Son_of_a_Batch
Active member
Embarking on a second green revolution for
sustainable agriculture by vermiculture biotechnology
using earthworms: Reviving the dreams of Sir Charles
Darwin
Rajiv K. Sinha1*, Dalsukh Valani1, Krunal Chauhan1 and Sunita Agarwal2sustainable agriculture by vermiculture biotechnology
using earthworms: Reviving the dreams of Sir Charles
Darwin
1School of Engineering (Environment), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, QLD-4111, Australia.
2University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India.
Accepted 14 July, 2010
Vermiculture biotechnology promises to usher in the ‘Second Green Revolution’ by completely
replacing the destructive agro-chemicals which did more harm than good to both the farmers and
their farmland. Earthworms restore and improve soil fertility and significantly boost crop
productivity. Earthworms excreta (vermicast) is a nutritive ‘organic fertilizer’ rich in humus, NKP,
micronutrients, beneficial soil microbes - ‘nitrogen-fixing and phosphate solubilizing bacteria’ and
‘actinomycets’ and growth hormones ‘auxins’, ‘gibberlins’ and ‘cytokinins’. Both earthworms and its
vermicast and body liquid (vermiwash) are scientifically proving as both ‘growth promoters and
protectors’ for crop plants. In the experiments with corn and wheat crops, tomato and egg-plants it
displayed excellent growth performances in terms of height of plants, colour and texture of leaves,
appearance of flowers and fruits, seed ears etc, as compared to chemical fertilizers and the
conventional compost. There is also less incidences of ‘pest and disease attack’ and ‘reduced
demand of water’ for irrigation in plants grown on vermicompost. Presence of live earthworms in soil
also makes significant difference in flower and fruit formation in vegetable crops. Earthworms
biomass, a byproduct of VBT is rich in ‘high quality protein’ and source of nutritive feed materials for
fishery, poultry and dairy industries and also for human consumption.
http://www.academicjournals.org/JABSD/PDF/Pdf2010/August/Sinha et al.pdf
good read if your in to worms!
replacing the destructive agro-chemicals which did more harm than good to both the farmers and
their farmland. Earthworms restore and improve soil fertility and significantly boost crop
productivity. Earthworms excreta (vermicast) is a nutritive ‘organic fertilizer’ rich in humus, NKP,
micronutrients, beneficial soil microbes - ‘nitrogen-fixing and phosphate solubilizing bacteria’ and
‘actinomycets’ and growth hormones ‘auxins’, ‘gibberlins’ and ‘cytokinins’. Both earthworms and its
vermicast and body liquid (vermiwash) are scientifically proving as both ‘growth promoters and
protectors’ for crop plants. In the experiments with corn and wheat crops, tomato and egg-plants it
displayed excellent growth performances in terms of height of plants, colour and texture of leaves,
appearance of flowers and fruits, seed ears etc, as compared to chemical fertilizers and the
conventional compost. There is also less incidences of ‘pest and disease attack’ and ‘reduced
demand of water’ for irrigation in plants grown on vermicompost. Presence of live earthworms in soil
also makes significant difference in flower and fruit formation in vegetable crops. Earthworms
biomass, a byproduct of VBT is rich in ‘high quality protein’ and source of nutritive feed materials for
fishery, poultry and dairy industries and also for human consumption.
http://www.academicjournals.org/JABSD/PDF/Pdf2010/August/Sinha et al.pdf
good read if your in to worms!
