An Effective Organic Waste Recycling Through Vermicompost Technology for Soil Health Restoration

Abstract

Globally the increase in food productivity was the major concern during the last century that started with green revolution with the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to grow the different crops for feeding millions of growing population. Seventy-five percent of agriculture sector is dependent on chemical fertilizers during the last 20 years for the production of agricultural produce. This had positive effects initially for many years, but during the last decade, the negative impacts of excessive usage have resulted in low crop productivity, increased infestation of pests and diseases, soil degradation, and consequently the adverse effect on the environmental parameters. This has led the advent of use of organic agriculture by using different organic amendments, biopesticides, and biocontrol measures by researchers and farmers in many different countries. This has created selective markets for organic produce as well. This is also substantiated by increased solid waste produced at various levels that mainly includes organic waste to the tune of 46% globally which is incorporated in the soil and water causing pollution. These organic wastes can be recycled by processes like vermicomposting which can produce nutrient-rich organic fertilizers which are enriched source of beneficial microbes. The large-scale vermicomposting is being practiced in many countries like India, Canada, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the USA, and Nepal. Vermicomposting is an efficient way of using organic waste materials like various plant litter matter, manure, and other solid wastes to convert through epigeic and anecic species of earthworms into useful organic fertilizer vermicompost which when applied to soil ecosystem can enhance plant growth productivity and ameliorate soils. Such technologies can be economically sustainable and viable. Vermicompost contains micronutrients; microbes from diverse groups like bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes; phytohormones; soil enzymes; and humic acids and is free of pest/pesticides and diseases. The nutrient quality of vermicompost varies and depends on the substrates used (moisture %, 60-70; aeration, 50%; temperature, 18-35° C; pH, 6.5-7.5; nitrogen %, 0.8-3.0; phosphate %, 0.5-1.7; and potassium %, 0.5-1.6). The application of vermicompost in cultivation of crops is beneficial not only in terms of yield but plays an important role in soil amelioration in terms of structure and nutrient management. The researchers, farmers, industries, and practitioners across many countries have reported success and recorded numerous benefits with the use organic inputs like vermicompost to cultivate various crops like paddy, wheat, eggplant, okra, and tomatoes.