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Vermicomposting and Its Benefits

What is Vermicomposting?

Vermicomposting is a biological process produced naturally by converting organic wastes into organic fertilizer. In this natural process, earthworms – reddish, grey-coloured, terrestrial invertebrate of order Opisthopora are used.

During vermicomposting, earthworms are mainly used to convert organic waste into organic fertiliser and are rich in nutritional content. Hence are used as biofertilizers, in sewage treatments and other organic farming. Compost mainly refers to the end products formed by the biodegradation of organic matter. These are called composts and are used as biofertilizers, as they are rich in nutritional content.

Vermicompost has many advantages than the compost, as vermicompost can be produced in lesser space, small containers and both indoor and outdoor. Vermicomposting is a natural process and does not contain chemical elements, and is mainly prepared from biodegradable wastes and is a natural fertilizer and eco-friendly.

Advantages of Vermicomposting

Vermicompost contains an adequate amount of plant nutrients such as potassium nitrogen, phosphorus and other micronutrients. Hence they are used in small scale organic farming.

Vermicompost is a product enriched with nutrients, enhancing soil health, promoting high growth in plants, regulating the plant’s cell cycle, and harvesting plants.

The vermicompost product comprises beneficial microorganisms, which can solubilise phosphorus and other minerals for plant uptake.

Compared to other conventional composts, vermicompost has high organic carbon required by plants to continue their life cycle.

Due to the high water-holding capacity, vermicompost also improves soil porosity, increases the activity of beneficial microbes and will yield good results when mixed with sandy soil.

Vermicompost is used as a biofertilizer because it is rich in calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus and other micronutrients.

Conclusion

Vermicomposting involves dumping all waste, including the kitchen wastes, straws, dried leaves, cow dung, jute mats, etc. In this biological process, earthworms are used and the microorganism in the guts of the earthworm feeds on the organic wastes and breaks them into simpler parts.

This concludes the introduction to vermicomposting and its benefits. Stay tuned with BYJU’S to learn more about vermicomposting, its process, compost composition, earthworm species for the vermicomposting process and other related topics.

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