International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture (IJROWA) An effective organic waste recycling through vermicomposting technology for sustainable agriculture in tropics Volume 10 (2021) Issue 3, September 2021 2024 01 18 An effective organic waste recycling through vermicomposting technology for sustainable agriculture in tropics 10.30486/ijrowa.2021.1894997.1080 EN Ginette Sandrine Liégui Haute École Charlemagne-Département Agronomique, unité d’horticulture. Rue Verlaine n°9, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium 0000 0002 8147 Stéphane Cognet Research unit on Applied Botany, University of Dschang. PO Box 96, Dschang, Cameroon 0000 0002 2268 2474 Guy Valerie Wafo Djumyom Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology and Environment, Department of Plant Biology, University of Yaounde 1. P.O Box 812 Yaounde, Cameroon Paul Agendia Atabong Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology and Environment, Department of Plant Biology, University of Yaounde 1. P.O Box 812 Yaounde, Cameroon Jean Pierre Fankem Noutadié Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Pan African University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O Box 62000-00200 Nairobi-Kenya Rostand Roméo Chamedjeu Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology and Environment, Department of Plant Biology, University of Yaounde 1. P.O Box 812 Yaounde, Cameroon Carine Nono Temegne Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology and Environment, Department of Plant Biology, University of Yaounde 1. P.O Box 812 Yaounde, Cameroon An effective organic waste recycling through vermicomposting technology for sustainable agriculture in tropics PurposeThe management of household wastes has been a real challenge for the capital city of Cameroon for some years now. In order to adopt ecological and sustainable strategies for better management of organic fraction of solid wastes, the present work was aimed to propose a sustainable alternative for the recycling of household organic waste through a vermicomposting process. Method A vermicomposting of household organic waste was carried out during 46 days, preceded by 23 days of pre-composting. Then, three treatments were established by mixing epigeic earthworms with different proportion of pre-composted waste. Maturation parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), C/N ratio, ammonium (N-NH4+) and total organic matter (TOM) were monitored about four weeks. The agronomic quality of the vermicompost was also determined at the end. Results During pre-composting, the temperature reached a maximum of 54.3±5.4°C suitable for the elimination of potential pathogen. The pH varied between 9.44 and 8.53 leading towards neutrality at the end of the vermicomposting process. The obtained mean values of C/N ratio and the TOM were respectively 11.04-11.68 and 25.82-27.19% in line with the AFNOR (NFU 44-051) guideline. The obtained vermicompost revealed high levels of nutrients such as N, P, K, Ca and Mg. The phytotoxicity test on lettuce showed germination rates above 50%, revealing the non-toxic nature of the vermicompost produced. Conclusion The vermicompost were rich in nutrients and exhibited the non-phytotoxicity. Thus, vermicomposting can be applied in the context of Cameroon to transform organic waste into organic fertiliser suitable for sustainable agriculture. Journal Article 2024 01 18 PurposeThe management of household wastes has been a real challenge for the capital city of Cameroon for some years now. In order to adopt ecological and sustainable strategies for better management of organic fraction of solid wastes, the present work was aimed to propose a sustainable alternative for the recycling of household organic waste through a vermicomposting process. Method A vermicomposting of household organic waste was carried out during 46 days, preceded by 23 days of pre-composting. Then, three treatments were established by mixing epigeic earthworms with different proportion of pre-composted waste. Maturation parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), C/N ratio, ammonium (N-NH4+) and total organic matter (TOM) were monitored about four weeks. The agronomic quality of the vermicompost was also determined at the end. Results During pre-composting, the temperature reached a maximum of 54.3±5.4°C suitable for the elimination of potential pathogen. The pH varied between 9.44 and 8.53 leading towards neutrality at the end of the vermicomposting process. The obtained mean values of C/N ratio and the TOM were respectively 11.04-11.68 and 25.82-27.19% in line with the AFNOR (NFU 44-051) guideline. The obtained vermicompost revealed high levels of nutrients such as N, P, K, Ca and Mg. The phytotoxicity test on lettuce showed germination rates above 50%, revealing the non-toxic nature of the vermicompost produced. Conclusion The vermicompost were rich in nutrients and exhibited the non-phytotoxicity. Thus, vermicomposting can be applied in the context of Cameroon to transform organic waste into organic fertiliser suitable for sustainable agriculture.