Utilizing leaf litter of Azadirachta indica for generation of microbial enriched vermicompost

Earthworms play an important role in nutrient cycling of soil. The epigeic earthworms process the leaf litter on the soil surface and contribute to soil fertility. The present study demonstrates the impact of earthworm-assisted composting on nutrient and microbial population dynamics during the decomposition of neem leaf litter. The physico-chemical and microbial characteristics of soil/vermicompost were determined on 30, 60, and 90 days after incubation/vermicomposting. The earthworm population increased steadily with neem leaf litter as feed. The nitrogen levels increased initially and then began to fall by the 90th day. With few exceptions, the trends of phosphorous and potassium levels followed the same trend of nitrogen. The FT-IR spectra showed that the carboxylic groups and aromatic compounds of the vermicompost derived from leaf litter decreased on day 90. The microbial population was also decreasing as the days progressed from 30 to 90.