Vermicomposting of industrially produced woodchips and sewage sludge utilizing Eisenia fetida

Adult Eisenia fetida were used to vermicompost woodchips (WC) and sewage sludge (SS) that are produced as waste product by platinum mines. The aims of the study were to examine the growth and reproductive success of the worms over 84 days to determine long-term feasibility of large-scale implementation and monitor the bioconcentration of heavy metals and the effects of microorganisms inoculation to quantify possible environmental implications. Results revealed that there were no effects on growth (P>0.05), reproductive success decreased (P<0.05), and aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni) were bioconcentrated (P<0.05) in the treatment groups without an inoculate. Earthworms in the treatment group with the microorganism inoculate manifested no effects on growth or reproductive success and did not accumulate Al, Cu, and Ni. It is concluded that the only economically feasible way to bioconvert WC and SS to a potential ameliorant of platinum mine tailings would be with the addition of a microorganism inoculate. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.