Chattopadhyay International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste

in Agriculture 2012, 1:8

http://www.ijrowa.com/content/1/1/8

REVIEW Open Access

Use of vermicomposting biotechnology for

recycling organic wastes in agriculture
Gunindra Nath Chattopadhyay

Abstract
Recent trend of declining sustainability in agricultural production is appearing as a major threat to most of the
Asian countries. To combat the situation, increasing importance is now being paid on incorporation of organic
materials for rejuvenating the health condition and, hence, the productivity of these soils. Large scale availability of
conventional organic manures being a big problem nowadays, major attention is being paid on recycling of
different kinds of organic wastes for this purpose. Apart from abatement of environmental pollution, such reuse of
organic wastes in agriculture helps in the improvement of various physical, chemical and biological properties of
the soils and, thus, helps in sustaining the soil health. While recycling different organic wastes in agriculture, it is
essential to process the materials through an adequate period of composting for improving their usability in the
soils. However, due to some short comings of traditional composting systems, the technology of recycling of
organic wastes has not been widely accepted so far. Under this situation, vermicomposting has recently emerged as
a simple but efficient biotechnology for recycling wide ranges of organic wastes with the help of some specific
groups of earthworms. In view of the growing popularity of this biotechnology, various aspects of waste recycling
in agriculture through vermicomposting have been dealt in this communication.
Keywords: Organic wastes, Recycling, Vermicomposting biotechnology, Agricultural uses

Review consequently, the productivity of the arable soils of this

Introduction continent. It has been appreciated that mineral fertilizers
With the rapidly increasing population in most of the can only supply plant nutrients to the soils but they can-
Asian countries, the major challenge facing the mankind not take care of other physical, chemical and biological
during the beginning of the new millennium is to pro- attributes of soil health. On the other hand, organic
vide food sustenance for all the people of this continent. materials play a much more positive role in this respect.
With per capita land area decreasing consistently, vari- Under this context, the concept of integrated plant
ous measures are being adopted to increase the agricul- nutrition system involving both inorganic and organic
tural production from these shrinking resources to meet sources of nutrients has been conceived and gaining
the emergent demand of escalating population. However, momentum (Chattopadhyay 2005). Such integration of
sustaining the food production from these decreasing mineral fertilizers and organic manures has special sig-
land areas depends largely on one factor, maintenance of nificance for many of the Asian countries because the ar-
soil health at high levels for encouraging good growth of able soils of most tropical and subtropical countries are
plants. The recent trend of consistently reducing use poor in organic matter due to high temperature and
efficiency of mineral fertilizers under high productive more intense microbial activity (Gaur 2006). Hence, a
systems associated with the problems of gradual deteri- regular and sizeable addition of organic material to soil
oration of soil health due to indiscriminate use of fertili- is essential for maintaining optimum organic matter
zers is raising frequent questions about over dependence status and, thereby, sustaining the health of the soil
on mineral fertilizers in sustaining the health and, (Manna et al. 2005).
The beneficial roles of organic matter in the sus-
* Correspondence: [email protected]
tenance of soil health and productivity are well docu-
Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati University, Sriniketan, West Bengal mented (Kumazawa 1984). Allison (1973) summarized
731235, India

© 2012 Chattopadhyay; licensee Springer. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction
in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Chattopadhyay International Journal Of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture 2012, 1:8 Page 2 of 6
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the important contributions of organic matter in sustain- Table 1 Potentials of NPK from different organic wastes
ing the productivity levels of soils to be as follows: in India
Source Plant nutrients (million ton)
1. It is a natural resource of plant nutrients and N P2O5 K2O Total
microbial energy. Cattle 2.997 0.793 1.332 5.102
2. It serves as cation exchange site and chelating agent. Buffalo 0.745 0.276 0.487 1.508
3. It improves physical condition of soils.
Goat and sheep 0.214 0.063 0.020 0.297
Pig 0.044 0.027 0.029 0.100
However, in spite of such significant importance of
using organic matter in tropical soils, large-scale avail- Poultry 0.027 0.020 0.010 0.057
ability of organic materials from traditional sources has Other livestock 0.079 0.018 0.069 0.166
remained a big problem. It is, therefore, necessary to Human beings 3.228 0.776 0.715 4.719
utilize effectively all the organic resources available on Farm crop wastes 5.600 2.300 10.700 18.600
and off the farm. Under this context, the potentials of
Forest litter 0.075 0.030 0.075 0.180
reusing various kinds of organic wastes have been
Water hyacinth compost 0.060 0.033 0.075 0.168
emphasized by many workers (Gallardo-Lara and
Nogales 1987; Howe and Coker 1992). Gupta et al. Rural compost 1.130 0.678 1.130 2.938
(1998) calculated that, on an average, around 4 to 5 kg Urban compost 0.024 0.015 0.030 0.069
of organic wastes are generated per person per day in Sewage sludge 0.012 0.009 0.003 0.024
India. This calculation is likely to be by and large applic- Total 14.215 5.038 14.675 39.928
able to most of the Asian countries also. Thus, with Adapted from Bisoyi (2003).
escalation of human population, huge amount of varying
natures of organic wastes are being generated in these
countries every year. Bisoyi (2003) made a systematic 2005). Good amount of studies have been and are being
assessment of the quality of some common organic carried out at different levels to overcome these pro-
wastes in India and has shown these wastes to be the blems. In the course of these studies, in recent years, ver-
source of large amount of nutrient elements in addition micomposting has emerged as an effective biotechnology
to organic matter. Successful recycling of these wastes in for decomposing wide ranges of organic wastes with the
different Asian countries will not only add substantial help of intestinal microorganisms of some specific kinds
amount of all the plant nutrients but will also bring in of earthworms (Edwards and Lofty 1972; Kale 1993).
the much-needed organic matter to the soils, leading to Composts produced with such biotechnology have been
betterment of soil health (Table 1). found to be superior in nutrient status than the trad-
While recycling different organic wastes in agriculture, itionally prepared compost and to contain various
it is essential to process them through an adequate vitamins, plant growth regulators, antibiotics, etc., (Tilak
period of composting. Composting has been described as et al. 2010) resulting in better performance after their
a biological process for converting solid waste into a field application. In the present communication, the
stable, humus-like product, which is used as a soil condi- possibility of recycling different organic wastes in agri-
tioner (Talashilkar 1989). Apart from providing substan- culture through vermicomposting biotechnology has
tial plant nutrition, these composts promote soil been discussed.
aggregation, improve air-water relationship, enhance cat-
ion exchange capacity, increase water retentivity, provide Vermicomposting biotechnology
energy and improve several other physico-chemical Beneficial effects of earthworms in improving structure,
properties of soils (Webber 1978; Epstein 1997). In aeration, nutrient status and some other properties of
addition, importance of composts in taking care of most the soils and, thereby, the growth of the crops have been
of the pathogens present in the substrates has been known since long (Darwin 1837). However, the know-
emphasized by Tandon (1995). Chen and Wu (2005) dis- ledge about the efficiency of some groups of the earth-
cussed wide ranges of benefits from use of composts in worms in decomposing various organic materials was
different agricultural systems. However, the major con- gathered later on, and the concept of utilizing this
straints related to large scale adoption of composting behavior for composting wide ranges of organic wastes
technology have been described to be their bulk volume, was conceived during mid-twentieth century (Senapati
long time required for composting, incomplete decom- 1993). Based on ecological niches, earthworms may be
position of resistant components, lower nutrient values broadly grouped into three categories viz. endogeics,
as compared to mineral fertilizers and, above all, the anecics and epigeics (Bouche 1977). Endogeic earth-
complicated processes of composting (Chattopadhyay worms are geophagous in nature, which live deep inside
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the soil. Anecics reside just below the soil surface and These vermicasts undergo rapid aerobic decomposition
feed on the organic materials mixed with the soils. The in presence of different microbes, which activity is accel-
third group is known as epigeics which live on upper erated by various enzymes and encouraged by occur-
surface of soils feeding mainly on plant litter and other rence of numbers of growth promoting substances.
organic debris available on the soil surface. As these Aerobic microorganisms, being more active decomposers
earthworms can consume a variety of organic matters, than the anaerobes, degrade vermicasts more rapidly
they are most suitable for converting organic wastes into than the traditional ‘pit composting’ methods, and a nu-
useful organic manures. However, uses of anecic and trient rich well-humified organic manure is obtained in
endogeic earthworms in such composting process have shorter period of time which is termed as ‘vermicompost’
also been reported by Lavelle and Martin (1992). A list (Chattopadhyay 2005).
of common earthworm species suitable for vermicom-
posting has been presented in Table 2. Benefits of vermicomposting
These epigeic earthworms being voracious feeders can As discussed earlier, vermicomposting biotechnology
consume large quantities of different organic materials. helps in recycling different organic wastes with the
In spite of their high rate of consumption, they utilize help of large numbers of aerobic microorganisms. This
only a very small part of the consumed food for their results, in general, better nutrient status of the produced
body synthesis and excrete about 90% to 95% of the materials, as compared to those prepared by traditional
ingested materials as vermicast. Since the intestines of composting systems. Scot (1998), while assessing the
the earthworms harbor high concentrations of various nature and properties of cattle wastes, digested with and
kinds of microorganisms (Wallwork 1984), these vermi- without earthworms, observed availability of nitrogen to
casts exhibit rich population of these organisms also be higher in vermicomposted materials. While working
(Atlavinyte and Vanagas 1982). Analysis of gut content on nature and magnitudes of transformation of phos-
of the earthworms has revealed the occurrence of differ- phorus during the course of vermicomposting of dif-
ent kinds of symbionts like microfungi, bacteria, proto- ferent wastes, Ghosh et al. (1999b) observed that
zoans, actinomycetes, etc. (Dash and Senapati 1986). vermicomposting process tends to reduce the quantum
Earthworm guts provide congenial environmental condi- of fixation of P as insoluble Fe, Al and Ca phosphate,
tion for their proliferation, and hence, the total numbers and also helped mineralize P from organic to inorganic
of such microorganisms in earthworm intestines gener- forms. Among the effects of different microorganisms
ally increase many folds as compared to their habitats and enzymes contributing to such increased availability
(Ponomarera 1962). The food materials ingested by the of phosphorus, major emphasis may be given to the
earthworms are, thus, subjected to more intense micro- presence of very high concentration of phosphate-
bial activity in the alimentary canal not only due to these solubilizing bacteria in the vermicast. Bhattacharya and
higher concentrations of different microorganisms but Chattopadhyay (2002) reported vermicasts prepared
also owing to increased surface area of the food particles from mixtures of cattle wastes and fly ash to exhibit high
meshed to very fine sizes while passing through the occurrence of such microorganism. Such rich occurrence
gizzard. In addition to the activities of the microbes, of phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria is likely to solubilize
occurrence of various enzymes in earthworm guts also good amount of phosphorus from insoluble form in any
helps such processes. These enzymes operate in near organic waste material, and also to qualify vermicompost
neutral to slightly alkaline pH range in the intestinal as a potential phosphatic biofertilizer. Increased nutrient
fluid of the worms (Senapati 1993). In addition, existence availability and microbial activity due to vermicompost-
of various hormones, antibiotics, etc. has also been ing, as reported by Jambhekar (1992), has been presented
reported in earthworm gut (Edwards and Lofty 1972). in Table 3. Ghosh et al. (1999a) also reported the results
All these components mix thoroughly with the food of a study on effect of inclusion of epigeic earthworm
materials in the intestines of the earthworms and are Eisenia foetida on several organic wastes viz. cow dung,
released with their excreta to be known as vermicast. poultry droppings, kitchen wastes, municipal wastes and

Table 2 List of some earthworm species suitable for vermicomposting

Lumbricidae Megascolecidae Ocnerodrilidae Octaochaetidae Eudrilidae Moniligastridae
Bimasto parvus Lampito mauritii Ocnerodrulus occidenalis Dichogaster bolaui Eudrilus euginae Moniligaster perrieri
Eisenia foetida Perionyx excavatus Dichogaster saliens
Eisenia hortensis Metaphire anomala Romiella bishambari
Polypheretima elongate
Screened from Julka 1988.
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Table 3 Status of major nutrients and microbial population in some organic wastes treated with and without
earthworms
Substrate Parameters
C:N ratio N (%) Available P2O5 (%) Available K2O (%) Microbial count
Cow dung
Original 49.1 0.53 0.003 0.104 -
Vermicomposted 16.8 1.20 0.004 0.396 24 × 106
Untreated 24.0 1.00 0.003 0.192 18 × 105
Sugarcane trash
Original 38.17 0.66 0.080 0.020 -
Vermicomposted 16.07 1.40 0.100 0.010 24 × 106
Untreated 30.72 0.80 0.090 0.060 20 × 105
Horse manure
Original 55.3 0.68 0.010 0.060 -
Vermicomposted 15.3 1.80 0.030 0.020 30 × 106
Untreated 29.6 1.29 0.020 0.010 28 × 105
Adapted from Jambhekar (1992).

dry leaves, and observed that the availability of three center. All these studies have shown use of vermicom-
major nutrient elements viz. N, P and K, and four micro- post to be able to reduce the application of mineral ferti-
nutrients viz. Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn was considerably higher lizers substantially without affecting the crop yield.
in the vermicomposted treatments for all the wastes as Occurrences of different diseases in the crops have also
compared to those without earthworms. Similarly, adop- been found to come down due to use of vermicompost,
tion of vermicomposting technology has shown to in- thus, reducing the need of pesticide application to the
crease the concentration of beneficial bacteria like plants. While working on use of vermicomposted fly ash
nitrogen-fixing ones too (Bhattacharya and Chattopad- in agriculture, Iftikar et al. (2011) reported incidence of
hyay 2004). This helps in accumulation of atmospheric different diseases to be reduced substantially on use of
N2 into the vermicomposted waste materials, thus, in- vermicompost in tomato cultivation (Table 5). Similar
creasing their nitrogen status. The behavior is likely to reports are available for other crops also.
facilitate the composting of different slowly degradable
waste materials like saw dust, coir waste, sugarcane Protocol for vermicomposting
trash, etc. which exhibit high lignocellulose content, wide By following the conventional system of composting, ver-
C:N ratio and low moisture. micomposting is generally undertaken in small pits.
Such high nutrient content and other beneficial prop- However, recent studies carried out at Institute of Agri-
erties of vermicompost help in increased production of culture, Visva-Bharati University have shown vermicom-
healthier crops. As shown in Table 4, substantial yield posting should preferably be carried out above ground
increments in different crops on integration of chemical level, in a place without possibility of water stagnation
fertilizers with vermicompost prepared from organic (Chattopadhyay 2005). This will ensure occurrence of
wastes have been reported by Ghosh et al. (1999a). Simi- aerobic condition. The bed may be enclosed with brick-
lar results on different vegetables have also been made structures with good numbers of holes or the
observed under an ongoing research program at this wastes be kept as heaps without any enclosure. A shed is

Table 4 Effect of vermicompost on crop yields (t/ha) Table 5 Disease infestation of tomato under different
Treatments Potato Mustard Mulberry Marigold treatments
FYM + NPK100 36.8 1.6 8.1 9.6 Treatments Bacterial wilt Leaf curl Bacterial blight
VC + NPK100 44.3 1.9 10.5 11.6 FYM 10 tha-1 + NPK 100% 2 4 6
VC + NPK75 43.5 1.87 9.7 13.4 VC 10 tha-1 + NPK 100% 1 1 2
VC + NPK50 43.0 1.89 9.7 16.3 VF 10 tha-1 + NPK 100% 1 2 2
Control 12.3 0.40 2.7 4.2 NPK 100% 6 11 14
FYM, farm yard manure; VC, vermicompost; NPK100,75,50, percent of FYM, farm yard manure; VC, vermicompost; VF, vermicomposted fly ash;
recommended NPK fertilization (Ghosh et al. 1999a). NPK100, percent of recommended NPK fertilization.
Chattopadhyay International Journal Of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture 2012, 1:8 Page 5 of 6
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to be provided above the bed to prevent entry of rain- particles. This will also reduce the possibility of less
water or sunshine. matured materials to be mixed with the compost.
Wide ranges of organic wastes may be used for vermi-
composting. However, they should preferably be mixed Conclusion
with at least 20% to 25% cow dung or sprinkled with In recent years, vermicomposting is emerging as a
cow dung slurry. Large sized wastes like straws, plant simple, easily adoptable and effective biotechnology for
twigs, etc. may be shredded to smaller sizes to facilitate recycling wide ranges of organic wastes for agricultural
composting. The mixture should be kept under moist production. This can be taken up in small scales at
condition for 10 to 15 days. This will allow the initial household levels or at large levels as business proposi-
thermophilic condition of organic materials to subside to tions. The former practice helps an agriculturist or
a tolerable level for the earthworms. This rise in gardener to produce vermicompost from his homestead
temperature in the organic materials during primary garbage for the purpose of utilizing the generated vermi-
period of decomposition helps kill most of the mesophi- compost for own consumption. On the other hand,
lic pathogens in the waste materials, making the result- vermicomposting can also be taken up at commercial
ant compost more safe for field application. level using municipal and/or other sources of wastes and
After 10 to 15 days of primary decomposition, epigeic the product be marketed as good quality organic ma-
earthworms are to be incorporated in the organic materi- nure. The gradually expanding market of organic foods
als at 8 to 10 worms kg−1 of waste. Selection of the spe- for sustaining human health presents significant oppor-
cies of earthworms for vermicomposting should tunities for undertaking such activity on commercial
primarily be based on their capacity for consumption of basis. In this communication, a brief account of the con-
organic wastes, rate of multiplication and adaptability to cept, benefits and method of vermicomposting has been
local condition. Special care should be exercised to keep presented with relation to its agricultural use. Various
the wastes under moist condition through periodic processes of improvements of quality of vermicompost
addition of water during the entire course of composting. as well as pace of such composting are being suggested
This will not only help the earthworms to get a now by different workers. They include microbiological
favorable environment but will also permit more inten- inoculation, enrichment of quality, improved manage-
sive activities of the microorganisms in degrading the ment procedures, etc. (Bhattacharyya and Kumar 2009;
wastes. Periodic bottom-up turning of the waste materi- Saha 2009; Mal 2010). The vermicomposting technology
als will be particularly useful for the composting process may be modified suitably based on the demands of spe-
by exposing the lower layer of the waste materials to the cific situation as well as requirement of the operator.
aerobic zones. This will accelerate the rate of decompos-
ition of the organic materials and also encourage multi- Competing interests
plication of the earthworms. Temperature is also an The author declares that he has no competing interests.
important factor. Optimum temperature range for ver-
Author's information
micomposting is around 25°C to 35°C. Rate of compost-
The author is a soil scientist (professor) in the Institute of Agriculture, Visva-
ing becomes slower under low temperature levels. Bharati University, India. He is working on vermicomposting biotechnology
At maturation, the compost material assumes dark for more than 15 years and has supervised three Ph.D. programs and several
post graduate dissertations on this subject.
to brown coloration, becomes nonsticky and odorless. At
this stage, the moisture content of the composted mate-
Acknowledgments
rials is brought down by stopping the application of Author thanks the members of IJROWA editing team for their patience with
water. The compost materials are then sieved, and the this manuscript.
worms remaining above the sieve are transferred to
Received: 29 June 2012 Accepted: 30 June 2012
another vermicompost bed which is kept ready with Published: 8 October 2012
partially decomposed mixture of organic waste. Since the
numbers of earthworms increase considerably during the References
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