Study of changes in the number of earthworms and cocoons during the process of vermicomposting of bagasse

In general, the developed countries generate much higher quantities of waste per capita compared to the developing countries of the region. Currently, the management and disposal of agro-industrial waste production is one of the most critical environmental issues. For the present research work, composting of bagasse waste done along with various fungal strains such as Pleurotus sajor-caju, Trichoderma harzianum and Aspergillus niger and Chaetomium globosum in various combination for 40 days and followed by vermicomposting with Eisenia foetida for 30 days of period. As fungi helps in degradation of plant biomass rapidly by secreting enzymes along with this also increase in number of earthworms and cocoons in bagasse vermicompost. As earthworm number increases from initial 15 to control 18 in control to 37 in final set up where as cocoons number in control was 4 to last set up were 20. As bagasse supports good number of earthworms and cocoons when treated with various fungal strains.