Sustainable management of diseases and pests in crops by vermicompost and vermicompost tea. A review

Abstract

The intensive use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides in the agricultural field has globally destroyed soil fertility, killed beneficial microorganisms, and also decreased natural resistance in crops, thereby making them more vulnerable to diseases besides affecting human health and the environment. To overcome these problems, it is very important to shift our attention towards eco-friendly alternatives like vermicompost and vermicompost tea which not only can increase crop growth and yield, suppress diseases and pests sustainably but can also protect human health and the environment. Vermicompost with its rich nutrient content, plant growth promoters like auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, and beneficial microbes not only improves the growth and yield of crops but also increases the diversity and activity of antagonistic microbes and nematodes, which helps to suppress pests and diseases caused by soil-borne phytopathogens. Vermicompost tea also has a tremendous potential to protect plants from diseases and its application to plants can coat leaf surfaces and reduce available sites for pathogen infection or increases microbial diversity that can kill harmful pathogens. Here, we review recent scientific achievements towards the management of crop diseases and pests by these organic amendments and the major points are the following: (1) production of vermicompost and vermicompost tea, (2) management of crop pests and diseases by vermicompost and vermicompost tea, and (3) the possible mechanisms and some important factors involved in the suppression of diseases and pests. Finally, we conclude that by using these eco-friendly organic amendments as a replacement to inorganic pesticides and fungicides, diseases and pests can be managed successfully without affecting human health and the environment and chemical-free food can be provided to humankind in the future.