IJEP 44(10): 867-880 : Vol. 44 Issue. 10 (October 2024)
1. Banaras Hindu University, Waste Management, Resource Recovery and Ecotoxicology (WRE) Laboratory, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Varanasi – 221 005, Uttar Pradesh, India
2. Banaras Hindu University, Law Faculty, Varanasi – 221 005, Uttar Pradesh, India
Abstract
Vermiwash, produced through the utilization of organic waste with the assistance of earthworms, has emerged as a significant contender in the pursuit of environmentally sustainable alternatives to inorganic fertilizers. This solution not only nourishes our crops but also confers countless benefits to our valued earth. The current study reveals the vermiwash advantages, peculiarities of its preparation and the legal considerations that guarantee its organic integrity. The usage of vermiwash not only improves soil fertility and microbial activity but also increases the accessibility of nutrients to the plant, enhances root development and more. In the entire process of vermiwash preparation, earthworms play a crucial role, so the present study has also emphasized earthworms’ habitat and their distribution alongwith the mechanism involved in vermiwash preparation. There are several methods used to produce vermiwash including the Eco-Science Research Foundation technique, the heat stress method, the cold stress application and the field approach. Apart from its preparation and advantages, this study also incorporates legal aspects related to organic fertilizer production, distribution and labelling abode by several provisions, including 2OO, Clause 18, Clause 29 1A and 1B, Clause 29 C, Clause 29 D and Clause 30. Present review on vermiwash can contribute to bring out agriculture from jeopardised situations, such as desertification, salinity, sodicity and infertility.
Keywords
Vermiwash, sustainable agriculture, organic farming, earthworms
References
- Waqas, M., et al. 2023. Composting processes for agricultural waste management: A comprehsive review. Processes. 11(3): 731. DOI:10.3390/pr.1103 0 731.
- Mishra, K., et al. 2023. Waste-to-chemicals: Green solutions for bioeconomy markets. Sci. Total Env., 887. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164006.
- Singh, J., et al. 2023. Editorial: Vermiremediation in contaminated soils: An approach for soil stabilization. Frontiers Env. Sci., 11. DOI: 10.3389/fenvs. 2023.1137463.
- Gudeta, K., et al. 2021. Vermiwash: An agent of disease and pest control in soil a review. Heliyon. 7 (3): e06434. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06 434.
- Fokuo, K.O. 2022. Seaweeds pretreatment methods for long-term storage effect on nutrients, bioactive compounds and general sensory characteristics. Master’s Thesis. Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway.
- Datta, S., et al. 2016. Earthworms, pesticides and sustainable agriculture: A review. Env. Sci. Poll. Res., 23(9): 8227-8243. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6375-0.
- Loffredo, E., et al. 2019. Comparative assessment of metribuzinsorption efficiency of biochar hydrochar and vermicompost. J. Env. Sci. Health. Part B. 54(8): 728-735.
- Becagli, M., I. Arduini and B. Cardelli. 2022. Using biochar and vermiwash to improve biological activities of soil. Agric., 12(2): 178.
- Suresh, R., et al. 2019. Influence of vermiwash, vermicompost tea and vermicompost on arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and biomass of finger millet. Sydowia. 71: 279-284. DOI: 10.129005/0380. sydowia 71-2019-0279.
- Gopal, M., et al. 2010. Coconut leaf vermiwash: A bio-liquid from coconut leaf vermicompost for moving the crop production capacities of soil. Curr. Sci., 98(9): 1202-1210.
- Samal, K., et al. 2019. Application of vermitech-nology in waste management: A review on mechanism and performance. J. Env. Chem. Eng., 7(5): 103392.
- Gusain, R. and S. Suthar. 2020. Vermicomposting of invasive weed Ageratum conyzoids: Assessment of nutrient mineralization, enzymatic and microbial properties. Bioresour. Tech., 312: 123537.
- Churilova, E.V. and D.J. Midmore. 2019. Vermiliquor (vermicompost leachate) as a complete liquid fertilizer for hydroponically-grown pak choi (Brassica chinesis L.) in the tropics. Horticulturae. 5(1): 26.
- Daskaloudis, I. and D. F. Lekkas. 2021. Co-composing olive mill wastes with food residues and evaluation of the obtained compost maturity. J. Env. Eng., 147(1). DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.
- Sinha, S., et al. 2023. Municipal solid waste management: air pollution and its’ impact. Population. 18283: 17991.
- Singh, A., et al. 2020. Earthworms and vermico-mpost: An eco-friendly approach for repaying nature’s debt. Env. Geochem. Health. 42: 1617-1642.
- Chen, J., et al. 2023. Earthworms restructure the distribution of extracellular antibiotics resistance genes of sludge by modifying the structure of extracellular polymeric substances during vermi-composting. J. Hazard. Mater., 452. DOI: 10.1016/j. jhazdnat. 2023.131315.
- Tessfaw, Z.A., et al. 2020. Co-composting of khat-derived biochar with municipal solid water: A sustainable practice of waste management. Sustain., 12(24): 10668.
- Obsa, O., et al. 2022. Organic waste generation and its valourization potential through composting in Shashemene, southern Ehtiopia. Sustain., 14(6): 3660.
- Mutairi, S., et al. 2019. Deriving compost from municipal organic wastes in Saudi Arabia. Polish J. Env. Studies. 28(3): 1839-1845.
- Grandes-Blanco, A.I. 2020. Agro-food waste employed to design and develop culture media for fungal growth. J. Env. Biol., 4 (2): 195-201.
- Lou, J., et al. 2022. The mechanism of tubificidae in a sludge reduction system with Cr (VI) stress: An environmentally friendly scavenger. Env. Sci. Poll. Res., 30: 94803–94813.
- Pierre-Louis, R.C., et al. 2021. Potentiality of vermi-composting in the South Pacific Island countries: A review. Agric., 11(9): 876.
- Akinnuoye-Adelabu, D.B., et al. 2019. Effect of redworm extracts agains Fusarium root rot during wheat seedling emergence. Agronomy J., 11(5): 2610-2618.
- Kaur, G., et al. 2015. Growth efficiency and yield of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) as affected by foliar application of mineral nutrients. J. Plant Sci. Res., 2(2): 130.
- Rehman, S.U., et al. 2023. Vermicompost: In hancing plant growth and combating abiotic and biotic stress. Agronomy. 13 (4): 1134.
- Palakurthy, R. and J. P. Kesari. 2021. Solid waste management in urban areas: An urgent priority. In urban growth and environmental issues in India. pp 253-267.
- Layek, J., et al. 2023. An integrated organic farming system: Innovations for farm diversification, sustainability and livelihood improvement of hill farmers. Frontieres Sustain. Food Systems. 7: 1151113.
- Gopal, M. 2012. Coconut leaf vermiwash as a component of organic farming for sustaining soil health and fertility. CORD (Int. J. Coconut Res. Deve-lop.). 28(1): 34-42. DOI: 10.37833/cord.v28i1. 108.
- Vadamalaikrishnan, K. and M. Fathima. 2014. Effects of vermiwash and plant growth regulators on growth and stem anatomy of Hibiscus cannabinus L. Int. J. Pharma. Sci. Res., 1190-1195. DOI: 10.1 3040/IJPSR.0975-8232.12(2).1190-95.
- Das, S.K., R.K. Avasthe and R. Gopi. 2014. Vermi-wash: use in organic agriculture for improved crop production. Popular Kheti. 2(4): 45-46.
- Sundarasu, K. and A. Jeyasankar. 2014. Effect of vermiwash on growth and yield of brinjal, Solanum melongena (eggplant or aubergine). Asian J. Sci. Tech., 5(3): 171-173.
- Samadhiya, H., et al. 2013. Effect of vermiwash on the growth stem of tomato plants. Int. J. Curr. Res., 5(10): 3020-3023.
- Akkopru, E.P. 2021. Effects of liquid vermicompost and synthetic NPK fertilizer sources on Myzus persicae Sulzer (Aphididae: Hemiptera) fed on tobacco. J. Plant Diseases Prot., 128(3): 789-798.
- Bhavya, K., et al. 2021. A review vermiwash: A plant growth booster and a disease supressor. Pharma Innov. J., SP-10(11): 2959-2962.
- Deepthi, M.P., et al. 2021. Effect of vermiwash prepared from livestock biowaste as vermiponics medium on the growth and biochemical indices of Amaranthus viridis L. Env. Tech. Innov., 21:101300.
- Khan, M.H., et al. 2014. Foliar spray with vermi-wash modifies the arbuscular mycorrhizal dependency and nutrient stoichiometry of bhut jolokia (Capsicum assamicum). PlosOne. 9(3): e92318.
- Tadayyon, A., M.M. Nacimi and M. Pessarakli. 2018. Effects of vermicompost and vermiwash biofertilizers on fenugreek (Trigonella foenum) plant. Communications Soil Sci. Plant Analysis. 49(19): 2396-2405.
- Ravindran, B., et al. 2016. Influence of microbial diversity and plant growth hormones in compost from fermented tannery waste. Bioresour. Tech., 217: 200-204.
- Fathima, M. 2023. Exploitation of cellulase producing bacterial strains from mangrove soils for rapid composting of leaf litter. Indian J. Ecol., 50(5): 1661-1665.
- Netwal, M., et al. 2023. Impact of micronutrients and organics on performance of sprouting broccoli (Brassica oleracea). Indian J. Agric. Sci., 93(4): 376-381.
- Yatoo, A.M., et al. 2021. Sustainable management of diseases and pests in crops by vermicompost and vermicompost tea: A review. Agron. Sustain. Develop., 41: 1-26.
- Esakkiammal, B., L. Lakshmibai and S. Sornalatha. 2015. Studies on the combined effect of vermicom-post and vermiwash prepared from organic wastes by earthworms on the growth and yield parameters of Dolichous lab. Asian J. Pharmaceutical Sci. Tech., 5(4): 246-252.
- Rajput, R.S., et al. 2021. Influence of seed biopri-ming and vermiwash treatment on tomato plant’s immunity and nutritional quality upon Selerotium rolfsii challenge inoculation. J. Plant Growth Regulation. 40(4): 1493-1509. DOI: 10. 1007/s00344-020-10205-1.
- Makkar, C., J. Singh and C. Parkash. 2019. Modulatory role of vermicompost and varmiwash on growth, yield and nutritional profiling of Linum usitatissimum L. (linseed): A field study. Env. Sci. Poll. Res., 26: 3006-3018.
- Foroozandeh, M., M. Davari and M. Varmazyar. 2015. Comparison of ordinary vermiwash and enriched vermiwash treated with herbal extract and aqua-biofertilizers.
- Hussain, N., et al. 2018. Intensification of vermi-technology for kitchen vegetable waste and paddy straw employing earthworm consortium: Assessment of maturity time, microbial community structure and economic benefit. J. Clean. Prod., 182: 414-426.
- Yadav, S., et al. 2023. Effect of liquid organic formulations on productivity and profitability of mung-bean crop under semi-arid environment of Rajas-than. Int. J. Plant Soil Sci., 35(22): 880-892.
- Kauser, H. and M. Khwairahkpam. 2022. Organic waste management by two-stage composting process to decrease the time required for vermicom-posting. Env. Tech. Innov., 25: 102193.
- Karasahin, M. 2023. Effects of vermicompost and inorganic fertilizer applications in different forms and doses on grain corn. J. Plant Nutrition. 46(13): 3002-3017.
- Thakur, A.K., et al. 2022. Advancements in solar technologies for sustainable development of agricultural sector in India: a comprehensive review on challenges and opportunities. Env. Sci. Poll. Res., 29(29): 43607-43634.
- Thakur, S. and A.K. Sood. 2019. Lethal and inhibitory activities of natural products and biopesticide formulations against Tetranychusurticae Koch (Acarina: Tetranychidae). Int. J. Acarol., 45(6-7): 381-390.
- Nayak, H., et al. 2019. Vermiwash: A potential tool for sustainable agriculture. J. Pharmacognosy Phytochem., 8(55): 308-312.
- Sivasabari, K., et al. 2023. Vermicompost and vermi-leachate in pest and disease management. In Vermicomposting for sustainable food systems in Africa. Springer Nature, Singapore. pp 279-
304. - Perez-Gomez, J., et al. 2017. Vermicompost and vermiwash minimized the influence of salinity stress on growth parameters in potato plants. Compost Sci. Utilization. 25(4): 282-287. DOI: 10.1080/1065 657X.2017.1333932.
- Abesekara, C.P., K.M. Mohotti and U.R. Sanga-kkara. 2007. Comparative analysis of the impact of vermiwash on the growth of selected crops. Doctoral Dissertation. University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
- Datta, M. G. 2021. Blended amendments: A sustainable approach for managing nutrient deficiency in rice fields. Env. Natural Resour. J., 19(6).
- Sharifi, P. 2022. The role of vermicompost and vermiliquer in conferring tolerance to biotic and abiotic stressess in organic farming system: A critical review. Tobacco Regulatory Sci., 1708-1731.
- Yassen, A.A., et al. 2020. Impact of vermicompost and foliar spray of vermiwash on growth, yield and nutritional status of lettuce plants. Plant Arch., 20(1): 449-455.
- Unuofin, F. O. and P.N.S. Mnkeni. 2014. Optimization of Eisenia fetida stocking density for the bioconversion of rock phosphate enriched cow dung–waste paper mixtures. Waste manage., 34 (11): 2000-2006.
- Karuna, K., C.R. Patil and P. Narayanswamy. 1999. Kale stimulatory effects of earthworm body fluid (vermiwash) on crinkle red varity of Vnthuriuman dreanumLind. Crop Res., 17(2): 253–257.
- Patnaik, P., et al. 2022. Vermiwash: An organic fertilizer of great potential. In Advances in sustainable development. Proceedings of HSFEA 2020. pp 15-27.
- Cottenie, A., M. Verloo and L. Kiekens. 1982. Chemical analysis of plants and soils. Laboratory of analytical agrochemistry, State University, Gent, Belgium. 42: 80-284.
- Kumari, S., A.K. Sood and P.K. Sharma. 2022. Toxicity of natural and organic insecticidal products to greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodesvaporariorum (westwood)(Aleyrodidae: Hemiptera). Himachal J. Agric. Res., 48(2): 307-311.
- Vidhyapriyadharshini, H. and A. Anburani. 2008. Effect of organic manures, inorganic fertilizers and vermiwash on growth and yield of mullai (Jasminum auriculatum). Plant Arch., 8(1): 119-123.
- Alshehrei, F. and F. Ameen. 2021. Vermicompos-ting: A management tool to mitigate solid waste. Saudi J. Biol. Sci., 28(6): 3284-3293.
