CONCLUSION
Treatment of solid organic wastes is an essential part of the waste management programmes almost all over the world. Existing methods to the treatment and disposal of organic wastes are rather expensive. Vermicomposting is one of the best known technologies available at present for the proper handling of the organic wastes. It is the process of turning organic debris by earthworms into worm castings or vermicompost. This process of treating organic residuals represents an alternative approach in waste management and is compatible with sound environmental principles that value conservation of resources and sustainable practices.
Vermicomposting technology is known throughout the world and is one of the fastest growing sectors for recycling of organic wastes in waste management. In North America, Europe, Asia and African regions, and in several other countries earthworms are being used for various waste treatment options. They could help waste managers for minimizing waste input to landfills and saving precious groundwater resources. In addition, vermicomposting will be helpful for managing domestic solid waste problems and could stabilize wastes with low toxicity, pathogens and heavy metals. The solid waste management could successfully promote vermicomposting as a viable alternative for the disposal of solid wastes.
Vermicomposting in developing countries could prove to be useful in many instances. Some aspects of the process may be labour intensive when mechanized equipment such as front-end loaders, trommel screens, tractors, etc., are not available to handle large volumes of material. In areas where creation of low or semi-skilled jobs is considered advantageous, vermicomposting may supply an opportunity for employment. Where accumulation of food waste, paper, cardboard, agriculture waste, manures, and biosolids are problematical, composting and vermicomposting offer good potential to turn waste material into a valuable soil amendment.
Vermitechnology is a natural contributor for farming and gardening as the worm castings are very important to the fertility of the soil. The castings contain high amounts of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. Castings contain: 5 times the available nitrogen, 7 times the available potash, and 1½ times more calcium than found in good topsoil. Several researchers have demonstrated that earthworm castings have excellent aeration, porosity, structure, drainage, and moisture-holding capacity. The content of the earthworm castings, along with the natural tillage by the worms burrowing action, enhances the permeability of water in the soil. Worm castings can hold close to nine times their weight in water. “Vermiconversion,” or using earthworms to convert waste into soil additives, has been done on a relatively small scale for some time.