12.6.4 Collection of Vermicompost
After the formation of vermicompost, the sprinkling of water is stopped to ensure the
migration of earthworms to deeper layers of vermibed. Then the topmost loose layer
of soil along with worm casts is collected, sundried and crushed. This final product
which is harvested from vermibed is a vermifertilizer. This vermicompost is a
nutrient-rich fertilizer which can be used for the growth of plants in the agricultural
fields.
12.7 Overall Benefits of Vermicomposting
Vermicomposting process conserves water, energy and land resources that are
required for waste treatment by aerobic composting. Vermicomposting is fast and
has low cost and sustainable method for organic waste treatment by earthworms,
with the advantage of getting good-quality compost. The earthworms can hold
nutrients for a longer period without impacting the environment. Vermicompost
requires no curing like in aerobic composting. The overall time duration and cost for
processing the waste are substantially reduced, besides the process has on toxic
by-products or waste materials.
12.8 Conclusion
Parthenium weed can be properly managed with large-scale production of
vermicompost using epigeic earthworm species. The vermicompost produced from
Parthenium weed will be nutrient-rich and odour-free. Parthenium weed
vermicompost can be used as biofertilizers in the agricultural fields which can give
a better plant growth without degrading the environment. This would give benefits to
the national economy as widespread use of this technology would lead to less import
of agrochemicals, reduced wasteland formation and better environmental management of low cost and by-product recovery. Therefore it is recommended that
recycling of this weed as composted manure should be done to reduce its toxic
and poisonous effects and resource generation.
References
Abbasi SA, Ramasamy EV (2001) Solid waste management with earthworms. Discovery Publishing House, New Delhi
Adkins S, Shabbir A (2014) Biology, ecology and management of the invasive parthenium weed
(Parthenium hysterophorus L.). Pest Manag Sci 70(7):1023–1029
12 Vermicomposting of Parthenium hysterophorus L.: A Solution to Weed. . .
205
After the formation of vermicompost, the sprinkling of water is stopped to ensure the
migration of earthworms to deeper layers of vermibed. Then the topmost loose layer
of soil along with worm casts is collected, sundried and crushed. This final product
which is harvested from vermibed is a vermifertilizer. This vermicompost is a
nutrient-rich fertilizer which can be used for the growth of plants in the agricultural
fields.
12.7 Overall Benefits of Vermicomposting
Vermicomposting process conserves water, energy and land resources that are
required for waste treatment by aerobic composting. Vermicomposting is fast and
has low cost and sustainable method for organic waste treatment by earthworms,
with the advantage of getting good-quality compost. The earthworms can hold
nutrients for a longer period without impacting the environment. Vermicompost
requires no curing like in aerobic composting. The overall time duration and cost for
processing the waste are substantially reduced, besides the process has on toxic
by-products or waste materials.
12.8 Conclusion
Parthenium weed can be properly managed with large-scale production of
vermicompost using epigeic earthworm species. The vermicompost produced from
Parthenium weed will be nutrient-rich and odour-free. Parthenium weed
vermicompost can be used as biofertilizers in the agricultural fields which can give
a better plant growth without degrading the environment. This would give benefits to
the national economy as widespread use of this technology would lead to less import
of agrochemicals, reduced wasteland formation and better environmental management of low cost and by-product recovery. Therefore it is recommended that
recycling of this weed as composted manure should be done to reduce its toxic
and poisonous effects and resource generation.
References
Abbasi SA, Ramasamy EV (2001) Solid waste management with earthworms. Discovery Publishing House, New Delhi
Adkins S, Shabbir A (2014) Biology, ecology and management of the invasive parthenium weed
(Parthenium hysterophorus L.). Pest Manag Sci 70(7):1023–1029
12 Vermicomposting of Parthenium hysterophorus L.: A Solution to Weed. . .
205