greater than in the surrounding
soil. However, E. coli, salmonella and other pathogens are destroyed due to competition
from the active microflora and intestinal secretions. Most of the human pathogens
are anaerobic and cannot survive in the highly aerobic micro-environment created
by the earthworms.
Earthworms produce castings with balanced plant nutrients.
Vermicompost also has immobilised micro flora which continue their function in
the soil. It is rich in vitamins, enzymes, antibiotics and growth hormones.
Earthworms
play a key role in soil biology by serving as bioreactors to effectively harness
the beneficial soil microflora and destroy soil pathogens, thus converting organic
wastes into valuable Bio-Fertilizer with Bio-Pesticides, Vitamins, Enzymes, Antibiotics,
Growth Hormones and Protein rich worm mass.
| S.# | Parameter*
| Vermi compost |
| 1 | pH | 6.80 |
| 2. | EC (mmhos/cm)**
| 11.70 |
| 3. | Total Kjeldahl nitrogen(%)*** | 1.94 |
| 4 | Nitrate nitrogen (ppm)****
| 902.20 |
| 5 | Phosphorous (%)
| 0.47 |
| 6 | Potassium
(%) | 0.70 |
| 7 | Calcium (%) | 4.40 |
| 8 | Sodium (%) | 0.02 |
| 9 | Magnesium
(%) | 0.46 |
| 10 | Iron (ppm) | 7563.00 |
| 11 | Zinc (ppm) | 278.00 |
| 12 | Manganese
(ppm) | 475.00 |
| 13 | Copper (ppm) | 27.00 |
| 14 | Boron (ppm)
| 34.00 |
| 15 | Aluminum
(ppm)
| 7012.00 |
| * | Units- ppm=parts per million mmhos/cm=millimhos
per centimeter |
| ** | EC = electrical conductivity is a
measure (millimhos per centimeter) of the relative salinity of soil or the amount
of soluble salts it contains. |
| *** | Kjeldahl nitrogen
= is a measure of the total percentage of nitrogen in the sample including that
in the organic matter. |
| **** | Nitrate nitrogen = that
nitrogen in the sample that is immediately available for plant uptake by the roots. |
