Investigation of the use potential of leonardite in vermicompost production

Leonardite is already used in organic farming practices. Lignite, which is produced all over the world and forms the conversion form to coal, is evaluated as a productive substance in the agricultural sector and its use in plant cultivation contributes to nature and economy. Reducing domestic and industrial waste will protect organic resources in nature as a source of organic matter and fertilizer in organic farming practices, and will instead create an alternative to chemicals used in modern agriculture. This study investigates the effects of physico-chemicals on the production of vermicompost, the valuable agricultural substance leonardite, by analyzing pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total organic carbon (TOC), density and total carbon dioxide (TKN) and different organic substances (tea pulp, fruit pulp). and animal manure) and the optimum point and usability between mixing ratios of 0% (K0), 25% (K1), 50% (K2), 75% (K3), 100% (K4). As a result of the biomass monitoring of the Red California worm (Esenia fetida) during the study, it was determined that there was no live worm culture in the K4 experimental set of leonardit and that there was a 62% loss in the number of worm cultures in the K3 experimental set. In the follow-up of worm culture development, the number of worms increased by 27% and 10% in the K0 and K1 experimental sets, respectively, while the number of worms decreased by 21% in the K2 experimental set. Other results of the final product after 60 days of the study: K0, K1, K2, K3 respectively: TOC 25.2 – 27.9 – 31 – 34.7%, TKN 2.4% – 1.8 – 1.5 – 1.5, respectively. It was determined that the pH was 9.1 – 7.8 – 7.2 – 6.4, and the C/N ratio was 10.4 – 15.8 – 21.6 – 23.2.