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Biotechnology for Agro-Industrial Residues Utilisation pp 431–456Cite as

Vermicomposting of Agro-Industrial Processing Waste

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Abstract

Agro-industrial wastes- wastes from agriculture, food processing or any cellulose based industries- remain largely unutilized and often cause environmental problems like dispersing foul odors, occupying vast areas, ground and surface water pollution etc. These wastes could be converted into potential renewable source of energy, if managed sustainably and scientifically. In the last few decades, vermicomposting technology has been arising as a sustainable tool for the efficient utilization of the agro-industrial processing wastes and to convert them into value added products for land restoration practices. The product of the process, i.e., vermicompost is humus like, finely granulated and friable material which can be used as a fertilizer to reintegrate the organic matter to the agricultural soils. The usability of the process depends upon several factors like raw material, various process conditions- pH, temperature, moisture, aeration etc., type of vermicomposting system and earthworm species used. The chapter briefly discusses with the process technology of vermicomposting and the present state of research in the vermicomposting of agro-industrial processing wastes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar 125001, Haryana, India

    V.K. Garg & Renuka Gupta

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  1. V.K. Garg
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  2. Renuka Gupta
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Life & Health Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland United Kingdom BT52 1SA

    Poonam Singh nee’ Nigam

  2. National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science & Technology CSIR, Industrial Estate PO, Trivandrum-695019, India

    Ashok Pandey

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Garg, V., Gupta, R. (2009). Vermicomposting of Agro-Industrial Processing Waste. In: Singh nee’ Nigam, P., Pandey, A. (eds) Biotechnology for Agro-Industrial Residues Utilisation. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9942-7_24

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