Chapter 2 - Bioconversion of organic wastes into wealth by vermitechnology: a review

Abstract

Nowadays, organic waste management is a major problem. Vermicomposting is an eco-friendly approach in which earthworms play a major role of organic wastes breakdown into nutrient-rich manure, having stabilised organic carbon content resulting from enhanced decomposition with the help of earthworms by a non-thermophilic process. The major advantage of earthworm composting is that it can be practised both indoors and outdoors all a round the year. Composting with earthworms provides nutrients to the crops in relatively less time compared to normal compost. Vermicomposting is an inexpensive technology for converting organic wastes to plant nutrient-rich products (wealth). The vermicomposting process uses certain species of earthworms to elevate the waste conversion process to a nutrient-rich product. The vermicompost is characterised as peat-like material having high cation exchange capacity, water holding capacity and porosity. Vermicompost contains readily become available nutrients to plants in nitrate, phosphate, potassium, calcium and magnesium, etc. forms. An attempt has been made to review the past work done on different aspects of culturing of earthworms and composting for agronomic values of vermicompost in relation to sustainable crop production and safe environment.