Vermicomposting: earthworms as potent bioresources for biomass conversion

Abstract The concept of vermicomposting has been evolved through the practice of producing value added organic manures for the crop plants. Although quite a considerable amount of research has been conducted in last few decades on several aspects (feed stock composition, earthworm species, density, time, nutrient value, pollutant removal, microbial diversity, etc.) of the vermitechnology; a focused review on its significance for biomass utilization is rare in the literature. In this chapter, the basic science of the vermicomposting technology has been dealt along with the ecological requirements of the commonly used earthworm species. The microbial diversity of the vermicompost and earthworm gut environment has been showcased with special emphasis on the response of the microbial communities toward varied kinds of feedstocks. Moreover, a critical account on the prospect of technological upgradation for greater application has been presented. Furthermore, the chapter highlights the unique pollutant detoxification mechanisms of different earthworm species.