Question

What is vermicompost manure? Write its significance.

Answer 1

Hint: The practice of making compost with the use of earthworms, which generally live in soil, eat biomass and excrete it in digested form.

Complete answer:
-Vermicomposting is a simple biochemical process of composting, in which certain species of earthworms are used to enhance the process of waste conservation and produce a better product.
-It is a method of preparing enriched compost with the use of earthworms. It is one of the easiest methods to recycle agricultural wastes and animal waste to produce quality compost.
-It is stable , fine granular organic manure which enriches soil quality by improving its physicochemical and biological properties.
Significance
-Vermicompost is a rich source of nutrients, vitamins, enzymes, antibiotics and growth hormones. So, it gives disease resistance to plants.
-Nutrient content of vermicompost is higher than traditional composts and valuable soil amendment.
-Vermicompost harbours certain microbial populations that helps in N fiction and P solubilization.
-Its application enchences nodulation in legumes and symbiotic association with the roots.
-It has immobilized enzymes like protease, lipase, amylase, cellulase and chitinase which keep their function of biodegradation of agricultural residues in the soil so that further microbial attack is speeded up.

Additional Information: -Material in Vermicomposting
Decomposable organic wastes such as animal excreta, kitchen waste like- vegetables and fruits peels, farm residues and forest litter are commonly used as composting materials.
In general, animal dung mostly cow dung and dried chopped crop residues are the best raw materials.
The mixture of leguminous and non-leguminous crop residues enriches the quality of vermicompost.
-Species of earthworms
-Eisenia foetida (Red earthworm)
-Eudrilus eugeniae (nightcrawler)
-Perionyx excavatus

Note: -Earth worm is physically an aerator, crusher, mixer, chemically degraded and biologically a stimulator in a decomposer system.
-Vermicomposting is highly useful in raising seedlings and for crop production.
-Earthworm consumes biomass and excrete it in digested form called worm casts/ black gold.
-The casts are rich in nutrient, growth promoting substances, beneficial soil microflora.