3 Review(s)

1. Earthworm is christened as Farmer’s Friend, Earth’s Intestine and Nature’s Plough by Darwin. Earthworms and microorganisms together have a vital role to sustain the nutrient cycle of nature.2. Unfortunately, the advent of chemicals and their large-scale application in the name of fertilizers and biocides has drastically changed the structure of soils as well as substantially decreased soil organisms. 3. Vermicomposting is the biodegradation of organic waste through earthworm activity to produce organic manure called vermicompost. The broken down organic waste produce is Humus, which stimulates soil fertility. Soil does not receive humus from chemical fertilizers. 4. During vermicomposting, the earthworms and microbes work together symbiotically. Microbes work as the primary decomposer of organic matter and on the other hand, they themselves serve as a food source for earthworms and play a vital role in the organic waste degradation process. 5. Microorganisms synthesize growth regulating substances which play a vital role in plant metabolism, influence plant growth and improve crop qualities. The microbial population in it is generally 10-12 times higher than in the soil. 6. The vermicompost has beneficial effects such as improvement of soil fertility, greater availability of mineral nutrients, increase in the number of free-living microbes, development in plant growth and higher crop yield. 7. The nutrient status of vermicompost generally depends on the base substrate used as feed. Similarly earthworm species used in vermicomposting may also influence the quality of Vermicompost. 8. Desi Cow Dung contains the highest microbial count, and the indigenous earthworms are the most suitable for the degradation process.