**3. Organic fertilizer for sustainable development**

Organic food is in high demand due to consciousness for health among the consumers and concern for environment to meet sustainable development goals. Therefore most of the marginal growers are inclined towards organic farming. The research, promotion, marketing along with education and training for organic farming has been stimulated in various sectors all over the country. Organic farming includes good soil health, crop protection, organized plantation, health benefits and sustainable land use for agriculture. In both developed and developing nations organic farming plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy environment. The reduced level of greenhouse gas emissions, efficient energy use and protection of biodiversity as well as ecosystem in developed countries is the outcome of organic farming. On the other hand in developing countries it promotes high yield with economic benefits, sustainable utilization of resources and also maintains biodiversity [26]. The practical applicability of organic farming mostly depends on the farmers. Untill 2012 organic food shares US\$ 60 billion of the global food industry. Organic farming is not about more nutrient supply to soil rather it concentrates to minimize loss of nutrients and proper soil management with sustainable nutrients supply. Retention and recycling of nutrients is the major goal of organic farming. Organic matters supply these nutrients in a healthy manner and prevent soluble nutrients to leach out [27]. The term sustainable development was first conceptualized in the Bruntland Commission Report in 1987. Sustainable development describes development as without compromising the future generation to fulfill their own needs while meeting the needs of the present generation. Keeping it in view, for the benefits of existing and future generation around 150 global leaders adopted a global agenda to achieve sustainable development by 2030 through 17 primary sustainable development goals (SDG) for transformation a better future. All these goals targets for an equitable society and mitigate climate change [17]. The SDG also includes zero hunger, good health and well being. Organic farming is vital to achieve these goals. The change in agricultural pattern is always suggested for food security and feeding ever expanding global population sustainably. Organic farming is always kept as topmost solution for this by various scientific reports [28–30]. According to [17] organic agriculture is a holistic approach for better soil quality, biodiversity, proper biological cycle and overall healthy agro-ecosystem. This can be accomplished by using any biological resources despite of synthetic chemicals. This is the base for organic movement throughout the world [31–33]. The principles lie on good health and ecology makes the root for organic farming to grow and gain popularity across the globe. Organic farming stands as a sustainable approach that reduces green house gas emission as a mitigation measure to climate change. Organic food production as a safety concern influences both consumer awareness and consumer purchase. In USA alone organic products shares 5.3% of the food market with \$47 billion in 2016. In developing country like India organic market shares in 2015 \$104.5 billion. Organic farming is always beneficial to the marginal farmers with who follows traditional approach with no chemical applications. This results into large scale organic production. On the other hand it provides economic benefits, health and environment, protection of biodiversity by the implication of

*Vermicompost for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioconversion of Terrestrial Weed Biomass… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.100615*

traditional knowledge. The adaptation to climate change is possible through organic farming as it is concordant to traditional farming and more resistant to disease and extreme climate. The motto of SDG is to make the world poverty liberated and sustainable. This makes organic farming as a fundamental strategy for the well being of the planet. Organic farming is a combination of tradition and scientific innovation for the benefit of environment and maintaining a healthy relation of the organisms involved. This totally brings to an end of synthetic chemicals considered as a curse to environment [15]. In this context, organic fertilizer is a boon to organic farming as well as sustainable development [34, 35]. Organic matters are the major source for organic fertilizers. Addition of organic source to soil is always beneficial to maintain soil fertility. The various organic sources are still under investigation which can be utilized to prepare organic fertilizers. The green waste are considered biodegradable wastes and generated from various sources. The biomass of various organic wastes can be turned into wealth with proper technology to prepare organic fertilizers. In the following part of the chapter one of such technology and a possible source for organic fertilizer has been discussed in brief.

## **4. Vermicompost as nutrient rich organic fertilizer**

Composting is a process in which biodegradation of organic matter takes place in an aerobic environment. There is various composting process and is one of the traditional practice for organic waste management. Over the time composting techniques have been evolved with various advanced engineering. Vermicomposting is an extension of composting technology in which earthworms are involved in the degradation process. Earthworms consume organic matter and accelerate degradation process. At the end nutrient rich vermicompost considered as one of the finest organic fertilizer is obtained [12]. Vermicompost is termed as black gold. Application of vermicompost has various benefits including promoting soil health and plant growth [36–38]. Being organic in nature is always superior to the other synthetic chemicals. The demand for vermicompost production is rising in global market. The outcome of vermicompost never harm human health and always safe for consumption. The environmental issues are always resolved by the application of vermicompost. The technology itself for vermicompost production is environment friendly and economical. The zero pollution and low cost of vermicomposting technology makes it advantageous over other fertilizer production technologies [11]. At present for a sustainable future adoption of an eco friendly and economical technology is very much important. Vermicomposting has the potential to mitigate all the problems related to health, environment and society. The organic waste generation is becoming a major problem all over the world and their ultimate fate is the waste stream. The burning also releases harmful elements to the atmosphere as well as destroys overall physical properties of the soil. The proper waste management through utilization of these bio wastes as organic fertilizer for organic farming is possible [39]. This may set a benchmark as the most significant approach for sustainable development.

The importance of earthworms for the biodegradation of organic waste was first observed by Charles Darwin which became the base for evolution of modern sustainable technology called vermicomposting for organic waste management [12]. Vermicomposting have evolved in more scientific way by different researchers [40–44]. There are various benefits associated with vermicompost. Vermicomposting is considered more advantageous than traditional composting process [11]. The particle obtained after breakdown during vermocomposting is more homogenous and uniform with earthy manifestation than heterogeneous mixture obtained during

composting process [45]. The release of nutrients is slow during application of vermicompost to the soil. This benefits the easy uptake of nutrients by plants and also increases water holding capacity of soil [39]. Vermicomposting highly influence the soil physical properties. The soil porosity, aeration and temperature are well maintained during application of vermicompost. Soil microbial activity is also enhanced and replenishes nutrient content in soil in significant way which gradually promotes healthy plant growth [36]. Bulk density of soil is also observed to be reduced due to enhanced microbial activity resulting into increased porosity. The oxidation potential is also enhanced during vermicompost application to the soil. Vermicomposting of different organic wastes with different earthworm species results into nutrient rich eco-friendly vermicompost. The nutrient content is significantly high in vermicompost produced from various feedstocks and acts as a soil amendment for organic farming [9, 20]. The nutrients are released into more exchangeable format during stabilization process of organic waste making these elements readily available to plants in final vermicompost [12].

If we consider the economic benefits of vermicompost, in the current time global market for fertilizer is increasing. Farmers are more concentrated in efficient production. Organic fertilizers are always derived from natural sources. Vermicompost is basically a result of bio-conversion of various organic wastes. The improvement in soil quality and healthy crops associated with vermicompost application highly influence the rural economy. The economic profit for any agricultural produce in evaluated on the basis of yield, return and cost–benefit analysis. The nutrient losses from the field are marginalized during any organic application including vermicomposting. The lower emission of pollutants, soil biota conservation, enhanced nutrients is all characterized for economic profit for any marginal farmers using organic manure like vermicompost [20]. On the other hand on site production of vermicompost also requires very low input for installation and the raw material can be easily available without any transportation costs [12]. The rural development is possible through employment generation by small entrepreneur with vermicompost production with readily available resources in and around. The farmers were benefited substantially with organic farming as compared to equivalent economic input in synthetic fertilizers [20].

#### **5. Terrestrial weed biomass as an organic waste for vermicompost**

Various organic wastes have been investigated for the production of vermicompost. The unwanted plants in any ecosystem are termed as weeds and terrestrial weeds are those grow on land. The non native species to a particular area causing harm environment and health is termed as an invasive species. These invaders remain persistent in an area and gradually harm the total environment. The weeds particularly invasive in nature and destroys native vegetation. The whole nutrient regime and energy balance is altered by the prevailing of these weed species. The management of these weed species is difficult and complete eradication is not possible [12]. The weed biomass is a potential resource for the production of vermicompost. In the recent time various researches revealed the utilization of terrestrial weed biomass and found significant results while producing vermicompost [11–14]. Among the most noxious terrestrial weed species mostly investigated for the potential of vermicompost production are *Lantana camara, Ageratum conyzoides, Parthenium hysterophorus* etc. All of these weeds species are associated with various adversities and management with sustainable technology is very much required. The rapid regeneration capacity and morphologal adaptation make these weeds wide spread to a larger area. Most of these are found in forest, agriculture and urban *Vermicompost for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioconversion of Terrestrial Weed Biomass… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.100615*

ecosystem [12]. The weed biomass is easily available near farm area after clearance in abundance and can be easily utilized for onsite vermicompost production without any heavy cost involved. The nutrient rich vermicompost is produced from *Ageratum conyzoides* without any phytotoxicity. The germination index analysis proves *Ageratum conyzoides* biomass as an excellent media for plants [14]. The enhanced nutrient content in the bioconversion of *Ageratum conyzoides* biomass indicates its suitability as a substrate for vermicompost production [12]. The high tolerance capacity makes the weed *Lantana camara* to withstand any adverse environmental condition. Annually *Lantana camara* biomasss tons in billion is generated and can be utilized in an extensive way for vermicompost production. The FTIR analysis of vermicompost produced from *Lantana camara* biomass indicates reduced lignin content and allelopathic elements. Thus the vermicompost produced become eco-friendly and plant friendly [9].
