The accumulation of agricultural residues represents a major environmental challenge in developing countries, particularly in tropical regions where inadequate waste management contributes to environmental degradation. Vermicomposting has emerged as a sustainable technology capable of transforming organic waste into nutrient-rich fertilizers through the combined activity of earthworms and microorganisms. This study evaluated the influence of different agricultural residues on the physicochemical properties of vermicompost under tropical conditions in Mozambique. The experiment was conducted at the experimental field of the Catholic University of Mozambique—Faculty of Engineering in Chimoio district, using three substrate types: leguminous residues (T1), cereal residues (T2), and horticulture residues (T3). Each treatment was combined with poultry manure in a 1:1 ratio. Vermicomposting was carried out using Eisenia fetida. Because treatments were not independently replicated, results are presented as descriptive physicochemical characterizations (means ± SD of analytical subsamples). All treatments produced vermicompost with physicochemical characteristics consistent with established maturity criteria: pH 8.03–9.07, moisture 50–76%, and electrical conductivity 527–939 µS/cm, C/N ratio ranged from 15.56 to 20.19, total nitrogen ranged from 1.2 to 1.8%, phosphorus from 0.6 to 0.9%, and potassium from 1.1 to 1.5%. T1 (leguminous residues + poultry manure) showed the highest nutrient concentrations and lowest C/N ratio. These descriptive findings suggest that vermicomposting represents a promising strategy for recycling agricultural residues into vermicompost with characteristics consistent with established maturity criteria, highlighting the importance of substrate selection. The findings suggest that vermicomposting is a promising strategy for sustainable waste management and soil fertility improvement in tropical smallholder systems.
Gafah et al. (Wed,) studied this question.