Development and Evaluation of Earthworm-cum-compost Separator

Shoaib Amin; Samir Kawoosa; Sadaf Mushtaq; Saima Hamid; Jagvir Dixit

doi:10.52151/jae2022591.1763

Authors

Shoaib Amin Research Scholar, College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, SKUAST-K, Srinagar Author
Samir Kawoosa Research Scholar, College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, SKUAST-K, Srinagar Author
Sadaf Mushtaq Research Scholar, College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, SKUAST-K, Srinagar Author
Saima Hamid Research Scholar, College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, SKUAST-K, Srinagar Author
Jagvir Dixit Research Scholar, College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, SKUAST-K, Srinagar Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52151/jae2022591.1763

Keywords:

Earthworm separator, compost separator, compost separation efficiency, earthworm separation efficiency, vermicast

Abstract

A manually operated earthworm-cum-compost separator was designed, developed, and evaluated. The machine consisted of a separating unit, collecting tray, feed hopper, operating handle, sieving unit, and transporting wheels in order to separate the compost and earthworms from the compost material of vermin-culture. The rotating action of the cylinder caused the compost present in the vermi-culture to get separated at the sieving unit on the basis of size and the difference in specific gravity of clods and earthworms causing their separation at the discharge flume of the machine. The separator functioned properly as there was no damage caused to the earthworms. The throughput capacity, compost separation efficiency, earthworm separation efficiency, and overall efficiency were 600 kg.h-1, 88.25%, 96.02% and 84.54%, respectively, at 20.47% (w.b.) moisture contents of vermicast, 23 rpm cylinder speed, and 9° cylinder inclination angle.

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