Vermiremediation: detoxification of Parthenin toxin from Parthenium weeds.

The aim of this work is the production of Parthenin toxin (sesquiterpene lactone) free vermicompost from Parthenium hysterophorus L. Five different concentration of P. hysterophorus and cow dung mixtures were vermicomposted using Eudrilus eugeniae. Parthenium mediated vermicompost showed an increase in plant nutrition, but decrease in organic carbon and phenol contents when it was compared to initial feed mixtures. The 30-35% of organic carbon and 32-48% of phenol contents were reduced during vermicomposting, which was achieved after 45 days of earthworm's activity. FT-IR spectra revealed the absence of Parthenin (sesquiterpene lactone) and phenols in vermicompost which was obtained at high concentration of cow dung. Earthworm's biomass gain was in low level in high concentration of P. hysterophorus (without cow dung). The results indicated that Parthenin toxin and phenols can be eradicated via vermicomposting if P. hysterophorus is mixed with appropriate quantity of cow dung.