Earthworms – the environmental engineers: review of vermiculture technologies for environmental management and resource development

Kanhaiyaa Sinha (), Sunil Herat, Dalsukh Valani and Krunal Chauhan

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2010, vol. 10, issue 3/4, 265-292

Abstract: Earthworms are being used to manage most organic wastes; treat wastewater; clean-up chemically contaminated soils; improve soil fertility and produce food crops. Their use in production of life-saving medicines and raw materials for industries are some new discoveries. We have successfully experimented in vermicomposting of 'MSW', vermifiltration of 'municipal & industrial wastewater', vermiremediation of chemically contaminated soils' and production of 'cereal & vegetables crops' with amazing results. Wastes are degraded by over 75% faster, BOD and TDSS of wastewater is reduced by over 95% and growths of crop plants are enhanced by 30–40% higher over chemical fertilisers.

Keywords: waste vermicomposting; wastewater vermifiltration; vermiremediation; contaminated land; soil contamination; vermi-agroproduction; organic foods; vermicompost; nutritive biofertilisers; earthworms; biomass; pharmaceutical industry; wastewater treatment; cereal; vegetables. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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