Comparative study of vermicompost produced in the mesophilic phase and ordinary compost

Vermicomposting is a biological process that uses earthworms to transform organic waste into compost. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of vermicomposting, compared to conventional composting, through the analysis of physicochemical parameters. The species Eudrilus eugeniae was used to degrade pre-composted household waste. The results show that vermicompost has higher nitrogen (0.63%), phosphorus (11.60%) and carbon (15.38%) contents than conventional compost (0.53% N, 10.82% P, 14.86% C). On the other hand, potassium is higher in conventional compost (0.47% versus 0.31%). The heavy metal content is lower in vermicompost, reflecting a phenomenon of bioaccumulation by worms. The humic and fulvic acid content is also higher in vermicompost. These results confirm that vermicomposting produces a more stable product that is rich in nutrients and less contaminated by heavy metals.