Vermicompost enhanced with nitrogen from gliricidia sepium leaves

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of producing nitrogen-enhanced vermicomposting through the incorporation of nitrogen-rich Gliricidia sepium leaves into a vermicomposting substrate. Organic waste materials including animal manure, crop residues, and food waste are blended with pre-dried and shredded Gliricidia sepium foliage in optimized proportions and decomposed by epigeic earthworms (Eisenia fetida) under mesophilic conditions (20–35 °C). The biological interaction between earthworms and microorganisms results in a finely divided, porous, humus-like vermicompost characterized by increased nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) levels and measurable nitrogen content.