In this study, the effect of brown seaweed (Cystoseira barbata) and cattle manure combinations were investigated as a worm food on the properties of Eisenia fetida worm manure. Seaweed Cystoseira barbata were collected from the coast of Giresun, desalted and dried and then ground. Cattle manure was obtained from cattle breeding dairy and had covered and fermented. Food groups; 0% (control group); 5.45%; 10.90%; 21.81% and 43.63% of the algae were prepared and containing three replicates were given to the worms. The experiment was established in Giresun University Faculty of Science and Letters Biology laboratories according to randomized plot design. The vermicompost groups were analyzed in terms of plant nutrients and mineral levels. The obtained data showed that as the amount of algae increased in the formula and vermicompost groups, the metal levels of Zn, Ni, Fe, Pb, Cr, Mn, Mg and Cu decreased and carbon, CaCO3, N, P and K increased. This means that brown seaweed Cystoseira barbata, which grows naturally on our coasts, can be used in the structure of vermicompost.

Huge amount of organic wastes including agricultural field wastes, food wastes, municipal solid waste and manures can be converted into a safe and usable product that can be used as a possible substitute for chemical fertilizers. In this regard, the proposed study was designed with the aim to prepare macro and micronutrients rich vermicompost from different bio-wastes that can be used as a possible substitute to chemical fertilizers for improving plant growth. A 90 days vermicomposting experiment was conducted in wooden boxes (1×1 m) containing animal manure and waste material (grasses, brewed black tea leaf and dry leaf) mixed in 3:1 ratio with a 2.5 cm thin layer of soil. The material was at the bottom of the bed and around 10.000 earthworms of Eisenia fetida were settled in the box. The boxes were irrigated by sprinkled water daily and tilled from the top once every week for maintaining aeration and proper decomposition. The vermicompost production was continued for about 90 days in each box under 21-23°C room temperature. The results showed that by using animal manure and waste materials, the physical parameters like moisture content was increased upto50 % on day 90. Likewise, the percent increase recorded for total N, organic N, total P and soluble K content on day 90 was maximum in the vermicompost prepared from animal manure and waste material. It can be concluded from this experiment that with the help of earthworm’s, different field and garden residues, wastes and manures can be converted into a nutrient rich and environment friendly vermicompost that can be used as a possible substitute to chemical fertilizers for improving plant growth.

Huge amount of organic wastes including agricultural field wastes, food wastes, municipal solid waste and manures can be converted into a safe and usable product that can be used as a possible substitute for chemical fertilizers. In this regard, the proposed study was designed with the aim to prepare macro and micronutrients rich vermicompost from different bio-wastes that can be used as a possible substitute to chemical fertilizers for improving plant growth. A 90 days vermicomposting experiment was conducted in wooden boxes (1×1 m) containing animal manure and waste material (grasses, brewed black tea leaf and dry leaf) mixed in 3:1 ratio with a 2.5 cm thin layer of soil. The material was at the bottom of the bed and around 10.000 earthworms of Eisenia fetida were settled in the box. The boxes were irrigated by sprinkled water daily and tilled from the top once every week for maintaining aeration and proper decomposition. The vermicompost production was continued for about 90 days in each box under 21-23°C room temperature. The results showed that by using animal manure and waste materials, the physical parameters like moisture content was increased upto50 % on day 90. Likewise, the percent increase recorded for total N, organic N, total P and soluble K content on day 90 was maximum in the vermicompost prepared from animal manure and waste material. It can be concluded from this experiment that with the help of earthworm’s, different field and garden residues, wastes and manures can be converted into a nutrient rich and environment friendly vermicompost that can be used as a possible substitute to chemical fertilizers for improving plant growth.

Sürdürülebilir tarımın karşı karşıya olduğu en önemli sorunlardan biri kaliteli gübre teminin ve gübrelemenin uygulamasında karşılaşılan sorundur. Son yıllarda bir yandan doğal yöntemlerle elde edilen gübrenin miktarı artırılmaya çalışılırken; diğer yandan farklı tip gübre (katı doğal, sıvı doğal, biyo-doğal vb..) çeşitlerinin elde edilmesine yönelik çalışmaların artarak devam ettiği görülmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, fermente olmuş doğal hayvan gübresi ile beslenen solucanlardan (Eisenia fetida) elde edilen sıvı gübredeki (vermiwash) bazı besin elementleri ve metallerin zamana (30 gün, 31-6 gün) bağlı değişimlerinin belirlenmesidir. Bu amaçla, doğal meralarda otlayan ineklerden elde edilmiş ve en az 12 ay süreyle fermente olmuş hayvan gübresi ile Eisenia fetida solucanı beslenmiş ve besleme sırasında elde edilen sıvı solucan gübresindeki bazı makro ve mikro besin elementleri analiz edilmiştir. Sağım süresi arttıkça sıvı solucan gübresindeki N, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Hg, Sb değerleri istatistiksel olarak önemli seviyede azalırken; Co, As, Ag, Cd, Pb, Al, Se, Mo, Li ve Be değerleri istatistiksel olarak önemli seviyede artmıştır.