| Title: | Transformation of toxic and allelopathic lantana into a benign organic fertilizer through vermicomposting |
| Author(s): | Hussain N; Abbasi T; Abbasi SA; |
| Address: | "Centre for Pollution Control & Environmental Engineering, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605 014, India. Centre for Pollution Control & Environmental Engineering, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605 014, India. Electronic address: prof.s.a.abbasi@gmail.com" |
| Journal Title: | Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.saa.2016.03.019 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1873-3557 (Electronic) 1386-1425 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "In a first study of its kind, the composition of vermicompost derived solely from the toxic and allelopathic weed lantana has been investigated using UV-visible and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), gas chromatography-mass spectometry (GC-MS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The studies reveal that a sharp reduction in humification index, substantial mineralization of organic matter and degradation of complex aromatics such as lignin and polyphenols into simpler carbohydrates and lipids occur in the course of vermicomposting. GC-MS analysis shows significant fragmentation, bio-oxidation and molecular rearrangements of chemical compounds in vermicompost in comparison to those in lantana. SEM micrographs of vermicompost reflect strong disaggregation of material compared to the much better formed lantana matrices. The phenols and sesquiterpene lactones which are specifically responsible for the toxicity and allelopathy of lantana are seen to get significantly degraded in the course of vermicomposting - turning it into a plant-friendly organic fertilizer. The study leads to the possibility that the millions of tons of phytomass that is generated annually by lantana can be gainfully utilized in producing organic fertilizer via vermicomposting" |
| Keywords: | "Allelopathy/*drug effects Animals Biotransformation/drug effects Calorimetry, Differential Scanning Carbon/analysis *Fertilizers Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Lantana/*chemistry Methanol/chemistry Nitrogen/analysis Oligochaeta/*drug effects Pheromo;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineHussain, Naseer Abbasi, Tasneem Abbasi, S A eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2016/04/07 Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2016 Jun 15; 163:162-9. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2016.03.019. Epub 2016 Mar 19" |
