Recycling of Waste Tea Leaves via Vermicomposting Process and the Effect on Water Spinach Growth

• Main Authors: Mohd Saufi Md Zaini, Wan Adri Syafi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Croatian Society of Chemical Engineers 2021-06-01
• Series: Kemija u Industriji
• Subjects: vermicompost; tea waste; ph; plant growth; population
• Online Access: http://silverstripe.fkit.hr/kui/assets/Uploads/3-387-392-KUI-7-8-2021.pdf

Vermicomposting is a bio-composting process in which earthworms are used to enhance the conversion of organic waste to produce better end-product. This study was conducted to investigate the vermicomposting process via earthworm (Eisenia feotida) using waste tea leaves as feedstock and bedding material. The matured vermicompost was obtained after 10 weeks of vermicomposting process. The earthworm population and mass of bedding were monitored weekly. The condition of bedding material was analysed daily. During the vermicomposting process, the temperature increased within mesophilic phase between 23 °C and 28 °C. The pH of vermicompost ranged between 6.5 and 7.7. The matured vermicompost and commercial soil were compared for the plant growth trial for 3 weeks of the study. The results showed that the combination of matured waste tea leaves vermicompost and commercial soil generated the highest growth compared to the commercialised soil alone. This indicated that vermicompost contained rich nutrients that assisted the plant growth effectively.