Middle East Journal of Applied Science & Technology (MEJAST)

(Peer Reviewed International Journal) Volume 2, Issue 4, Pages 01-06, October-December 2019

Importance of Vermicomposting at Industrial and Domestic Level

Muhammad Arif Saleem*, Muhammad Umar Farooq, Shahbaz Anwar, Muhammad Moin Akhtar, Rehana &
Muhammad Fakhar Iqbal Fareedi
Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan-60800, Pakistan.

Article Received: 06 June 2019 Article Accepted: 09 October 2019 Article Published: 01 December 2019

ABSTRACT

Composting is considered to be one of the primary method for treating the wastes like organic wastes. Several technologies are being applied for the
treatment of wastes. Among them, the biological treatments have been widely used as one of the most efficient and ecofriendly for the conversion of
organic waste to valuable products. Various species of worms usually red wiggler’s, white worms and other earthworms are uses in this process. It is
a non thermophilic process that involves microbes and earthworms. Vermicomposting also involve for the safe handling of hospital wastes otherwise
it has serious harmful effects on the environment and human life. Vermicomposting also has a broad range of applications for domestic agriculture
and industrial waste management. Some other applications are improvement of crop production, protection of crop production and waste water
treatment.
Keywords: Biofertilizer, compost, Earthworms, Thermophiles, Landfill.

INTRODUCTION

The fast increasing in population and high rate of industrialization creating the problems for the proper
management of wastes. shortage of dumping sites increases the problems in cities, therefore alternative sources are
try for the management of solid wastes, that are cheap and environment friendly.(1) Earthworms are sometimes
referred to as ploughmen friends of the farmer and nature. Earthworms are critically important in soil formation,
primarily through their activity of consuming organic matter, fragmenting and intimately mixing it to form
aggregates with mineral particles. Earthworms consume a large amount of organic residues such as animal waste,
crop residue, sewage sludge, and industrial refuse. Vermicomposting is just like an easy biological process of
composting. There are many ways in which vermicomposting is differ from composting process. It involve the
process in which earthworms and microorganisms are used that are active at 10-30C this process is known as
mesophilic process .(2). Vermicomposting also plays role in domestic for example soil fertility is affected from the
burning of domestic straw and also has harmful effects on soil water, it leads to the emission of gasses such as
CH4,CO and volatile organic compounds. Today rice straw was perforate and used in vermicomposting for its
conversion into the production of valuable products, many other organic wastes are also through aerobic
composting into valuable products .(3). The large amount of rice straw should be transform into organic fertilizer
through the process of vermicomposting. It is a biological process for treating many types of wastes. It is cost
effective process. Vermicomposting is a first concept to use effective microorganism in environmental
management.(4). Now a days biofertilizers are supplied in the form of animal manures to the fields for obtaining
essential nutrients that are required for plants, the good treatment processes are vermicomposting and composting
that are designed to treat animal manure that should be proves very helpful to decrease health problems and
environmental risks.(5). Vermicomposting is a biological process that actually degrade organic waste such as food
waste, crop residue, and manure. The process of waste composting is an effective management process that reduces
the amount of waste going to landfill, and also convert waste into nutrients and improve soil texture.(6). During this
process microbial species and earthworms utilizes organic waste and digest in the presence of anaerobic and
aerobic microflora that converts it into microbialy active material. (7). Two types of process are involved in

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 Middle East Journal of Applied Science & Technology (MEJAST)

(Peer Reviewed International Journal) Volume 2, Issue 4, Pages 01-06, October-December 2019

composting and vermicomposting in which microbes and earthworms are able to transform organic wastes into
valuable products these are biochemical and physical process. The physical process of vermicomposting involve
mixing, grinding and substrate aeration during biochemical procedure the process involve the microbial
decomposition in the earthworm’s intestine. It is known that stabilization of organic waste is achieved through the
process of vermicomposting (1). It is reported that carcinogenic materials and toxic compounds are absorbed by
earthworms present in aqueous media (8). Black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) has a broad range of
applications in vermicomposting e.g. there are many reports on the cultivation of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on
organic wastes. Composting of food waste, vegetables and other materials produces large amount of a liquid
fraction called leachate which contains organic compounds and other nutrients(9).

Species of earthworms used in vermicomposting

Several important species of earthworms that are used in vermicomposting these are

 black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens L.) (9)

 Red Wiggler Worm (Eisenia foetida ) (10)

 African Night crawler (Eudrilus Eugeniae) (11)

 Blue worms (Perionyx Excavatus) (12)

 Red worms (Lumbricus rubellus) (13)

 Metaphire posthuma (13)

 Perionyx simlaensis (14)

Process of vermicomposting

Collection of waste and separation of non-degradable material

During vermicomposting soil is considered the most important source for the collection of wastes. The waste
material is changed into peat like material similar to vermicompost having many characteristics like it has the
capacity to hold water and nutrient rich microbial activity (15). Farm wastes such as rice straw and wheat straw are
used during composting for converting into valuable products. During the formation of ground heaps of
composting organic waste are also used (16). During the process of vermicomposting many wastes are used as
organic wastes these wastes are derived from horticulture residue, food waste and animal manure (17). During the
composting organic waste used, collected from the waste site. (1).

Earthworm bed preparation

After the collection and separation of wastes earthworm beds are prepared. Bedding is the natural habitat of the
worms(14). Over the time bedding will be turned into compost material rich in nutrients by the worms. Bedding of
earthworms should be the consistency of a wet sponge. Moss, Canadian peat, horse manure, and coconut pith fiber
are also great for composting. Livestock platform also provide cattle and goat manures(11). Benefits of garden
beds has some characteristics like warming of soil and water retention. Buried wood become like a sponge and it is

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 Middle East Journal of Applied Science & Technology (MEJAST)

(Peer Reviewed International Journal) Volume 2, Issue 4, Pages 01-06, October-December 2019

able to capture water and store it for later use(18).

Collection of earthworms

Earthworms that are grown on the beds now are selected for the composting. The earthworms have the capacity to
change the waste material into useful products. They are called as the soldiers of mankind and they are also called
earth intestines(15). They have the capacity to digest different varieties of the organic material. Based on the
ecological functions of earthworm species these are classified into endogenic and epigeic species

Importance at domestic level

 Importance of vermicopost for plant growth

In vermicompost microbial populations are present in large quantities such as bacteria, fungi and many other
microbes that are most important for plant growth(19) plant growth also increases and crop diseases are reduce in
the presence of hormones and enzymes that are present in vermicompost(20). Humic substances play an important
role in plant growth and development obtained from paper mill sludge and animal manure and forming final
compost(21)(22).Phosphorus play an important role in biochemical process of plant cell. Therefore it has great
importance in crop production(14). In some soils phosphorus is present in large quantities, sometime it is
unavailable for soils due to its association with other elements therefore plants cannot properly utilize the
phosphate. Due to its unavailability in the soil it is supplied in the form of inorganic fertilizers that are usually cost
effective(23)(24). Two process are most important to enhance the availability of plants essential nutrients these are
vermicomposting and composting, therefore RP is an alternative to phosphorus in agriculture(25). During the
process of vermicomposting organic acids are released that results in the solubilization of phosphorus from
p-bearing minerals, therefore availability of phosphorus is increases(26)(13).

 Treatment of domestic waste

The rapidly increasing population in the world produces large amount of sludge and domestic waste worldwide. It
generates a lot of problems for mankind. To improve sludge reduction many physical, chemical and mechanical
methods are available but these methods also have some drawbacks such as high operational costs(27)(28) .
Biological process like composting are used to treat domestic as well as industrial waste. It produces large amount
of biological sludge which is composed of organic matter(29) . The presence of heavy metals in waste sludge
reduces the beneficial applications like use of bio fertilizers(29) . To treat domestic waste the worms are grown in
the reactors, after that the worms are mixed with domestic sludge. For treating waste optimum conditions are
necessary for worms(30).

Importance at industrial level

Industries play an important role in the economy of any country. Many industries are growing in the worldwide.
The paper and the pulp industry is one of the fastest growing industry in the world. It produces large amount of
waste water and sludge produces problem in paper industry(31). The sludge and wastes of paper industry has many
potentials to generate energy. Due to degradation process of earthworms in vermicomposting play an important
role in paper and pulp industry(32). It is a biochemical process in which microbes and earthworms convert the

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 Middle East Journal of Applied Science & Technology (MEJAST)

(Peer Reviewed International Journal) Volume 2, Issue 4, Pages 01-06, October-December 2019

industrial or organic waste into vermicompost. In this process sustainable conditions are required like moisture and
temperature for earthworms for their proper functioning. Both physical and biochemical process are available.
During vermicomposting important plant nutrients such as calcium, potassium and nitrogen are readily converted
into most soluble forms that are taken up by the plants(33). During vermicomposting 60-80% moisture is ideal for
this process. pH is another important factor in vermicomposting the range of pH must be 5.5-8.5. Temperature must
be in the range of 12-28C in vermicomposting(34). Thermophilic composting are used to solve the problems that
are causing environmental pollution. There are many disadvantages of thermophilic composting such as slow
process time consuming and cost effective. On the other hand it has several advantages like minimum temperature
is required for the conversion of bio solids. These are some industrial applications of vermicomposting that are very
useful in the conversion of organic and industrial waste into useful compounds and products(35)(36).

CONCLUSION

Composting as we know that a bigger beneficial aspect in both environmental and soil fertility. It is most beneficial
to convert organic waste into useful products that fertile soil. This is a way to safe our environment from hazardous
effects coming from organic as well as from other waste. The soil fertility, mineral enrichment and other elements
needed by plants are fulfilled from composting. It helps in proper plant growth and yield. As we also know that any
industry plays a key role in the back bone of a country’s economics, the waste from industrial side is also managed
by composting process. Use of vermicomposting is very important in many aspects, because of easy availability
and processing. Worms feeds on waste as well as fresh edibles. So, it helps to remove smelling and hazardous
aspects from our environment.

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