European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

IMPACT OF VERMICOMPOST ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND PLANT GROWTH

Tamilarasi M., Esakkiammal B.* and Chairman K.

ABSTRACT

Vermicompost is the excreta of earthworm, which are capable of improving soil health and nutrient status. Yet its role in the nutrition of agricultural fields has attracted attention of researchers worldwide only in recent decades. Waste management is considered as an integral part of a sustainable society, thereby necessitating diversion of biodegradable fractions of the societal waste from landfill into alternative management processes such as vermicomposting. Earthworms excreta (vermicast) is a nutritive organic fertilizer rich in humus, NPK, micronutrients, beneficial soil microbes; nitrogen-fixing, phosphate solubilizing bacteria, actinomycets and growth hormones auxins, gibberlins and cytokinins. Both vermicompost and its body liquid (vermiwash) are proven as both growth promoters & protectors for crop plants. The present study, discuss about the worms composting technology, its importance, use and some salient results obtained in the globe so far in this review update of vermicompost research.

Keywords: Vermicompost; Worms, Wastes, Nutrients.