Effect of vermicompost developed from municipal solid waste on rhizome yield, photosynthetic pigments and metabolism of mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) grown in highly degraded sodic soil;

Solid waste generation and its management have emerged as a major concern over the past few years particularly, in developing country like India. In India, about 40 million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) is generated every year due to increasing urban population and economic growth. Indian cities lack of an effective mechanism to manage possibly due to lack of resources both revenue as well human resources trained in management practices involving in the sphere of collection, transportation, processing and final disposal of MSW. Vermi-technology is regarded as most effective tool to manage MSW which, relates to the development of a process that produces an efficient bio-product i.e.,vermicompost, from the MSW.1 Vermitechnology is an eco-biotechnological process that transforms energy-rich and complex organic substances into stabilized humuslike product. Vermicompost (VC) is stabilized organic waste obtained by the joint action of earthworms and aerobic microorganisms. Local epigeic and anecic species of earthworms (Perionyxexcavatus and Lampitomauritii) are used in vermi composting.