Amplification of plant beneficial microbial communities during conversion of coconut leaf substrate to vermicompost...

The population densities of 15 microbial communities in the coconut leaves + cow manure mixture (10:1 ratio, w/w) and pure cow manure, gut contents of the earthworm, Eudrilus sp., reared on the above substrates and vermicompost produced by the worm were studied. The enumeration was done by dilution plate and most probable number method using several selective and semi-selective microbial media. In the vermicompost produced from coconut leaves + cow manure (CLV) mixture, 9 out of 15 microbial communities, particularly the plant beneficial ones, were amplified whereas five communities were amplified in case of pure cow manure (CMV). The CLV contained significantly high population of fungi, free-living nitrogen fixers, phosphate solubilizers, fluorescent pseudomonads, and silicate solubilizers. The CMV was preponderant with aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes, and Trichoderma spp. Spore formers were present in similar numbers in both the vermicomposts. Presence of Azotobacter was detected only in CMV. The results obtained in this study suggest coconut leaf litter to be a good alternative for cow manure for the production of vermicompost, especially in the areas where coconut is grown in plenty.