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International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Review Article
Earthworms and vermiproducts: Eco-friendly approaches to sustainable agriculture
Bharathi A
Year : 2026 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 137-139
Received on: 22/04/2026
Revised on: 20/05/2026
Accepted on: 24/06/2026
Published on: 01/07/2026
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Bharathi A( 2026).
Earthworms and vermiproducts: Eco-friendly approaches to sustainable agriculture
. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 11( 4), 137-139.
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Abstract
Vermiculture and vermicomposting are sustainable biotechnological processes that utilize earthworms for the conversion of organic wastes into nutrient-rich organic manure. Earthworms function as natural bioreactors by fragmenting, digesting, and biologically transforming agricultural residues, municipal solid wastes, household organic wastes, and other biodegradable materials into stable vermicompost. During this process, earthworms interact synergistically with beneficial microorganisms, enhancing microbial activity, nutrient mineralization, and the production of plant growth-promoting substances. Vermicompost is rich in humus, essential macro- and micronutrients, beneficial enzymes, and microbial populations that improve soil fertility, soil structure, water-holding capacity, and crop productivity while suppressing several soil-borne plant pathogens. Earthworm species used in vermicomposting are classified into epigeic, endogeic, and anecic groups based on their ecological functions, with epigeic species such as Eisenia fetida being the most suitable for organic waste decomposition. Vermicomposting has emerged as an eco-friendly and cost-effective waste management technology widely adopted in agriculture, horticulture, and environmental conservation. This review summarizes the biological role of earthworms, the vermicomposting process, earthworm–microbe interactions, classification of earthworms, and the agricultural and environmental significance of vermicompost.
Keywords
Vermiculture, Worms, Compost, Garbage, Farmers.
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© The Author(s) 2025. This article is published by International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
