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Potentiality of vermicomposting in the south pacific island countries: a review.
1. Introduction
2. the vermicomposting process, 3. earthworm species used for vermicomposting, 4. characteristics of vermicompost, 5. use of vermicompost, 5.1. plant and soil nutrients supply, 5.2. growth regulator, 5.3. bio-pesticide, 5.4. recycling of solid waste, 6. potentiality of vermicompost in south pacific island countries, 6.1. availability and adaptability of earthworm species suitable for vermicomposting, 6.2. traditional organic farming systems, 6.3. tropical and sub-tropical climates, 6.4. availability of biomass for vermicomposting, 6.5. demand for biopesticides, 6.6. the low-tech nature of vermicomposting systems, 6.7. suitability for spics crops, 6.8. required adaptive research.
- Assessments of the suitability of native earthworm species for vermicomposting;
- Analysis of the suitability of available raw materials (substrate) for vermicomposting;
- Standardization of protocols for vermicompost production in a Pacific context;
- Situation-based crop response studies;
- Awareness development for adoption of vermicompost use.
7. Conclusions
Author contributions, institutional review board statement, informed consent statement, conflicts of interest.
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Click here to enlarge figure
Organic Waste | pH (-) | TOC (%) | TN (%) | TP (%) | TK (%) | TS (%) | Zn (mg/kg) | Cu (mg/kg) | Fe (%) | Mn (mg/kg) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KW | - | 10.30 | 0.85 | 0.15 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ST | 6.55 | 24.62 | 1.14 | 0.46 | 1.61 | - | - | - | - | - |
CD | 7.04 | 32.16 | 3.60 | 0.23 | 0.89 | - | - | - | - | - |
FW | 7.30 | 34.0 | 1.30 | 2.70 | 9.20 | - | - | - | - | - |
PL + SP | 8.89 | 16.70 | 2.06 | 0.67 | 5.09 | 0.48 | 440 | 51 | 0.50 | 300 |
PL + AZ | 8.23 | 16.50 | 1.82 | 0.87 | 3.68 | 0.41 | 520 | 49 | 0.40 | 390 |
PL + BA | 9.01 | 15.40 | 1.54 | 0.74 | 3.99 | 0.46 | 415 | 45 | 0.45 | 280 |
PL + PS | 8.91 | 16.20 | 1.54 | 1.06 | 7.23 | 0.58 | 520 | 61 | 0.50 | 590 |
CD + SP | 6.92 | 20.90 | 1.75 | 0.25 | 1.84 | 0.47 | 290 | 10 | 0.60 | 100 |
CD + AZ | 6.35 | 19.30 | 2.17 | 0.30 | 1.70 | 0.49 | 285 | 20 | 0.59 | 210 |
CD + BA | 7.00 | 16.50 | 1.89 | 0.24 | 1.65 | 0.46 | 215 | 9 | 0.78 | 110 |
CD + PS | 6.75 | 29.30 | 2.24 | 0.34 | 1.51 | 0.41 | 225 | 12 | 0.60 | 310 |
PD + SP | 7.34 | 19.00 | 2.20 | 0.35 | 2.05 | 0.33 | 210 | 19 | 0.70 | 120 |
PD + AZ | 6.69 | 28.70 | 2.20 | 0.32 | 1.76 | 0.40 | 220 | 22 | 0.81 | 115 |
PD + BA | 7.15 | 20.10 | 2.17 | 0.22 | 2.10 | 0.28 | 150 | 12 | 1.10 | 110 |
PD + PS | 6.80 | 13.90 | 2.48 | 0.56 | 2.15 | 0.36 | 230 | 19 | 1.00 | 300 |
Element | Vermicompost | Farmyard Manure | Bacterial Compost |
---|---|---|---|
N (%) | 1.3–1.84 | 1.10 | 1.40 |
P (%) | 0.92–1.3 | 0.42 | 0.016 |
K (%) | 0.21–1.2 | 2.00 | 0.55 |
Earthworm Species | Reference |
---|---|
I. Indigenous | |
Perionyx exavatus | [ ] |
Pontoscolex corethrurus | [ ] |
Polypheretima elongate | [ ] |
Eudrilus eugeniae | [ ] |
II. Introduced | |
Eisenia fetida | [ ] |
Crops | Vermicompost Application Rate | Reference |
---|---|---|
I. Field crops | ||
Taro (Colocasia esculenta) | 5–10 t/ha | [ ] |
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) | 10–15 t/ha | [ , ] |
Cassava (Manihot esculenta) | 5–10 t/ha | [ , ] |
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) | 5 t/ha | [ ] |
II. Horticulture crops | ||
Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) | 3–6 t/ha | [ ] |
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) | 5 t/ha | [ , ] |
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) | 5 t/ha | [ ] |
Capsicum (Capsicum annuum) | 10 t/ha | [ ] |
Water melon (Citrullus lanatus) | 10 t/ha | [ ] |
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) | 2–5 t/ha | [ ] |
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) | 2–5 t/ha | [ ] |
Papaya (Carica papaya) | 20 kg/plant | [ ] |
Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) | 2–20 kg/plant | [ ] |
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Pierre-Louis, R.C.; Kader, M.A.; Desai, N.M.; John, E.H. Potentiality of Vermicomposting in the South Pacific Island Countries: A Review. Agriculture 2021 , 11 , 876. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11090876
Pierre-Louis RC, Kader MA, Desai NM, John EH. Potentiality of Vermicomposting in the South Pacific Island Countries: A Review. Agriculture . 2021; 11(9):876. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11090876
Pierre-Louis, Randy Carlie, Md. Abdul Kader, Nandakumar M Desai, and Eleanor H John. 2021. "Potentiality of Vermicomposting in the South Pacific Island Countries: A Review" Agriculture 11, no. 9: 876. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11090876
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- Corpus ID: 202724854
Vermicomposting of Organic Waste : Literature Review
- M. Basha , A. S. Elgendyb
- Published 2018
- Environmental Science, Agricultural and Food Sciences
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Review: Vermicompost, Its Importance and Benefit in Agriculture
doi: 10.15159/jas.19.19 ABSTRACT. Vermicomposting is described as "bioxidation and stabilization of organic material involving the joint action of earthworms and mesophilic micro-organisms". Under appropriate conditions, worms eat agricultural waste and reduce the volume by 40 to 60%. Vermicompost produced by the activity of earthworms is rich in macro and micronutrients, vitamins, growth hormones, enzymes such as proteases, amylases, lipase, cellulase and chitinase and immobilized microflora. The enzymes continue to disintegrate organic matter even after they have been ejected from the worms. Reduced use of water for irrigation, reduced pest attack, reduced termite attack, reduced weed growth; faster rate of seed germination and rapid seedlings growth and development; greater numbers of fruits per plant (in vegetable crops) and greater numbers of seeds per year (in cereal crops) are only some of the beneficial effects of the vermicompost usage in agricultural production. ...
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Vermicompost Technology: Impact on the Environment and Food Security
Joshua Fudzagbo , ABDULRAHEEM Mukhtar Iderawumi
ABSTRACT In recent years, increasing consumer concern about issues such as food quality,environmental safety and soil conservation has lead to a substantial increase in the use ofsustainable agricultural practices. Globally, roughly one-third of the food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted, which amounts to about 1.3 billion tons per year. Vermicomposting which is one of the most sustainable methods of handling food waste and are completely environmentally friendly technology that is viable method of diverting the organic portion of waste streams, avoiding the costs of disposal and converting it to a value-added vermicompost. This product is nutrient-rich but also contains high quality humus, plant growth hormones, enzymes, and substances which are able to protect plants against pests and diseases. Many cropping areas in the world are deficient in organic matter and nutrient. KEYWORDS: Vermicompost, Food security, Earthworms, Environment, Agriculture
https://www.ijrrjournal.com/IJRR_Vol.4_Issue.2_Feb2017/Abstract_IJRR0015.html
International Journal of Research & Review (IJRR)
The solid waste from garbage and household materials, flowers and waste food needs proper treatment as it can contaminate groundwater resources. The most commonly used method for waste treatment is open dumping. This method is cheap but dangerous from health perspectives. Vermicomposting is one of the most practiced methods for domestic and household solid waste. In this, earthworms feed on anything that is biodegradable. Extra care is needed to prevent plant damage as high plant nutrients and plant growth stimulators can inhibit seed germination and growth to some degree. Investigations indicated increase in the parameters like total nitrogen (%), Available phosphorus (%) and Exchangeable potassium (%).Vermicomposting may supply an opportunity for employment. Many investigations have been reported on vermicomposting. The current review provides an insight on studies and research on vermicomposting.
Dr. P. Saranraj
Journal of Innovative Sciences
Zubair Aslam
Inter J of recycling of organic waste in agriculture
Purpose Solid waste management has become a serious global problem. There is a strong need to recycle them as these wastes are rich in plant nutrients and soil conditioners. The different organic wastes can be efficiently degraded into nutrient-rich vermicompost by using earthworms. In this review, an attempt has been made to highlight the vermicomposting of different organic wastes by using different earthworm species. Method An extensive literature search was done on Science Direct, Pubmed Central, Google Scholar, Springer-link by using various search strings, and appropriate studies of vermicomposting of different organic waste were selected. Results Any kind of organic waste can be converted into manure through vermicomposting. It was observed that for efficient vermicomposting, the waste should be mixed with another organic material. e.g., animal dung. It was observed that the vermireactors having 25 % to 30 % of waste mixed with about 70 % to 75 % of other organic rich material like cattle dung can be easily converted into a valuable product, but the high proportion of organic waste causes mortality in the earthworms. Conclusion This study indicated that vermicomposting is an effective and a better option for the recycling of different types of organic solid waste but these wastes cannot be directly degraded with the help of earthworms. The vermicompost so produced can be used to promote the growth of wide range of crops in the fields. The farmers should also be educated regarding the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and also get motivated to use vermicompost in their fields.
Modsarajah Rajendran
Agricultural Science
Sunita Agarwal
Murali Gopal
International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology
sanjeev ambasta
Vermicompost of agriculture waste is an important method in which organic waste such as leaves or stalks of agricultural field is converted into useful compost by means of worms is useful to the environment. Earthworm and microbes acts together and breaks down the complex organic matter of agricultural field and resulting material is rich in nutrients and oxygen. Composting is becoming an effective way to increase organic matter of soil. In addition to increasing organic matter of soil compost also increases soil microbial population (Pera et al., 1983; Perucci, 1990), which leads to the improvement of soil quality. The entire residues after crop is harvested must go back to the soil to replenish the lost nutrient, so vermicompost is considered as excellent way to recycling nutrient in the ecosystem. Soil organic carbon enhancement through crop residues recycling by means of vermicomposting along with fertilizers and integrated nutrient management (INM) are major option to improves ...
Current Agriculture Research Journal
Komanpally Rajesh
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Suitability of vermicomposting for different varieties of organic waste: a systematic literature review (2012–2021)
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The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of vermicomposting for various types of organic waste based on earthworm growth and reproduction as well as nutrient content in final vermicompost. The study was also focused on the kinds of earthworms employed in the research, the countries where vermicomposting research was done, and fundamental operating conditions. To fulfill these aims, we developed research questions and used two reputable databases, namely, SCOPUS and Science Direct. We developed inclusion and exclusion criteria and the papers were taken from the years between 2012 and 2021. This study identified the majority of vermicomposting research related to waste management was conducted in Asian countries (55%) where India has the highest number of paper publications (35%). Research in the field of vermicomposting grew continuously from 2017. Furthermore, Eisenia fetida is a commonly used species for vermicomposting. The majority of vermicomposting experiments were conducted on animal waste, followed by sewage and industrial sludge. According to existing literature, almost all organic wastes can be used for vermicomposting. However, before being used as earthworm feed, these wastes should be pre-composted and should mix with secondary waste in proper proportions. Eighty percent of the papers suggested the importance of pre-composting or treatment before the actual vermicomposting starts.
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This research was supported by Graduate School, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, for which the authors highly acknowledge. Authors are grateful to Prince of Songkla University for necessary library facilities.
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Maharjan, K.K., Noppradit, P. & Techato, K. Suitability of vermicomposting for different varieties of organic waste: a systematic literature review (2012–2021). Org. Agr. 12 , 581–602 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-022-00413-2
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OVERVIEW OF EARTHWORM CASTS AND A COMPARISON WITH COMPOST
WASTE PROCESSING BY EARTHWORMS
Optimal conditions for earthworm activity
· Cool temperature: between 0 and 35 o C
· Not too much water (85% moisture)
Mineralization in the earthworm gut
· As feed passes through the earthworm gut the material is mineralized and plant nutrients are available. The grinding effect of the gizzard and the passage through the gut leads to the formation of a granule (15) (16) .
· Casts have a structure that is similar to a slow release granule: it has an organic matter core and a clay casing (1) .
Casts benefit to plants
· Casts contain the necessary nutrients for plant growth: when added in sufficient amounts, as in 4 -10 Kg casts / m 2 , casts can out-yield NPK fertilizers (100 Kg N / m 2 ) (13) .
· Casts increase plant dry weight and N, P, Mg and K uptake from the soil (12) .
· The presence of earthworms increases plant growth and N uptake as opposed to unfertilized soil (19) .
· Casts have a hormone-like effect that increases germination and growth rate (14) .
Waste preparation for processing by earthworms
· Organic debris are more palatable to earthworms if it’s fresh or incubated for up to 2 weeks. The particle size of organic matter doesn’t matter (23) .
· Earthworms have less requirements than microbes in processing carbon and nitrogen (24) . The C:N ratio which results in the most stable earthworm casts is 25 ( Ndegwa and Thompson, 2000).
· High salinity levels and alkalinity harm earthworms. Earthworms are also sensitive to pesticides (25) .
Types of earthworms used
· Earthworms are chosen for their resistance to extreme conditions and feeding and reproductive rate. They also need to survive handling.
· Eisenia foetida is the most efficient in waste processing, while Eudrilus eugeniae is large, fast growing, reasonably prolific and would be ideal for protein production Eudrilus eugenia (17) .
CASTS OR COMPOST?
Both are organic products which provide the plant with nutrients, good soil aeration and other un-identified advantages (the “organic matter effect”) (10) .
Comparison as to plant nutrients
· Plants treated with compost may still show N deficiency, even when synthetic fertilizer is added. His is due to N immobilization: microorganisms in compost use N for their metabolism (3) .
· More decomposition ( Lignolysis ) occurs and higher levels of Nitrogen are reached when waste is fed to worms than in composting. Casts also increase protein synthesis in plants (7) .
· Compost can be an incomplete fertilizer, most plants have a an increase in yield with the addition of compost, organic N sources can cause a short term yield decrease (18) .
Comparison as to the timing of nutrient release
· Slow nutrient release is more synchronized with plant needs, and leads to higher yields (9) .
· In my master’s thesis ( Chaoui et al, 2003) I showed that casts show a slower nutrient release rate than compost, possibly explaining the higher plant weight to nutrient content ratio.
Comparison as to salinity level
· Ammonium is the main contributor to salinity levels.
· High salinity levels cause osmotic drought.
· NH 4 levels are high in fresh casts but casts stabilize after 2 weeks of aging through nitrification. The acidity level in casts is slightly low, which reduces denitrification (5) . Salinity levels are moderate in casts, since passage through the earthworm gut does not increase the level of some salts (Ca, Mg, Na ) (2) .
· Some composts have high concentrations of ammonium or soluble salts (6) . There are larger amounts of NH 4 than NO 3 in composted domestic waste. High Levels of NH 4 are due to non-stabilized substances (4) . Immature (unfinished) compost can stunt or kill plants, and reduce germination and growth (11) .
Comparison as to pathogens
· Recycling organic waste through earthworms also results in a product with a lower pathogen level than compost (8) .
· Since high temperature are not part of the earthworm cast production process disease suppressing microorganisms that may be present in this material survives in the absence of heat (20) .
· Some composts are suppressive of plant pathogens but heating them to 60 o C for five days reduced suppressiveness . This is why some composts need to be inoculated with disease suppressing microorganisms. Adding nutrients (i.e. reducing competition) also reduces disease suppression by composts (21) .
Comparing Earthworm Casts and Compost as to their processes
Comparison as to time and volume requirement
· Earthworms eat 75% of their weight daily ( Ndegwa , 1999) and the speed or earthworm casts production can be increased by increasing the amount of earthworms. The layer of waste needs to be 1 ft or thinner to prevent anaerobic conditions which hinder earthworm activity.
· A compost pile needs to be 3 cubed feet to hold heat in winter and takes 3-4 months to be cured (22) .
Comparison as to odor problem
· Odorous gases are emitted as compost piles heat up. Specific layering of composting material needs to be used to prevent odor.
· Earthworms don’t require heat to process waste (heat is actually detrimental). In the correct waste to worms ratio fermentation and heat can be prevented, and also odor or flies.
Aeration requirements
· Compost needs aeration (and labor) to maintain aerobic conditions for microbial activity.
· Worms dig canals (burrows) as they process waste which indirectly aerates the processed material.
Literature review on which the above outline is based:
IMAGES
COMMENTS
Vermiculture. By definition, vermiculture is the process of breeding earthworms, whereas the liquid filtered from the watery wash of earthworms is called vermiwash [7], while, vermicomposting is the transformation process of organic waste to compost or vermicompost by the use of earthworms.
Explore the latest full-text research PDFs, articles, conference papers, preprints and more on VERMICULTURE. Find methods information, sources, references or conduct a literature review on ...
This comprehensive review has provided insights into the various vermiculture techniques, advancements, and future perspectives in the field. Continued research and development in vermicomposting methods, along with effective implementation strategies, will contribute to a cleaner environment, improved soil health, and a more sustainable future.
Food production and waste management are two increasing issues ensuing from the growing world population. Recycling organic residues into amendment for food production seems to appear as an opportunity to partially solve this double challenge. Vermicomposting is a process whereby earthworms transform organic residues into compost that can be used as a substrate for plant growth. Many studies ...
Vermicomposting is a process of decomposition of organic waste with the help of earthworms yielding a better end product called Vermicast. Vermicompost is considered an organic fertilizer as it is ...
Fruits and vegetable processing waste Review: Vermicompost, its importance and benefit in agriculture Vermicompost is a peat like material containing most nutrients in plant available forms such as nitrates, phosphates, calcium, potassium, magnesium etc.
Vermiculture in animal farming: A review on the biological and nonbiological risks related to earthworms in animal feed
This study represents a systematic review in which we collect relevant information on vermicomposting and analyze the applicability of this practice in the SPICs based on these nations' physical, socioeconomic, and climatic conditions.
Therefore, this work was prepared to present a review of the latest research on vermicomposting of different types of organic wastes in the last years, with concentration on the research and applications for developing countries.
This literature review discovers the potential of vermicompost as a sustainable strategy in circular economy and highlights the benefits of vermicompost in ensuring food security, particularly in improving agricultural yield and quality, as well as boosting crop's nutritional quality.
Vermiculture is the cultivation of worms to produce compost. Worm farming for agricultural. purposes uses specific worms that consume the organic waste in which they live and breed. Vermicomposting is biotechnology for the conversion of wastes into nutrient-rich agriculture.
Explore the latest full-text research PDFs, articles, conference papers, preprints and more on VERMICOMPOSTING. Find methods information, sources, references or conduct a literature review on ...
Vermiculture is the sustainable solution for total waste management in world (Fraser-Quick, 2002 ): Diverse organic wastes from various sources (households, farms, businesses and industries) can be efficiently managed by the waste-eater earthworms ( Edwards, 1988; 2000; Roe, 2002; Patil, 2005 ). a.
Vermicomposting of Organic Waste : Literature Review. Purpose : Adoption of new life style, bad management and low budget in many developing countries resulted in massive accumulation of municipal solid waste (MSW) and agricultural wastes causing several environmental and health problems. Vermicomposting (VC) evolved as one of the promising and ...
III. Literature on Process of vermicomposting: Vermiculture is the science of raising and breeding earthworms to harvest their potential for waste reduction and fertilizer production. Vermicomposting involves biodegradation of organic waste with the help of earthworms to produce high-quality compost.
The importance of organic farming and sustainable agriculture world over have escalated the implication of vermiculture many folds. Vermiculture and vermicomposting are very narrowly related. Vermiculture is the raising and production of earthworms and their by-products while vermicomposting is the use of earthworms to convert
In this review, an attempt has been made to highlight the vermicomposting of different organic wastes by using different earthworm species. Method An extensive literature search was done on Science Direct, Pubmed Central, Google Scholar, Springer-link by using various search strings, and appropriate studies of vermicomposting of different ...
A systematic literature review is a process of identifying, assessing, and interpreting all research findings in order to answer research questions. It entails several tasks including defining research questions, selecting studies, extracting required data, synthesizing data, and describing the outcome.
Page 1 of 12 ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY, POLLUTION & WASTE MANAGEMENT | REVIEW ARTICLE Vermiculture in animal farming: A review on the biological and nonbiological risks related to earthworms in ...
For example, a recent literature review cites twice as many produce-related foodborne disease outbreaks between 1988-1992 as in the five year period prior to 1988 (Buck et al., 2003). The risk of product contamination with foodborne pathogens is a concern for farmers using organic or conventional methods of agriculture alike.
However, vermiculture is not practiced in South Pacific island countries (SPICs) largely due to the lack of awareness of this type of application. We consider the inclusion of vermiculture in this region as a potential means of achieving sustainable organic agricultural practices. This study represents a systematic review in
Download Table | 0: Literature review on vermicompost produced and process conditions employed from publication: Production of Bio-Fertilizers from Vermicomposting of Waste Corn Pulp Blended with ...