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the substrate and also in modifying the biological activity. This is a very low-cost technology

for the treatment of organic waste using earthworms.

Composting is one of the feasible means for converting bio-degradable solid wastes into

beneficial organic soil amendments for supporting environment friendly agricultural production
system. Many beneficial organisms and microorganisms act as chemical decomposer in the

process of formation of stable organic end-products (compost) during composting. Among

them, decomposers like earthworms play significant role in stimulating the process of
composting, enhancing nutrient value while fastening the process of stable organic end-product

formation. This process of involvement of earthworms in preparing enriched compost is called
vermicomposting. It is one of the simplest methods to recycle agricultural wastes and to produce

quality compost. Earthworm acts physically an aerator, crusher and mixer, chemically a
degrader and biologically a stimulator in the process of decomposition. Earthworms consume

biomass (decaying organic matter) and excrete it in a digested form called as worm casts or

worm manure. Worm casts are popularly called as black gold. They are rich in essential plant
nutrients, plant growth promoting substances, beneficial soil micro flora and having properties

of inhibiting pathogenic microbes. As a result, the organic endproducts produced by the use of
earthworms i.e. vermicompost also inherits most of the beneficial properties (to soil health and

crop productivity) of black gold. Vermicompost acts as an organic soil amendment- improves
three dimensional soil health’s (physical, chemical & biological properties). On application of

vermicompost, it enhances the soil quality by improving its physicochemical and biological

properties. The earthworm’s underground burrows modify soil hydro-thermal and aeration
regimes by making the soil more porous thus, allowing free movement of air, infiltration of

water into deeper soil layers for better profile moisture recharge and root water uptake

processes. Vermicompost is becoming popular as one the major components of the organic
farming system because of its high nutritive value in addition to an important organic soil

amendment [9].

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