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9.1.4. Effect of vermicompost on plant growth and development

Vermicompost promotes the growth and development of a variety of plant species, especially

various horticulture crops, that is, sweet corn, tomato, strawberry [74], cereals crop rice [65],

wheat, sorghum [69], fruit crops papaya [75], and pineapple [76]. Several growth and yield
metrics viz. stem diameter, plant height, marketable yield per plant, mean leaf number, and total

plant biomass of tomato plant were recorded significantly higher with the application of

vermicompost. The increase in growth and development of plant is due to the improving action
of vermicompost application on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties which

ultimately improves the overall soil fertility, which enhances the plant growth and development.
Vermicompost has been demonstrated to improve plant dry weight and uptake of plant N serve

as a naturally available, slow released sources of plant nutrients [24].

9.2. Economic Returns

Vermicomposting offers several economic benefits. Firstly, it is an efficient and cost-effective

method of converting organic waste into valuable compost, which can be used as a nutrient-

rich manure for crop cultivation [77]. This reduces the reliance on chemical fertilizers, which
can be expensive. Additionally, the demand for vermicompost has been increasing rapidly,

creating a potential market for its commercialization [78]. This presents an opportunity for
farmers and small-scale entrepreneurs to generate revenue by producing and selling

vermicompost. Furthermore, vermicomposting has the potential to reduce the cost associated

with food waste disposal, as demonstrated by a financial analysis. By utilizing
vermicomposting, the cost of waste treatment can be significantly reduced, making it an

economically viable option. Overall, vermicomposting offers economic benefits through the
production and sale of vermicompost, as well as cost savings in waste management [79].

The economic benefits of vermicomposting include a potential reduction in the cost associated

with food waste disposal from $57 to $18 per ton. In today's world, where the total amount of
global waste is 20 billion metric tons and municipal solid waste is 2.7 billion metric tons, the

transformation of waste into economic value is also important in terms of the circular economy
[80]. Considering that 70% of the municipal solid wastes generated are of organic origin [81],

the contribution of reprocessing these wastes with environmentally friendly approaches such as
vermicomposting to the world economy is approximately 73.7 billion dollars. The amount of

solid waste from small-scale farms can often vary depending on the size of the farm, type of

production, and processing methods. Regardless of size and scale, recycling organic wastes

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