Earlier it was thought that vermicompost produced from Parthenium weed may
be toxic to soil or plants as Parthenium is a toxic weed. Recent studies conducted by
Hussain et al. (2016) revealed that vermicompost generated from Parthenium by
using Eisenia fetida has none of the allelopathy and soil or plant or animal toxicity
associated with Parthenium. It rather has enhanced the plant growth.
12.3 Vermitechnology
Vermitechnology is a simple technology with low investment, which does not need
sophisticated infrastructure and can be adopted for the management of organic
wastes more effectively.
12.3.1 Vermitechnology Has Two Components
1. Vermiculture: It means a scientific method of breeding and rearing the specific
variety of earthworms in controlled conditions. Vermiculture was started in the
middle of the twentieth century, and the first experiment was set up in Holland in
1970 and then in England and Canada, while other countries that are engaged in
this technology are the USA, Mexico, West Germany, Italy, etc. Culturing of
earthworms can be done indoors in humid places with proper shelter to avoid
direct sunlight or heavy downpour. The culturing can be done in vermary, cattle
shed or any other congenial place. Cement tanks, wooden boxes or plastic trays of
approximately 1 m  1 m  0.3 m size, which accommodate 1000 worms, may
be used as containers. These containers should be covered to prevent the escape
of worms. Water is to be sprinkled on the bed to get a moisture level of 40–50%.
For bedding materials, saw dust or husk, fine sand or layer of garden soil is used.
The earthworms are introduced in the pit, and organic waste is added to the
vermipit which is converted into vermicasts and vermicompost by the
earthworms.
2. Vermicomposting: It is the bioconversion of organic waste materials through
earthworm consumption. Earthworms are cultured and reared by providing
them proper living conditions and then feeding them with organic wastes like
postharvest stribbles; sugarcane thrash; coir waste; paper pulp; faecal matter of
cow, sheep and, horse; activated sludge; biogas sludges of poultry droppings;
slaughter house wastes; municipal solid wastes; etc.
The overall products of vermitechnology, vermicompost and earthworms are utilized
in various ways (Fig. 12.1).
12 Vermicomposting of Parthenium hysterophorus L.: A Solution to Weed. . .
199
be toxic to soil or plants as Parthenium is a toxic weed. Recent studies conducted by
Hussain et al. (2016) revealed that vermicompost generated from Parthenium by
using Eisenia fetida has none of the allelopathy and soil or plant or animal toxicity
associated with Parthenium. It rather has enhanced the plant growth.
12.3 Vermitechnology
Vermitechnology is a simple technology with low investment, which does not need
sophisticated infrastructure and can be adopted for the management of organic
wastes more effectively.
12.3.1 Vermitechnology Has Two Components
1. Vermiculture: It means a scientific method of breeding and rearing the specific
variety of earthworms in controlled conditions. Vermiculture was started in the
middle of the twentieth century, and the first experiment was set up in Holland in
1970 and then in England and Canada, while other countries that are engaged in
this technology are the USA, Mexico, West Germany, Italy, etc. Culturing of
earthworms can be done indoors in humid places with proper shelter to avoid
direct sunlight or heavy downpour. The culturing can be done in vermary, cattle
shed or any other congenial place. Cement tanks, wooden boxes or plastic trays of
approximately 1 m  1 m  0.3 m size, which accommodate 1000 worms, may
be used as containers. These containers should be covered to prevent the escape
of worms. Water is to be sprinkled on the bed to get a moisture level of 40–50%.
For bedding materials, saw dust or husk, fine sand or layer of garden soil is used.
The earthworms are introduced in the pit, and organic waste is added to the
vermipit which is converted into vermicasts and vermicompost by the
earthworms.
2. Vermicomposting: It is the bioconversion of organic waste materials through
earthworm consumption. Earthworms are cultured and reared by providing
them proper living conditions and then feeding them with organic wastes like
postharvest stribbles; sugarcane thrash; coir waste; paper pulp; faecal matter of
cow, sheep and, horse; activated sludge; biogas sludges of poultry droppings;
slaughter house wastes; municipal solid wastes; etc.
The overall products of vermitechnology, vermicompost and earthworms are utilized
in various ways (Fig. 12.1).
12 Vermicomposting of Parthenium hysterophorus L.: A Solution to Weed. . .
199