the waste into a usable form (manure) without causing pollution and is totally
eco-friendly. The earthworms were confirmed to play a major and important role
in all the types of management by converting organic waste in black gold (Borowski
1995; Khwairakpam and Bhargava 2009). The different nature of wastes (solid and
liquid) can be managed by the various earthworm-assisted techniques.
17.3.1 Vermicomposting Technology
This technology converts organic waste into high-quality manure with the help of
earthworms. A vermicast is produced as the mutual action of the microorganisms
and earthworms. It is responsible to increase the nutrient contents of the waste. Other
secretions like coelomic fluid and mucilage of earthworms are responsible to stabilize the basic physicochemical properties of waste such as pH, EC, and TOC, which
are good for soil health. It is very efficient for municipal and industrial solid-waste
management (Bhat et al. 2015a; Sharma 2003).
17.3.2 Vermifiltration Technology
In this technology, liquid is extracted from the column of waste and earthworms. It is
also called earthworm-assisted wastewater engineering. In this, water is added from
the upper inlet of the column and collected from a lower outlet of the same. The
collected liquid contains all the types of nutrients (NPK), earthworm secretion
(enzymes and hormones) such as vermicompost. It is mainly used in floriculture. It
is also capable of managing all the types of wastes and wastewater (Samal et al.
2017; Singh et al. 2019). It also provides all the required nutrients for the best plant
growth.
17.3.3 Vermiremediation Technology
This technology uses earthworms to remove all the pollutants like heavy metals and
other harmful chemicals from the soil. It is very useful to clean all the contaminated
agricultural fields. It is also helpful to improve the soil health (Bhat et al. 2016;
Shrestha et al. 2019).
17 Earthworm-Assisted Amelioration of Thermal Ash
287
eco-friendly. The earthworms were confirmed to play a major and important role
in all the types of management by converting organic waste in black gold (Borowski
1995; Khwairakpam and Bhargava 2009). The different nature of wastes (solid and
liquid) can be managed by the various earthworm-assisted techniques.
17.3.1 Vermicomposting Technology
This technology converts organic waste into high-quality manure with the help of
earthworms. A vermicast is produced as the mutual action of the microorganisms
and earthworms. It is responsible to increase the nutrient contents of the waste. Other
secretions like coelomic fluid and mucilage of earthworms are responsible to stabilize the basic physicochemical properties of waste such as pH, EC, and TOC, which
are good for soil health. It is very efficient for municipal and industrial solid-waste
management (Bhat et al. 2015a; Sharma 2003).
17.3.2 Vermifiltration Technology
In this technology, liquid is extracted from the column of waste and earthworms. It is
also called earthworm-assisted wastewater engineering. In this, water is added from
the upper inlet of the column and collected from a lower outlet of the same. The
collected liquid contains all the types of nutrients (NPK), earthworm secretion
(enzymes and hormones) such as vermicompost. It is mainly used in floriculture. It
is also capable of managing all the types of wastes and wastewater (Samal et al.
2017; Singh et al. 2019). It also provides all the required nutrients for the best plant
growth.
17.3.3 Vermiremediation Technology
This technology uses earthworms to remove all the pollutants like heavy metals and
other harmful chemicals from the soil. It is very useful to clean all the contaminated
agricultural fields. It is also helpful to improve the soil health (Bhat et al. 2016;
Shrestha et al. 2019).
17 Earthworm-Assisted Amelioration of Thermal Ash
287