Evaluation of vermifiltration of cassava effluent using earthworm

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the vermifiltration of different cassava effluent concentrations using of earthworms by applying standard methods. Results for physiochemical parameters before treatment ranges from 3. 91 to 5.94, 28.6to 28.7(μS/cm), 12480 to 13999 (mg/l), 7900 to 9511(mg/l), 168 to 207(mg/l), 8068 to 9718(mg/l), 225 to 284(mg/l), 114 to 132(mg/l), 1040 to 1680(mg/l), 400 to 540(mg/l), 52 to 72(mg/l), 24 to 40(mg/l), 20 to 30(mg/l), 33 to 65(mg/l) for pH, Temperature, EC, TDS, TSS, TS, COD, BOD, Hardness, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium, respectively, while after treatment ranges from 6.45 to 10.1, 28.6 to 29, 12021 to 12621(μS/cm), 8100 to 9846(mg/l), 199 to 211(mg/l), 8299 to 10057(mg/l), 260 to 291(mg/l), 140 to 120(mg/l), 760 to 1160(mg/l), 260 to 440(mg/l), 48 to 62(mg/l), 22 to 39(mg/l), 19 to 28(mg/l), 31 to 60(mg/l) for pH, Temperature, Electrical Conductivity (EC), TDS, TSS, TS, COD, BOD, Hardness, Chlorine, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Potassium, respectively, across the different concentrations (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%) of cassava effluent. It was therefore, observed that the use of earthworm in the treatment of cassava effluent was effective, though, it could not treat the cassava effluent to the acceptable World Health Organization (WHO) Standards for irrigation use.

Keywords: physiochemical characteristics, cassava, effluent concentrations, vermifiltration