| Autor: |
Georgina D. Arthur, K. K. Naidoo, Harry Swatson, K. S. Yobo |
| Rok vydání: |
2017 |
| Předmět: |
|
| DOI: |
10.1016/b978-0-12-811413-1.00015-2 |
| Popis: |
Composting is nature’s way of recycling nutrients to sustain soil fertility. Human population growth and enhanced industrialization have resulted in the production of high quantities of degradable waste that need proper disposal. Inappropriate monitoring of waste biomass has contributed to the emission of greenhouse gases and contaminated water and soil. Composted wastes include agricultural residue, animal manure, cafeteria waste, and paper. Agents involved in composting are detritivores that break the substrate to speed up biological processes. Earthworms are great biodegraders and together with their microbial counterparts break renewable into ecologically safe vermicompost and vermileachate. In situ and ex situ recycling of waste can be practically undertaken in an environmentally acceptable and economically feasible manner to reduce the cost of waste disposal. This can improve the socioeconomic status of both small scale and commercial farmers. Earthworms hasten the mineralization of organic matter and breakdown of structural polysaccharides and increase humification rates and leachate production. The world’s best worm composter of biomass Eisenia fetida (red wriggler) offer favorable and commercially acceptable products. Soil amendment by worms improves soil health, plant growth, and suppresses pathogens. Vermicomposting provides a means of handling high volumes of accessible organic wastes from livestock for raising crop organically. Managing excess manure in a sustainable way that prevents ecosystem pollution. This chapter discusses efficient production and use of a complex living system—“black gold” (vermicompost)—as a renewable source of plant nutrients. |
| Databáze: |
OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|
