EARTHWORM CASTING – AN OVERVIEW

For the last millions of years, earthworm castings were the richest and best of all known fertility improvers. Earthworm casting have many diverse functions beyond improving soil fertility. Annual cast production by different species and in different habitats are different and during monsoon it is highest in tropical countries. The casts may be of different forms viz. columnar, spheroid, pyramidal, granular, thread like and composite irregular aggregates. Earthworm castings have a variety of micro-and macronutrients which help in plant growth and the overall health of the soil. Each of the nutrients - especially nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus - is essential to plant growth. Castings contain a multitude of living bacteria, fungi, and other microscopic organisms, which are beneficial to plants and soil environment. Suitable species such as Eisenia fetida, Eudrilus euginae and Perionyx excavatus are used in the process of waste conversion known as vermicomposting.