Compost and Vermicompost as Amendments Promoting Soil Health

Abstract

Before the advent of modern industrialized agriculture, farmers relied almost entirely on raw and composted animal manures and agricultural residues as soil fertility amendments. Now, post-Green Revolution, scientists are shifting their focus away from agricultural systems that rely on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, toward systems that incorporate the use of composted organic materials. A growing understanding of the complex ecological mechanisms producing the observed soil and plant growth benefits of traditional soil amendment methods prompts this. Practitioners, researchers and entrepreneurs in both developed and developing nations are experimenting with novel composting technologies, using a wide variety of organic materials, and reporting positive results (Bailey and Lazarovits, 2003; Arancon et al., 2003; Bhadoria and Prakash, 2003). The current emphasis on composting as a means to stabilize manure comes from increasing public concern over nutrient run-off and the eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems associated with the over-application of raw animal manures to soils. Composting animal manures and plant residues can increase bulk density, kill weed seeds, and decrease the levels of human and plant pathogens. However, the composting process can lead to an overall loss of nutrients compared to the starting material (Sommer, 2001). This potential drawback could be outweighed by the increased benefits 453