium (1.88%) is achieved. Thus, vermicomposting can effectively turn the concerning municipal sewage sludge into useful agricultural input for its sustainable management.
HIGHLIGHTS
Optimal vermicomposting conditions were achieved through parameter optimization, including moisture content, mixing ratio, and turning frequency.;
High-quality vermicompost was harvested from municipal sewage sludge and amended with another biowaste (coffee husks and cow dung).;
The physicochemical and microbial properties of the vermicompost were analyzed for use as organic fertilizer.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:12:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9e97ccb57c3343448869a92ac1fb0a8c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0273-1223 1996-9732 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:12:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Science and Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e97ccb57c3343448869a92ac1fb0a8c2023-11-11T12:14:35ZengIWA PublishingWater Science and Technology0273-12231996-97322023-10-018881957197310.2166/wst.2023.322322Vermicomposting as an effective approach to municipal sewage sludge management through optimization of the selected process variablesBeauty Banda0Nigus Gabbiye Habtu1Getachew Dagnew Gebreeyessus2Beteley Tekola Meshesha3 Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 26, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia In most developing countries, municipal sewage sludge end-use practices appear unsustainable; rather, it poses environmental concerns. This study examined the potential of vermicomposting of municipal sewage sludge and its blend with other biowaste for agricultural application. Using a response surface methodology and the Box–Behnken design in Design Expert Software (Version 10.0.7), the current study optimized the moisture content (60–90%), turning frequency (1–3 turnings/week), and substrate mixing ratios (50:50 to 80:20 wt.%) to maximize the content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. As a result, an optimal moisture content (72%), substrate mixing ratio (72.34:27.6 wt.%), and turning frequency (2 per week), producing a promising-quality vermicompost with a maximum yield of nitrogen (2.76%), phosphorus (1.80%), and potassium (1.88%) is achieved. Thus, vermicomposting can effectively turn the concerning municipal sewage sludge into useful agricultural input for its sustainable management. HIGHLIGHTS Optimal vermicomposting conditions were achieved through parameter optimization, including moisture content, mixing ratio, and turning frequency.; High-quality vermicompost was harvested from municipal sewage sludge and amended with another biowaste (coffee husks and cow dung).; The physicochemical and microbial properties of the vermicompost were analyzed for use as organic fertilizer.;http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/88/8/1957coffee huskscow dungeisenia fetidamunicipal sewage sludgevermicomposting |
| spellingShingle | Beauty Banda Nigus Gabbiye Habtu Getachew Dagnew Gebreeyessus Beteley Tekola Meshesha Vermicomposting as an effective approach to municipal sewage sludge management through optimization of the selected process variables Water Science and Technology coffee husks cow dung eisenia fetida municipal sewage sludge vermicomposting |
| title | Vermicomposting as an effective approach to municipal sewage sludge management through optimization of the selected process variables |
| title_full | Vermicomposting as an effective approach to municipal sewage sludge management through optimization of the selected process variables |
| title_fullStr | Vermicomposting as an effective approach to municipal sewage sludge management through optimization of the selected process variables |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vermicomposting as an effective approach to municipal sewage sludge management through optimization of the selected process variables |
| title_short | Vermicomposting as an effective approach to municipal sewage sludge management through optimization of the selected process variables |
| title_sort | vermicomposting as an effective approach to municipal sewage sludge management through optimization of the selected process variables |
| topic | coffee husks cow dung eisenia fetida municipal sewage sludge vermicomposting |
| url | http://wst.iwaponline.com/content/88/8/1957 |
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