Description:FIELD OF INVENTION:
The present invention relates to agricultural sciences. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of preparing vermicompost from press mud and spent floral waste through bioconversion and vermicompost obtained thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Safe and environmentally harmonious management of solid wastes becomes a major issue in many cities of developing nations. Enormous production of solid wastes coupled with poor management system, results in a significant environmental degradation.

In India at most of the religious places a huge tonnage of solid waste is generated largely during functions, worships, ceremonies, and festivals. Million tons of sugar industry waste press mud and floral waste from temples is produced annually which is of no or limited economic use and remains unutilized during rains posing a sequel of environmental and health problems.

Method for treating garden wastes by utilizing earthworms and prepared culture substrate (https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/059179269/publication/CN106882989A?q=flower%20waste%20AND%20vermicomposting) discloses a method for treating garden wastes by utilizing earthworms and a prepared plant culture substrate. The method comprises the steps of carrying out aerobic composting treatment and earthworm composting treatment on the garden wastes in sequence. The garden wastes are composted through utilizing the composting treatment and a composted product is formed, so that resource utilization of the garden wastes is promoted. According to the method disclosed by the invention, in a garden waste composting process, the degradation speed of the garden wastes can be improved, and the growth speed and reproduction speed of the earthworms can also be improved; a composted product obtained by the method for treating the garden wastes, provided by the invention, has balanced nutrients, high nutrient components, a reasonable structure and stable physical properties; the composted product is prepared into a flower plant culture substrate, and the survival rate and ornamental effect of flower plant cultivation can be improved.

Method for producing wormcast culture medium through sugar refinery waste
(https://patents.google.com/patent/CN106431566A/en?q=(flower+waste+AND+vermicompost)&oq=flower+waste+AND+vermicompost&page=2) discloses a manufacturing method for producing a wormcast culture medium through sugar refinery waste. After broken bagasse and sugarcane filter mud are fermented and composted, 10-100 kg of waste molasses is added into per cubic meter of materials, 0.5-0.9 mg/L of sodium selenite is added, larger than 2.0*10<7> cfu/g of Bacillus subtilis is added, uniform stirring is performed, the water content is adjusted to be 40-75%, then, earthworm seeds are inoculated, and earthworms and wormcast are separated after reproduction is performed for a period of time. According to the prepared culture medium, the element absorptivity, the utilization rate and the safety of crops are greatly improved, the culture medium is environmentally friendly, the emergence rate and the survival rate are higher than those of a common culture medium, and the method is suitable for most crops, even flowers with the strict requirement for the culture medium.

Vermicomposting of sugar industry waste (press mud) mixed with cow dung employing an epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida
(https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0734242X09336315) reports the potential of vermitechnology to convert sugar industry waste PM mixed with cow dung (CD) into vermicompost, employing an epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida. A total of six different reactors were established having different ratios of PM and CD including one control (CD only). The growth and fecundity of E. fetida was monitored for 13 weeks. Maximum growth was recorded in 100% CD, but earthworms grew and reproduced favourably up to 1:1 PM and CD feed composition. However, greater percentages of PM in different reactors significantly affected the growth and fecundity of worms. Vermicomposting resulted in a decrease in carbon concentration and an increase in nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium concentrations of the vermicompost. Investigations indicated that vermicomposting could be an alternative technology for the management of PM into useful fertilizing material, if mixed at maximum 50% with CD.

Waste Management of Temple Floral offerings by Vermicomposting and its effect on Soil and Plant Growth
(https://ijoear.com/assets/articles_menuscripts/file/IJOEAR-JUL-2016-14.pdf) used different proportions of mixture of cattle dung and floral wastes and performed vermicomposting process using Eisenia fetida earth worm species. The bioconversion ratio i.e., waste into vermicompost was found to be high in 50:50 and 60:40 proportion. Soil was kept as control throughout the study. After Vermicomposting process analysis of various physical and chemical parameters was done. It was found that 25?C temperature, 8.0 pH, 1-2mm particle size, 60% moisture content, black colour, odourless, 0.88 bulk density were optimum parameters. Vermicomposting resulted in lowering of EC, C: N ratio, C:P ratio and increase in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium , Calcium , Magnesium and sulfur. In the pot culture studies of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants (using prepared floral waste vermicompost as fertilizer) various growth parameters like mean stem diameter, mean plant height, mean leaf number, mean length of roots, yield/plant showed good enhancement of growth .The results indicate that integrated effect of all the nutrients present in flower waste vermicompost results in the increased growth and yield of tomato plants and also played a crucial role in improving soil properties, as compared to control. Thus, vermicomposting of temple flower waste is an excellent and ecofriendly method to get valuable products which will lead to a healthier and waste free environment.

Akanksha Singh , Akansha Jain , Birinchi K. Sarma , P.C. Abhilash , Harikesh B. Singh; Solid waste management of temple floral offerings by vermicomposting using Eisenia fetida; May 2013, provides recycling of temple waste (TW) mainly comprising of floral offerings through vermitechnology using Eisenia fetida and its impact on seed germination and plant growth parameters was studied by comparing with kitchen waste (KW) and farmyard waste (FYW) vermicompost (VC). The worm biomass was found to be maximum in TW VC compared to KW and FYW VCs at both 40 and 120 days old VCs. Physico-chemical analysis of worm-worked substrates showed better results in TW VC especially in terms of electrical conductivity, C/N, C/P and TK. 10% TW VC–water extract (VCE) showed stimulatory effect on germination percentage of chickpea seeds while KW and FYW VCE proved effective at higher concentration. Variation in growth parameters was also observed with change in the VC–soil ratio and TW VC showed enhanced shoot length, root length, number of secondary roots and total biomass at 12.5% VC compared to KW and FYW VC.

Lipika Pandit, Debadatta Sethi, Sushanta Kumar Pattanayak, Yashaswi Nayak; Bioconversion of lignocellulosic organic wastes into nutrient rich vermicompost by Eudrilus eugeniae; December 2020, discloses method of bioconversion to obtain vermicompost. The lignocellulosic wastes viz.; paddy straw, maize stover, leaf litter, vegetable waste, and temple waste flowers were subjected to vermicomposting by using Eudrilus eugeniae. The recovery of compost varied widely between 62% from leaf litter and 76% from temple waste flower. The C:N ratio in all cases was 15:1, the desired level. The C:P and C:S ratios were within the mineralizable range <200:1, indicating the ready release of these nutrients. The mature vermicomposts maintained cation exchange capacity (CEC) ranging from 27.8 to 55.7 cmol (p+) kg-1. The produced vermicomposts were very much microbiologically active in terms of microbial population with relative abundance in enzyme activities. The scanning electron microscope and Fourier transmission infrared images revealed the maturity of the compost.
Hrishikesh Kumawat, Rahul Sen; Management of Temple Floral Waste and Utilization of Value Added Floral Waste Product: A Review; May 2022, teaches that temple waste has an exceptional share of flower waste in the total waste. After gratifying their purpose, flowers along with other waste, find their way into the garbage or are discarded into river, sea or oceans causing various environmental problems. The majorly offered flowers in temples are marigold, rose, jasmine, hyacinth, hibiscus, etc. This floral waste can be properly managed and utilized in various value added form. Techniques like vermicomposting, composting, dyes extraction, extraction of essential oils, making of Holi colours and bio-gas generation can be used. As most of the flower contains secondary metabolites which can be further used in essential oil extraction and food additives. Handmade paper can also made by utilizing these waste products. The review focuses on important application of floral wastes which, helps to cope up with energy crises and environmental pollution.

US20230060109A1 discloses system and method for composting waste materials from the cannabis industry. The process involves taking various cannabis-related waste materials, pulverizing them to create compostable feedstock, and then converting the feedstock into compost. Different composting techniques such as windrow, aerated static pile, in-vessel digestion, or vermicomposting can be used. The cannabis waste materials should have a specific carbon to nitrogen ratio, and they are physically altered to smaller particle sizes to make them suitable for pre-composting. The end result is compliant with local and state regulations.

RU2595173C2 discloses a method for producing liquid bioorganic fertilizer for agriculture. The process involves extracting mineral nutrients and biologically active substances from raw materials using water, separating any insoluble deposits, extracting humus substances using an alkaline solution, separating the alkaline extract, neutralizing it with citric acid, mixing it with the water extract, and filtering to create a liquid end product. The use of organic materials only, along with these steps, allows for the production of environmentally safe products, helps clean soil from harmful substances and pathogens, restores soil health, and reduces the use of chemical fertilizers. Additionally, the method reduces power consumption.

Composting has been practiced for over 50 years. Many technologies are available to deal with organic wastes but most of these are energy intensive. Sanitary land filling is becoming unviable due to non-availability of landfill space. In biogas technology investments are large and subsequent liquid effluents consume much energy for disposal and solid product from such processes having low energy value for soil have limited market as fertilizer.

Though, most of the organic wastes can be converted into vermicompost, utilization of marigold flower of essential oil and ornamental crops would be a better option for converting into vermicompost as the same has no or limited economic use, is not consumed by animals as feed and during the process of distillation there is a complete degradation of the plant material and does not require pre-decomposition. The present invention also uses bioconversion of organic waste into vermicomposting. The invention uses spent floral waste and press mud and carry out the process of vermicomposting in an easy and cost effective manner.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION:
Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a method of vermicomposting from press mud and spent flower waste.
Another object of the present disclosure is to obtain vermicompost from press mud and spent flower waste.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention provides a method of preparing vermicompost from press mud which is a waste from the sugar industry, and floral waste.
The preliminary steps involved are based on the principle of circular economy. The floral waste used in the invention is collected from the temples and essential oil is extracted from selected floral waste by using hydro-distillation method. The waste remained after the extraction of essential oil is the spent floral waste used in the present invention to prepare the vermicompost.

Present invention thus deals with the proper utilization of waste flowers which were earlier thrown away leading to further pollution-related problems. This invention has led to the conversion of flowers into spent flower waste after extracting the essential oil. The essential oil obtained is a value-added product widely used in the cosmetic industry / pharmaceutical industry and other allied industries.

The spent floral waste is pre-composted for a period of 20-30 days. After the pre-composting process, pre-composted spent floral waste and press mud in the ratio of 1: 1 along with five replicates are transferred into vermi-bags of the dimension (24"x12"x12") which are sunlight and UV protected. The next step involves addition of approximately 250 earthworms (Eisenia fetida) to each bag to undergo process of composting under pre-determined parameters. The pre-determined parameters are 55 percent to 65 percent moisture, 29±1 °C temperature and a duration of 15 to 25 days to obtain the vermicompost, also referred herein as compost. The compost thus obtained is sieved to remove the earthworms and the compost is stored in zip-lock plastic bags.
The vermicompost obtained by the present disclosure is rich in macro and micronutrients, and used for better growth and yield in horticultural and agricultural fields. The vermicompost of the present disclosure improves the nutritional profile, physico-chemical and biological properties of the soil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a method of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
To promote an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof. Reference throughout this specification to “an aspect”, “another aspect” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “in another embodiment”, and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components proceeded by "comprises...a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures or additional components. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail concerning the accompanying drawings.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, essential oil has been extracted from floral waste using hydro-distillation method. The flower waste has been shredded and air dried before pre-composting. The air dried floral waste is mixed with press mud in the proportion of 50:50 and are kept for decomposition in vermi-bags, zip locked and kept for 15 days. The waste materials, in the pre-composting process are decayed aerobically by active role of microorganisms. The pre-composting before vermicomposting due to its thermophilic nature helps in biomass reduction and pathogen reduction.

After 15 days, the Red Earthworm (Eisena fetida) are released on the upper layer in the vermi-bags. Water is sprinkled immediately after the release of worms. kept for 50 to 60 days to obtain granular compost. The granular compost is then sieved to separate worms. The sieved granular compost is air dried to obtain the vermicompost of the present disclosure.

The final product, i.e. vermicompost is analysed and characterized.

The floral waste was collected from different temples of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. The collected floral waste is segregated and essential oil is extracted. The press mud was collected from Sugar Industry, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India. The Red Earthworm is procured from IABF Organic Fertilizer, Village Runakta, Kirawali, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The collected floral waster in the present invention is preferably marigold.

The vermi-bags are 24x12x9 inches- 220 grams per square meter (GSM) high density polyethylene (HDPE) rectangular sunlight/UV protected vermi-bags.

The press mud acts as an inoculant in the vermicomposting procedure; it upgrades the quality of feeding resource attracting the earthworms and accelerates the breakdown of wastes. It was left for a day to remove excess heat.

Red Earthworm used in the invention has great temperature resistance and can live in organic wastes with different moisture content. The temperature capacity to bear E. fetida is between 0 oC to 35 oC, and optimum temperature is 25 oC. It can survive in moisture ranges between 50% to 90%. The optimum moisture range is 80% to 90%. It is rarely found in soil and is utilized for vermicomposting. It doesn't make burrow into soil, and is found in habitats where different worms will have a troublesome time surviving, hence reducing the competition for food and space for them.

500 earthworms are inoculated on vermi-bed in each vermi-bag, after 15 days of pre-composting. The vermi-bed is covered on the top by a jute material and also thin polythene to protect the earthworms from the predators; centipedes and shrews and to prevent the moisture loss. Little gaps were penetrated at the base of vermi-bags for air flow and easy drainage. The vermi-bags are kept is dark humid area and a temperature of 28 oC-32 oC is maintained.

The procedure of vermicomposting is done for a time period of 50-60 days. The vermi-bed was observed every day. The temperature and moisture content are maintained by sprinkling sufficient amount of water each day and upside down blending of waste.

The granular compost appear on the upper surface of vermi-bed, and the substrate of spent flower waste and press mud changes into loose, granular product because of feeding and defaecation of the worms. The granular compost is collected from the vermi-bed and sieved through 3 mm sieve to searate the earthworms. The vermicompost thus obtained is air dried by spreading on large polythene sheet. The dried vermicompost is sealed and marked for further analysis. The bioconversion proportion of flower waste into vermicompost was determined.

The recovery rate in percentage (%) of the product was found to be 70.50 %. The physical and nutritional properties like pH, electrical conductivity (dS m-1), temperature (°C), moisture (%), bulk density (g cm -3 ), particle density (g cm -3 ), pore space (%), water holding capacity (%), organic carbon (%) and microbial biomass carbon (µg g-1) were recorded 7.34±0.04, 1.48±0.04, 20.54±0.60, 17.34±0.80, 0.78±0.04, 1.17±0.04, 27.00±0.50, 45.00±0.90, 21.55±0.82, 233.60±2.88 respectively. The chemical properties like macronutrients Nitrogen (%), Phosphorus [P] (%), Potassium [K] (%), Calcium [Ca] (mg kg-1), Magnesium [Mg] (mg kg-1), Sulphur [S] (mg kg-1) was recorded 2.46±0.05, 1.34±0.04, 0.86±0.04, 1125.00±3.65, 723.00±2.86, 498.00±1.89 respectively. Micronutrients Boron [B] (mg kg-1), Iron [Fe] (mg kg-1), Zinc [Zn] (mg kg-1), Copper [Cu] (mg kg-1), Manganese [Mn] (mg kg-1) was recorded 47.80±0.55, 471.00±1.55,41.00±0.68, 5.00±0.55, 40.00±0.54.

The vermicompost obtained by the method of present disclosure is rich in macro and micronutrients and is in the recommended range of good compost according to the Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM), MoEFCC, 2016.
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A method of preparing vermicompost from press mud and spent floral waste, said method comprises
- Obtaining spent floral waste by extracting essential oil from the floral waste using hydro distillation,
- Shredding the spent floral waste and air dying to obtain dried spent floral waste,
- Mixing air dried spent floral waste with press mud in the proportion of 50:50 in vermi-bags, zip locked and kept for 15 days for decomposition for pre-composting,
- Opening the vermi-bags and releasing Red Earthworm (Eisena fetida) on the upper layer of vermi-beds in the vermi-bags followed by sprinkling water, covering the top layer of the vermi-bed by a jute material and thin polythene to protect the earthworms from the predators; centipedes and shrews and to prevent the moisture loss and making small gaps at the base of vermi-bags for air flow and easy drainage and keeping for composting under pre-determined conditions for composting to obtain vermi-beds of granular compost,
- Sieving the granular compost through 3 mm sieve to separate worms, followed by air drying to obtain the vermicompost.
2. The method of preparing vermicompost as claimed in claim 1, wherein said floral waster is preferably marigold.
3. The method of preparing vermicompost as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vermi-bags are 24x12x9 inches- 220 grams per square meter (GSM) high density polyethylene (HDPE) rectangular sunlight/UV protected vermi-bags.
4. The method of preparing vermicompost as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pre-determined conditions of composting are dark humid area and a temperature of 28 oC-32 oC for a duration of 50 to 60 days, wherein said temperature and humidity is maintained by sprinkling sufficient amount of water each day and upside down blending of vermi-beds.
5. Vermicompost prepared from press mud and spent floral waste obtained by the method of claim 1.