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Production of Commercial Products by Vermiculture and Vermicomposting
Published in Prakash K. Sarangi, Latika Bhatia, Biotechnology for Waste Biomass Utilization, 2023
Dowluru S. V. G. K. Kaladhar, Tantravahi Srinivasan
The mobility of the earthworms through the soil and its burrowing activity changes the pattern of soil component distribution and this phenomenon is known as bioturbation (Lavelle, 1988; Binet et al., 2006; Chan, 2001). The process enhances the aeration and water percolation of the soil (Figure 9.7). Therefore, the loosening of the soil and its components will increase the oxidoreduction of the components, and also the imbibition of water leads to further decomposition. Thus, bioturbation permits quicker degradation. Moreover, earthworms cause multiple indirect chemical and biological effects. The biostructures like middens, casts, etc. are rich in microbial and fauna diversity and are also sites of extracellular enzymes. The middens being nutrient-rich are abundant in mesofauna diversity and microorganisms. Casts and other drilosphere components also host diverse fauna and microorganisms especially arthropods, bacteria that also contribute to the further degradation of all components including plastic.
Enhancement of Bioprocesses for the Reclamation of Impacted Environment
Published in Akinola Rasheed Popoola, Emeka Godfrey Nwoba, James Chukwuma Ogbonna, Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji, Nwadiuto (Diuto) Esiobu, Abdulrazak B. Ibrahim, Benjamin Ewa Ubi, Bioenergy and Environmental Biotechnology for Sustainable Development, 2022
Beckley Ikhajiagbe, Geoffrey O. Anoliefo, Francis Aibuedefe Igiebor, Saheed Ibrahim Musa
Improvement in bioremediation technology may also involve enhancing capacity for production of metabolites and degradative enzymes by soil biological sentinels like earthworms. Vermiremediation is the utilization of earthworms to tidy up contaminants from the soil (Asubiaro et al., 2018). Studies on the possible utilization of animals, for example, earthworms in remediation of various pollutants have yielded a positive outcome (Gifford et al., 2006). Njoku et al. (2016) have seen that earthworms are tolerant to, and can expel, or help the expulsion of a wide scope of organic and inorganic contaminants, for example, pesticides, PAHs, crude oil, and heavy metals from the soil. It can likewise improve the remediation activities of the microbial community of the soil with the assistance of a novel microorganism got from the earthworm activities. A few scientists prescribed the potential ways to deal with vermiremediation which incorporates direct use of earthworms to contaminated soils and co-use of earthworms to polluted soils (Hickman, 2008; Dada, 2015).
Intrusion of Biotechnology for Degradation of Organic Wastes
Published in Rouf Ahmad Bhat, Moonisa Aslam Dervash, Khalid Rehman Hakeem, Khalid Zaffar Masoodi, Environmental Biotechnology, 2022
Rubiya Dar, Baba Uqab, Shah Ishfaq, Saleem Farooq, Riasa Zaffar, Hina Mushtaq
Vermicomposting is the process of the production of compost through earthworm action. It is an eco-biotechnological process that converts organic substances rich in energy into stabilized vermin-compost-like humus products. Vermi compost preparation is an effective as well as easily adopted compost preparation technique. Not only can this composting system decompose a huge amount of organic waste but it also helps to maintain a higher nutrient status in composted materials (Bajsa et al., 2004; Lazcano and Domínguez, 2011; Hema and Rajkumar, 2012). An environmentally safe way to convert waste into nutritious compost for crop production is the earthworm vermicomposting technology (Edward et al., 1985; Yadav and Garg, 2011). In addition, this technology transforms the problem into a resource through the processing of waste and provides good manure that can be used to improve the soil quality (Azarmi et al., 2008).
Behavioral and Oxidative Stress Responses of Earthworm, Nsukkadrilus mbae (Segun 1976), Exposed to Lead and Cadmium: A Preliminary Investigation
Published in Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal, 2021
Ifeanyi O. Aguzie, Kenechukwu D. Enekwe, Ijeoma J. Emekekwue, Chinweike N. Asogwa, Grace C. Onyishi, Ndubuisi S. Oluah, Felicia N. Ekeh, Christopher D. Nwani
Previous researchers have shared the view that earthworms can survive in contaminated soils by avoiding contaminated soil patches (Langdon et al. 2001; Mather and Christensen 1998; Schaefer 2003). The same can be said of N. mbae, based on their behaviour in the Pb and Cd-contaminated soil. The avoidance could even attain the level of escape attempts, as we noticed in our study: the earthworm 66.7% of the time crawled and wriggled out of the container of 500 µg/g Pb-spiked soil. Thus, where the earthworm was on a very highly contaminated soil patch, it preferred not to burrow, but escaped from the patch and searched out for uncontaminated or less contaminated patches. But unfortunately, when all patches of soil was contaminated, despite the attempts at avoidance of contaminants, the earthworm ends up burrowing into the contaminated soil, even at high pollution level. A situation that could be likened to a survival dilemma – stay out of the soil and die of desiccation or burrow into the contaminated soil and contend with its toxicity.
Benefits of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in reducing organic contaminant residues in crops: Implications for cleaner agricultural production
Published in Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2020
Fayuan Wang, Catharine A. Adams, Weiwei Yang, Yuhuan Sun, Zhaoyong Shi
Earthworms are of great importance in improving soil fertility and structure (Lavelle, 1988), and for increasing crop growth and productivity (Bertrand et al., 2015). More importantly, earthworms can directly and indirectly influence the behavior, bioavailability, and toxicity of organic contaminants in soil and plants, thus facilitating their biodegradation (Gomez-Eyles, Sizmur, Collins, & Hodson, 2011; Hickman & Reid, 2008). Co-inoculation with AMF and earthworms enhanced the removal of PAHs (Lu & Lu, 2015) and PCBs (Lu, Lu, Peng, Wan, & Liao, 2014; Zhuo et al., 2011) from soil. In addition, inoculation with AMF and/or earthworms increased plant yield and the accumulation of PAHs and PCBs in plants. In a soil spiked with oxytetracycline, AMF hyphae and earthworms were shown to accelerate oxytetracycline degradation via stimulating certain bacteria and altering the microbial community (Cao, Ji, & Wang, 2015, Cao, Wang, Dou, Liu, & Ji2018). Given the importance of earthworms in soil fertility, crop nutrition, and contaminant degradation, the interaction between AMF and earthworms on contaminant residues and crop safety requires more attention.
Comparative study on the removal efficiency of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) using three different packings
Published in Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 2018
Shihua Pu, Zuohua Liu, Feiyun Yang, Dingbiao Long, Wen Liu, Hao Wang, Kaipei Huang, Xiu Huang
The advent of sustainable and ecological agriculture has resulted in the extensive utilization of earthworms in the current environmental protection industry (Gao et al. 2015; Xu, Zhang, and Li 2007; Yu et al. 2014). Earthworms and wormcast play important roles in low-carbon agriculture and agriculture circular economy (Zhou, Sun, and Shen 2012). Earthworms can loosen soil and thus may play a major role in farming, mixing, and repairing of soil, thereby improving soil fertility. Wormcast is generally more efficient in reducing ammonia and H2S in soil than earthworms because of its high specific surface area, high porosity, and abundance of microorganisms (Li 2005; Shang 2008). Cheng et al. (2015) reported that wormcast covering is highly efficient in reducing ammonia and H2S. Wang (2009) investigated the efficiency and potential applications of vermicomposting, or the conversion of cow dung by earthworms, on the removal of odorous gases. Scheu (1987) pointed out that earthworm manure might also be employed in removal odors emitted by fresh garbage. Currently, wormcasts are utilized as nutrition cushions or additives in the feed industry, whereas use of biological filter packing is limited and has yet to be explored.