Enhancing organic waste management in Ghana through vermicomposting with Eudrilus eugeniae: Implications for sustainable agriculture and waste reduction

Abstract

Ghana faces considerable challenges in managing municipal solid waste (MSW), with 49 %–68 % of it consisting of organic matter. Vermicomposting, an aerobic composting process employing various species of redworms and earthworms, presents a favourable alternative for managing organic waste. This study aimed to assess earthworms' (Eudrilus eugeniae) capacity to facilitate the natural breakdown and transformation of organic waste, particularly food waste, and to evaluate their positive impact on plant growth. Organic materials such as cassava, plantain, yam, and their peels, including leftovers of fufu, banku, kenkey, and rice, were used for the experiment to ascertain the study objectives. Results indicated a reduction in food waste ranging from 15 % to 50 %, with an average weight loss of 41.8 %. Furthermore, total nitrogen increased from 0.14 % to 0.78 %, available phosphorus from 0.12 % to 0.85 %, and exchangeable potassium from 2.93 % to 3.97 %. The resulting vermicompost was used as a growth medium for tomatoes, and significant differences were observed in shoot length, leaf number, and branch number between treatments. However, no significant difference was found between NPK fertilizer and vermicompost treatments. At four weeks post-transplanting, tomatoes treated with NPK recorded the highest mean shoot length (31 cm), followed by vermicompost (30.13 cm) and the control (27.13 cm). Similarly, tomatoes treated with NPK had the most leaves (51.50), followed by vermicompost (48) and the control (38.75). This study recommends vermicomposting as a viable organic waste management strategy, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers. Training and awareness programs should be initiated to promote its adoption in Ghana.