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Earthworms and vermicompost: an eco-friendly approach for repaying nature’s debt

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Abstract

The steady increase in the world’s population has intensified the need for crop productivity, but the majority of the agricultural practices are associated with adverse effects on the environment. Such undesired environmental outcomes may be mitigated by utilizing biological agents as part of farming practice. The present review article summarizes the analyses of the current status of global agriculture and soil scenarios; a description of the role of earthworms and their products as better biofertilizer; and suggestions for the rejuvenation of such technology despite significant lapses and gaps in research and extension programs. By maintaining a close collaboration with farmers, we have recognized a shift in their attitude and renewed optimism toward nature-based green technology. Based on these relations, it is inferred that the application of earthworm-mediated vermitechnology increases sustainable development by strengthening the underlying economic, social and ecological framework.

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Adopted from Lemtiri et al. (2014)

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea (No. 20163010092250). We are also highly thankful to the Director and Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Sustainable Development and Banaras Hindu University for the provision of research funding. The authors are also grateful for the research collaboration among institutes and universities. The authors are thankful to RUSA scheme Phase 2.0 grant [F-24-51/2014–U, Policy (TNMulti-Gen), Dept of Edn, Govt. of India. Dt. 09.10.2018] for their financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, 221 011, India

    Archana Singh & Gopal Shankar Singh

  2. Department of Botany, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Salem, Tamil Nadu, 636 007, India

    Natchimuthu Karmegam

  3. Department of Zoology, Feroze Gandhi College, Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, 229 001, India

    Tunira Bhadauria

  4. Department of Evironmental Energy and Engineering, Kyonggi University, Youngtong Gu, Suwon, 16227, South Korea

    Soon Woong Chang & Balasubramani Ravindran

  5. Department for Management of Science and Technology Development, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Balasubramani Ravindran

  6. Faculty of Environment and Labour Safety, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Balasubramani Ravindran

  7. College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi Province, China

    Mukesh Kumar Awasthi

  8. Department of Biotechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, 627 012, India

    Sivasubramaniam Sudhakar

  9. Center for Environmental Nuclear Research, Directorate of Research, SRM institute of science and technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603 203, India

    Kantha Deivi Arunachalam

  10. Department of Animal Health and Management, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, 630 003, India

    Muniyandi Biruntha

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Singh, A., Karmegam, N., Singh, G.S. et al. Earthworms and vermicompost: an eco-friendly approach for repaying nature’s debt. Environ Geochem Health 42, 1617–1642 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00510-4

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