In the present study, the crude ethanol extracts of Calotropis procera and Annona squamosa leaves have been screened for their larvicidal activities against Musca domestica. The third instar larvae of housefly were treated with the different concentrations of both the extracts by dipping method for 48 h. The LC50 values of the extracts of C. procera and A. squamosa leaves were found to be 282.5 and 550 mgl-1, respectively. The phytochemical analysis of these extracts suggested presence of alkaloids as the major component. The larvae were exposed to 5 and 10% concentrations of the LC50 value of each extract along with their control sets to evaluate their effect on metamorphosis, nucleic acid and protein content in different developmental stages. The leaf extract of C. procera was found to be more active in terms of insecticidal potential. The data indicate that the leaf extracts of these plants may be utilized as the probable candidates for the development of bioinsecticides to control the population of Musca domestica as safer and economic alternatives to the synthetic insecticides.

Ensiling of agricultural straw produces feed with low protein content. To get high protein feed with high production and low cost, a two-step solid state fermentation was designed and several factors were optimized to maximize the yield. Candida tropicalis was first inoculated sweet sorghum stalk under aerobic condition for cell growth and protein content (PC) in the substrate after the first-step reached 26.3%. In the second-step, Lactobacillus rhamnosus was inoculated the sterilized substrate harvested from the first step, and cultured under anaerobic condition. After L. rhamnosus fermented at 40ºC for 80 h, the protein content in the product reached 35.7%. The pilot-plant scale fermentation was carried out according to the optimized conditions. By the two-step fermentation, 200 tons of feed was produced from two tons of dry sweet sorghum stalk and the protein content in the product was 13.77%, higher than silage in sale. The two-step process, which was easy to operate, provided high protein feed from agricultural waste in a cost effective way and the optimization of fermentation conditions in the two-step fermentation provided theoretical guideline for plant-scale production.

Day by day vigorous changes in the human population, indiscriminate growth of urban cities, industrialization, and agricultural practices have led to an increased accumulation of solid organic waste materials in the environment. The recovery of nutrients by modification of wastes like municipal solid waste, industrial solid waste, agricultural residues, and animal wastes, etc. is important for their management and for reducing environmental degradation. Recycling of organic wastes through vermicomposting biotechnology is an emerging trend as an “environmentally sustainable”, “economically viable” and “socially acceptable” technology all over the world. The review assesses the following topics in detail: Vermicomposting biotechnology, earthworm species for waste management, raw materials for vermicomposting, environmental factors effecting vermicomposting, applications of vermicompost and future prospects.