**8. Role of vermicompost on soil fertility**

The key role of vermicompost is change in physical, chemical and biological properties of soil by earthworm activities and they thus called as soil managers [59]. It substantially improves soil structure, texture, aeration and prevents soil erosion. It increases the macropore space ranging from 50 to 500 μm, resulting in improved air-water relationship in the soil thereby favorably affecting plant growth [76]. It also favorably affects soil pH, its microbial population and soil enzyme activities [77]. Moreover, vermicompost is rich source of nutrients such as nitrates, phosphates and exchangeable calcium and soluble potassium [30]. Apart from adding mineralogical nutrients, vermicompost is also rich in beneficial micro flora such as N-fixers, P-solubilizers, cellulose decomposing micro-flora, etc. It also reduces the proportion of water soluble chemical, which causes possible environmental contamination [78]. Mucus excreted by earthworm's digestive canal produces some antibiotics and hormone-like biochemicals thereby boosting plant growth [70] and enhancing the decomposition of organic matter in soil [79]. Vermicompost has been reported to have favorable influence on the growth and yield parameters of several crops like paddy, sugarcane, brinjal, tomato, and okra [59]. Thus, vermicompost acts a soil conditioner [80] and a slow-release fertilizer [81] that ultimately improves soil structure, soil fertility, plant growth and suppresses diseases caused by soil-borne plant pathogens, increases crop yield [82–84].

### **9. Conclusion**

Chemical fertilizers are produced from "vanishing resources" of earth and crops grown on chemical fertilizers have low and contaminated nutrient value in comparison to grown naturally or organic way. To preserve the agro-ecosystem and protect human health from the harmful chemical fertilizers 'Ecological Agriculture and Organic Farming' has to be promoted as the new emerging concept of "Organic Farming" focuses mainly on production of chemical free foods. Organic farming with use of organic fertilizers like "vermicompost" could substitute the chemical fertilizers and can reduce the economic cost and may also lead to organic products which fetches higher price in the market.

**55**

**Author details**

Tamanreet Kaur

Department of Zoology, Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, India

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

\*Address all correspondence to: tamanreetkaur@gmail.com

provided the original work is properly cited.

*Vermicomposting: An Effective Option for Recycling Organic Wastes*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91892*

#### **Conflict of interest**

No conflict of interest is indulged.

*Vermicomposting: An Effective Option for Recycling Organic Wastes DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91892*

*Organic Agriculture*

**7. Storing and packing of vermicompost**

**8. Role of vermicompost on soil fertility**

by soil-borne plant pathogens, increases crop yield [82–84].

which fetches higher price in the market.

No conflict of interest is indulged.

The harvested vermicompost should be stored in dark and cool place as sunlight will lead to loss of moisture and nutrient content. Moreover, harvested vermicompost material should be stored in open rather than packed in sacs. Packing should be done at the time of selling and laminated sac is always advisable. During compost storage in open place, periodical sprinkling of water should be done to maintain moisture level and beneficial microbial population. Vermicompost can be stored for longer periods of one year without loss of its quality, if its moisture is maintained at 40% level.

The key role of vermicompost is change in physical, chemical and biological properties of soil by earthworm activities and they thus called as soil managers [59]. It substantially improves soil structure, texture, aeration and prevents soil erosion. It increases the macropore space ranging from 50 to 500 μm, resulting in improved air-water relationship in the soil thereby favorably affecting plant growth [76]. It also favorably affects soil pH, its microbial population and soil enzyme activities [77]. Moreover, vermicompost is rich source of nutrients such as nitrates, phosphates and exchangeable calcium and soluble potassium [30]. Apart from adding mineralogical nutrients, vermicompost is also rich in beneficial micro flora such as N-fixers, P-solubilizers, cellulose decomposing micro-flora, etc. It also reduces the proportion of water soluble chemical, which causes possible environmental contamination [78]. Mucus excreted by earthworm's digestive canal produces some antibiotics and hormone-like biochemicals thereby boosting plant growth [70] and enhancing the decomposition of organic matter in soil [79]. Vermicompost has been reported to have favorable influence on the growth and yield parameters of several crops like paddy, sugarcane, brinjal, tomato, and okra [59]. Thus, vermicompost acts a soil conditioner [80] and a slow-release fertilizer [81] that ultimately improves soil structure, soil fertility, plant growth and suppresses diseases caused

Chemical fertilizers are produced from "vanishing resources" of earth and crops grown on chemical fertilizers have low and contaminated nutrient value in comparison to grown naturally or organic way. To preserve the agro-ecosystem and protect human health from the harmful chemical fertilizers 'Ecological Agriculture and Organic Farming' has to be promoted as the new emerging concept of "Organic Farming" focuses mainly on production of chemical free foods. Organic farming with use of organic fertilizers like "vermicompost" could substitute the chemical fertilizers and can reduce the economic cost and may also lead to organic products

**54**

**9. Conclusion**

**Conflict of interest**
