Significant results from the use of zeolite in compost with earthworms [research]
Researchers have discovered significant results from the use of zeolite in compost with earthworms in a study in the field of environmental science published on 22018.
The experiment
Specifically, Zarrabi, M., Mohammadi, A.A. and Al-Musawi, T.J. studied the effect of adding different proportions of natural zeolite, specifically clinoptilolite (5 and 10 per cent), to compost containing earthworms and food waste. The evolution of the physicochemical characteristics of the final product, the growth of the earthworms and the maturation time of the final vermicompost were investigated. The final result was compared with the control sample, which was produced without any external intervention. The experiment was carried out in 18 plastic containers over a period of 70 days.
The results
The results showed that the carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios were 15.85, 10.75 and 8.94 for zeolite concentrations of 5 per cent and 10 per cent, and the control, respectively, after 70 days. It appears that the addition of zeolite facilitates the decomposition of organic matter and increases the total nitrogen content. Increasing the zeolite content from 0 per cent (control) to 10 per cent also reduced nitrogen loss by 25 per cent.
Natural zeolite significantly reduced electrical conductivity (EC). At the end of the process, the salinity removal efficiency was 39.23 per cent for the 5 per cent zeolite concentration and 45.23 per cent for the 10 per cent zeolite concentration.
The pH values for the 5 per cent and 10 per cent zeolite concentrations were 7.31 and 7.57, respectively, compared with 7.10 in the control. The curing time decreased as the zeolite concentration increased. Maturation in the treatments containing 5 per cent and 10 per cent zeolite took place in 49 and 42 days, respectively, compared with 56 days for the control.
At the start of the experiment, ten young Eisenia fetida earthworms were used. The number of mature earthworms in the sample containing 10% zeolite was 26 more than in the sample containing 5% zeolite (21 earthworms).10 per cent zeolite treatment was 26 more than in the 5 per cent zeolite treatment (21 earthworms). It was also higher than in the control group (17 earthworms).
The general conclusion
At all levels, the addition of natural zeolite had a beneficial effect on the characteristics of the final product.