Sains Malaysiana 39(5)(2010): 711–715

Effects of Vermicomposting Duration to Macronutrient Elements

Heavy Metals Concentrations in Vermicompost

(Kesan Jangkamasa Pengomposan Vermi Terhadap Unsur Makronutrien dan Kepekatan Logam Berat di dalam Vermikompos)

Adi Ainurzaman Jamaludin* & Noor Zalina Mahmood

Institute of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 26 May 2008 / Accepted: 11 February 2010

ABSTRACT

Vermicomposting using Lumbricus rubellus was conducted in two different durations, 10 and 30 weeks in the same plots. Three different of treatments combination were prepared with eight replicates for each treatment namely cow dung : kitchen waste in 30:70 ratio (T1), cow dung : coffee grounds in 30:70 ratio (T2), and cow dung : kitchen waste : coffee grounds in 30:35:35 ratio (T3). Macronutrients elements in the vermicompost from each treatment were measured in the tenth and thirtieth week. Comparatively longer duration of vermicomposting by using Lumbricus rubellus enhanced the quality of vermicompost by the increase of the macronutrient elements while reducing the heavy metal concentration and C/N ratio.

Keywords: Duration; heavy metals; Lumbricus rubellus; macronutrient; vermicomposting

ABSTRAK

Pengomposan vermi menggunakan Lumbricus rubellus telah dijalankan untuk dua jangkamasa, 10 minggu dan 30 minggu di dalam plot yang sama. Tiga kombinasi rawatan disediakan dengan lapan replikat untuk setiap rawatan iaitu najis lembu : sisa dapur pada nisbah 30:70 (T1), najis lembu : sisa kisaran kopi pada nisbah 30:70 (T2), dan najis lembu : sisa dapur : sisa kisaran kopi pada nisbah 30:35:35 (T3). Unsur makro-nutrien daripada setiap rawatan dianalisis pada minggu kesepuluh dan ketiga puluh. Secara perbandingannya, lebih panjang jangkamasa pengomposan vermi dijalankan dengan menggunakan Lumbricus rubellus, dapat meningkatkan kualiti vermikompos melalui penambahan kandungan elemen makro nutrien di samping menurunkan kepekatan logam berat dan nisbah C/N.

Kata kunci: Jangkamasa; logam berat; Lumbricus rubellus; nutrien makro; pengomposan vermi

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*Corresponding author; email: adiainurzaman@um.edu.my