Introduction

·       Vermicomposting Is A Mesophilic Biooxidation And Stabilisation Process Of Organic Materials That Involves The Joint Action Of Earthworm And Microorganism.

·       Compared With Composting, Vermicomposting Has Higher Rate Of Stabilisation And It Is Greatly Modifying Its Physical And Biochemical Properties, With Low C : N Ratio And Homogenous End Product.

·       It Is Also Cost Effective And Ecofriendly Ecofriendly Waste Management

·       Due To Its Innate Biological, Biochemical And Physicochemical Properties, Vermicomposting Can Be Used To Promote Sustainable Ruminant Manure Management.

·       Vermicomposts Are Excellent Sources Of Biofertiliser And Their Addition Improves The Physiochemical And Biological Properties Of Agricultural Soils.

·       In Addition, Earthworms From The Vermicomposting Can Beused As Source Of Protein To Fishes And Monogastric Animals.

COMPOSTING AND VERMICOMPOSTING INTEGRATION

·       Composting Is The Process Of Aerobic Decomposition Of Organic Waste Through Microorganisms, Whereas Vermicomposting Involves The Combination Of Both The Microorganisms And The Earthworms.

·       Some Studies Propose That Vermicomposting Process Lacks The Ability To Kill Pathogens, Hence It Is Considered As The Major Draw Back Of Vermicomposting Process When Compared With Thermophilic Composting.

·       The Optimum Optimum Temperature Temperature For Earthworms Earthworms In Vermicomposting  Process Is Considered Up To 35˚C, Whereas In Conventional Composting (Including Thermophilic Composting), It May Reach Up To70˚c.

·       Therefore, Vermicomposting Process Does Not Attain The Favorable Temperature To Kill Pathogens, And If The Temperature Exceeds35˚c, It May Lead To The Death Of Earthworms Which Further Stop The Process Of Vermicomposting.

·       Biologically, Vermicomposts Contain Diverse Nature Of Microbial Populations That Are More Diverse And Larger When Compared With The Thermophilic Composts

·       In This Scenario, An Integrated Approach Has Been Introduced Composed Of Both Composting And Vermicomposting Processes To Achieve Better Output.

·       There Can Be Two Possibilities That Are Generally Proposed For Integrated Approach Of Composting And Vermicomposting Vermicomposting:

·       Prevermicomposting Prevermicomposting Followed By Composting Or

·       Precomposting Followed By Vermicomposting.

·       By Using The Second Approach, Gajalakshmi Et Al.[26] Achieved Better Output By High-Rate Composting Of Water Hyacinth Before Vermicomposting