Earthworms - The Environmental Engineers: Review of Vermiculture Technologies for Environmental Management & Resource Development

Earthworms - The Environmental Engineers: Review of Vermiculture Technologies for Environmental Management & Resource Development

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* Rajiv K. Sinha 1, Sunil Herat 2 , Dalsukh Valani 3 and Krunal Chauhan 4
1 Adjunct Senior Lecturer,
Griffith School of Engineering, Griffith University,
Brisbane, Australia; QLD - 4111
Email: Rajiv.Sinha @griffith.edu.au
2 Senior Lecturer,
Griffith School of Engineering, Griffith University,
Brisbane, Australia; QLD - 4111
Email: s.herat @griffith.edu.au
3 Research Assistant (Vermiculture Project)
Griffith School of Engineering, Griffith University,
Brisbane, Australia; QLD - 4111
Email: valani1980@yahoo.com
4 Lecturer & Environmental Advisor
Institute of Technology, Surat University, India
Email: chauhan.kunall@gmail.com
* (Corresponding Author)
Abstract: Vermiculture is sustainable’ technology to manage most organic wastes; treat wastewater; clean-up chemically contaminated soils; improve soil fertility and produce food crops. Use of earthworms in production of life-saving medicines and raw materials for industries are some ‘new discoveries’. We have successfully experimented in vermicomposting of ‘MSW’, vermifiltration of ‘municipal & industrial wastewater’, vermiremediation of chemically contaminated soils’ and production of ‘cereal & vegetables crops’ with excellent results. Wastes are degraded by over 75 % faster, BOD and TDSS of wastewater is reduced by over 95 % and growths of crop plants are enhanced by 30-40 % higher over chemical fertilizers, by worms & vermicast.
Keywords: Vermicomposting of Wastes; Vermifiltration of Wastewater; Vermiremediation of Contaminated Lands; Vermi-agroproduction of Organic Foods; Vermicompost – Nutritive Biofertilizer; Earthworms Biomass - A Valuable Resource for Pharmaceutical Industries.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Sinha, R.K., Herat, S., and Valani, D. (2010) ‘Earthworms - The Environmental Engineers: Review of Vermiculture Technologies for Environmental Management & Resource Development ‘, Int. J. of Environmental Engineering, In Rajiv K Sinha, Sunil Herat & Sunita Agarwal (Eds.) Special Issue on