STUDY OF FUNGAL, BACTERIAL AND ACTINOMYCETES POPULATION IN TENDU LEAF LITTER VERMICOMPOST IN COMPARISON WITH PRESS MUDCAKE. Mushan L.C*. Rao K.R.**, Shagalolu V.V*. and Dama L.B*@.

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STUDY OF FUNGAL, BACTERIAL AND ACTINOMYCETES POPULATION IN TENDU LEAF LITTER
VERMICOMPOST IN COMPARISON WITH PRESS MUDCAKE.
Mushan L.C*. Rao K.R.**, Shagalolu V.V*. and Dama L.B*@
.
**Department of Zoology, D.B.F.Dayanand College of Arts and Science, Solapur, (M.S.), India.
*Department of Zoology, Walchand College of Arts and Science, Solapur, (M.S.), India.
@
(Corresponding Author: E-mail: damalaxmikant@gmail.com)
ABSTRACT
Earthworms are an important soil macro fauna as it plays role of a soil engineer because of its ability to burrow in
soil as well as of its function in conversion of organic wastes into nutrient rich vermicompost. The present study
deals with estimation of microorganisms in press mud cake, decomposed tendu and tendu leaf litter vermicompost.
The physical parameters such as pH, moisture, EC, Ash were also analyzed to determine the effect of microbial
activity.
KEY WORDS: Earthworms, Microbes, Organic wastes, physical parameters, Vermicompost.
INTRODUCTION
The living community of the soil plays a major role in decomposition, humification and litter formation. Of the
innumerable life forms that inhabit the soil, earthworms are distinguished by their capacity to excavate the soil.
Earthworms form one of the major soil macrofauna to maintain dynamic equilibrium and regulate soil fertility (Biswas
et al, 2014). Vermicomposting is a profitable technology with large potential because of its organic application in the
agricultural fields.
Bidi (Indian cigarrete) making is a method in which approximately 40- 45% of leaf part is utilized for bidi preparation
and remaining 50-60 % of the leaf is discarded as solid waste and thrown on the streets. To solve this problem in an
ecofriendly method of tendu leaf waste management was recommended to convert the waste into vermicompost using
vermibiotechnology (Kadam et al, 2005; Khatavkar et al., 2008).
The epigeic earthworm, E. fetida, commonly known as a red wiggler, is an efficient vermicomposting earthworm as it
can consume its own body weight in food each day (Tripathi and Bhardwaj, 2004). Vermicompost enhances soil
biodiversity by promoting the beneficial microbes which in turn enhances plant growth directly by production of plant
growth-regulating hormones and enzymes and indirectly by controlling plant pathogens, nematodes and other pests,
thereby enhancing plant health and minimizing the yield loss. Due to its innate biological, biochemical and
physiochemical properties, vermicompost may be used to promote sustainable agriculture and also for the safe
management of agricultural, industrial, domestic and hospital wastes which may otherwise pose serious threat to life
and environment. The soils from laboratory and field studies were investigated to detect possible microbial or chemical
changes by Fritz et al, (2012). Therefore, this study opens up an avenue to convert the organic wastes into nutrient
rich vermicompost.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Preperation of decomposed tendu: Pulverised tendu leaves were decomposed for 30 days in a pit by adding
decomposing culture procured from Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Solapur, (M.S.), India.
Raised Bed method for vermicomposting:Three raised vermicomposting beds of 2.0x1.0x0.5 m size containing
partially decomposed tendu leaf (ORM) (one hundred kilogram in each bed) as an earthworm feed were prepared in 6
feet x 3 feet size vermicomposting shade under natural aerobic conditions at Karamba, in a private farm house. The
beds were watered and 1000 adult earthworms of Esenia foetida were released separately in each bed. The beds were
protected from natural enemies. Bed temperature and humidity were maintained at 28 ± 4 °C and 35-40% respectively
by sprinkling water on the bed . 90% of ORM feed was removed from each bed by hand as vermicompost with heaping
and fresh partially decomposed feed of tendu leaf litter was added in the bed for the next replications. This
vermicomposted tendu leaf litter thus obtained is analyzed for Physical properties and microbial population at various
dilutions. pH was determined by pH meter.

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Determination of total microbial populations:
1 gram of press mud, decomposed tendu leaf,tendu leaf litter vermicompost was diluted in one ml of sterile saline in
different sterile test tubes. The tubes containing substrate were shaken thoroughly in a Vortex mixture for 5 seconds.
Three sets of Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) plates for fungal growth, three sets of Nutrient Agar (NA) and Mac-
Conkey’s Agar (MA) plates for bacterial growth and three sets of Actinomycetes Agar (AA) plates for actinomycetes
growth were used for each substrate. The substrate inoculum in 0.01ml was spread on the surface of these media to
estimate the number of bacterial, fungal and actinomycetes colonies. The fungal plates were incubated at 25°C to 37°C
for 5-7 days, 37°C for 18-24 hours of incubation for bacteria and 25°C to 35°C for 10-12 days of incubation for
actinomycetes. The different microbial colonies developing on the plates were estimated by counting. The number of
colony forming unit (CFU) on the surface of the media was counted and expressed as CFU g -1 , according to the
method described by Dubey and Maheshwari (1999) .
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The resuts shown in Table 1-2 and Figure 1.
In the present study, the total microbial population of vermicompost was higher than pressmud cake, initial substrate
and earthworm Esenia foetida worked tendu leaf litter vermicompost. Earthworms act as soil engineers ( Anderson,
1995). Fungal population increased significantly in both decomposed tendu and tendu leaf litter vermicompost. They
enhance and rejuvenate the fertility of the waste for sustainable agriculture. The constant monitoring of moisture levels
is essential for earthworm survival and biomass production. Moisture level between 40% and 60% are ideal for
earthworm activity (Rajendran,2008). Bacterial population increased significantly in both decomposed tendu and tendu
leaf litter vermicompost as compared to press mud. Actinomycetes that could not be seen in press mud cake plate was
observed in both decomposed tendu and tendu leaf litter vermicompost.The neutral pH,moisture might have also
facilitated the growth of fungus , bacteria and actinomycetes in the decomposed tendu and tendu leaf litter
vermicompost.
Table 1. Physical Parameters of Decomposed Tendu and tendu leaf litter vermicompost produced by E.foetida:
S.No Physical Parameters Decomposed Tendu tendu leaf litter
vermicompost
1 Moisture (%) 34.27±0.56 53.28±5.18**(52.28%)
2 Ash (%) 52.56+5.87 55.94±5.60***(54.94%)
3 pH 7.31±0.62 7.15±0.64(2.10%)
4 EC (mS/cm) 0.18±0.62 0.34±0.03**(88.00%)
Values are significant at *P<0.05 ** P<0.01 *** P<0.001
Bracket values indicate percentage variation
Table 2. Total microbial population (CFU g -1 )in pressmud cake, decomposed tendu and tendu leaf litter
vermicompost produced by Esenia foetida:
Press mudcake Decomposed tendu leaf Tendu leaf litter
vermicompost
Total Fungi (x104
) 2.00±0.02 6.00±0.05 13.00±0.11
Total Bacteria (x103
) 15.00±0.21 28.00±0.36 36.00±0.58
Actinomycetes (x103
) 0.00 2.00±0.03 7.00±0.06

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Figure 1. Collection of Tendu leaf litter waste and processing.

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Figure 2. Decomposition and vermicomposting of Tendu leaf litter waste.
CONCLUSION

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In the present study, total microbial population bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes were found to have increased in the
vermicompost of E. fetida over decomposed tendu leaf litter. The significantly increased level of microbial population
in the vermicompost could be due to the higher nutrient concentration in the substrate and cast, multiplication of
microbes while passing through the gut of worms, optimal moisture and large surface area of casts ideally suited for
better feeding, Anbalagan and Manivannan (2012).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are thankful to the University Grants Commission (UGC, New Delhi) for the financial support in the form
of a Major Research Project.
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