International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056 Volume: 07 Issue: 06 | June 2020 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072 © 2020, IRJET | Impact Factor value: 7.529 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal | Page 3287 Vermicomposting with Cow Dung, Banana Plant and Vegetable Waste Mohd Anwar Khan 1 , Kamal Nabh Tripathi 2 1 M.Tech, Environmental Engineering, BBDU Lucknow, Utter Pradesh 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, BBDU Lucknow, Utter Pradesh ---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract - Vermicomposting is a simple biotechnological process of composting, in which certain species of earthworms are used to convert the organic waste into compost rich in nutrients. Nowadays, farmers mostly use chemical fertilizers for agricultural purposes, which pollute the soil and decrease their fertility and also contaminate the groundwater. Vermicompost has been proposed to be used in the place of chemical fertilizers for overcoming the problems and to utilize organic waste. Vermicompost has better water holding capacity, which also increases the fertility of the soil. Vermicomposting technology can be characterized as environmentally friendly and sustainable. The objective of the topic is to study various techniques adopted by people in the industry as well as in researches and develop vermicompost using organic wastes by optimizing the methods as obtained from the study. To do certain tests in order to check the stability of obtained vermicompost. Key Words: Eisenia Fetida, cow dung, banana plant stem, vegetable waste 1. INTRODUCTION Recycling of organic waste through vermicomposting is very popular globally due to its ability to convert the waste to manure as a substitute for chemical fertilizers. Banana is grown in about 120 countries in the world which generates about 86 tonnes of crop waste per hectare. In India, it is cultivated in 4.6 lakhs hectare area with a production of 14.2 t and productivity of 30.5 t/ha. The whole plant (leaves, stem, and rhizome) of banana, after harvesting of the fruits, is left in the field which takes several months to degrade naturally. Such banana plant-derived wastes can also be utilized for recycling through vermicomposting. Earthworms, in vermicomposting, are used to derive a stable compost rich in available plant nutrient elements and plant growth hormones than traditional composting. Among the several epigamic earthworms Eisenia Fetida is most favored for vermicomposting due to its wide range of tolerance towards different environmental variables. In vermicomposting, earthworms have a crucial role, as they influence the activity of microorganism through fragmentation and ingestion of the organic matter. The importance of earthworm microbial communities is well documented in the vermicomposting of lignocellulosic materials. 1.2 COMPOSTING Composting is a microbiological conversion of organic residues of plant and animal origin to manure rich in humus and nutrients by various micro-organisms including bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes in the presence of oxygen (Fig. 1). During the process, it releases by-products such as carbon dioxide, water and heat. Figure-1: Composting Process 1.3 Vermicompositing Vermicomposting has been arising as an innovative eco technology for the conversion of various types of wastes into vermicompost. Vermicompost is humus like, finely granulated and stabilized material which can be used as a soil conditioner to reintegrate the organic matter to the agricultural soils. Industrial wastes remain largely unutilized and often cause environmental problems like ground and surface water pollution, foul odors, occupying vast land areas etc. Non-toxic and organic industrial wastes could be potential raw material for vermitechnology. In the last two decades, vermitechnology has been applied for the management of industrial wastes and sledges and to convert them into vermicompost for land restoration practices. The success of the process depends upon several process parameters like quality of raw material, pH, temperature, moisture, aeration etc., type of vermicomposting system and earthworm species used. 2. METHODOLOGY 2.1 Collection of material: The partially decomposed material was mixed with cow dung in three different ratios (Table 1). The experiment was conducted in the bed of size (length 6, width 2 and height 2) ft. The bed was filled with Banana plant stem, cow dung, and vegetable waste according to the different treatments. Healthy, juvenile earthworms of Eisenia Fetida were released in the bed at the rate 40.