Vermicomposting of different types of oil palm fibre waste using eudrilus eugeniae: A comparative study

Earthworms (eudrilus eugeniae,the african nigh tcrawler) were tested as inoculants in the vermicom posting process in relation to their capacitif to compost the various types of oil palm biomass. the different types of oil palm biomass used zvere empty fruit bunches (efb),oil palm fronds (opf) and oil palm trunks (opt). the oil palm biomass zvas compos ted and vermicomposted for 84 days under controlled conditions. in the study on the effects of earthworm digestibility towards the major lignocellulosic components (cellulose and lignin) of efb in the vermireactors (efb worm),results showed a sigmfi cant degradation rate of the cellulose. a similar trend was also observed for lignin degradation. meanwhile,lower rates of the lignocellulosic degradation were observed for efb,opf and opt in the control reactor (without earthworms). vermicom post obtained showed an increase in heavy metal contents in efb worm,opf worm and opt worm,but the contents were still within the range of limits allowable. a significant decrease in c/n ratio and increases in total kjeldahl nitrogen,total available phos porous and total potassium were recorded for efb worm over the control (efb,opf and opt). efb fibre was found to be the best oil palm fibre for vermicomposting as compared to opt and opf fibre.