Abstract
Fungi are active degrading initiators of organic matter
in soils as many substrates are first populated by sugar fungi e.g.,
Mucorales. Vermicomposting is now well known and is generally a
good organic fertilizer majorly populated by bacteria i.e., nitrogen
fixers, sulphur bacteria and phosphate solubilizers. The use of
vermicompost in introducing these components into the soil leads to
improvement of soil health thereby yielding nutritious food which
consequently contributes to human health. A number of organic foliar
sprays constitute of components similar to plant growth promoter
substances. For example, vermiwash is a good liquid fertilizer proven
to harbor plant growth promoting substances. Humification may be
supported by vermiwash which also, by virtue of its quality may
increase microbial actions to produce enzymes and compounds
promoting plant growth. The compounds present in vermiwash may
not independently foster plant growth but possibly promote plant
growth along with beneficial soil microbes. These products are
known to improve soil health and in presence of other products i.e.,
Gunapasela and Panchagavya can offer healthy nutrition from soil to
plant. In recent times, insistent use of soil pollutants in forms of
chemical fertilizers as against organic practices has negatively
impacted surrounding soils, and in extreme cases surface and
groundwater reserves. Lately, genetically modified substances (GMS)
are used to nurse plants (with consequential impacts on the soil and
invariably on human health) in contrast to, organic measures which
nurses the soil (improving cluster of biotic elements and nutrients
proportionately mixed) for uptake by plants, consequently leading to
healthier soils and food produce beneficial for human health. For this
reason, the paper highlights the efficacy of earthworms as a
sustainable eco-friendly option constructively engineering soil and
human health with minimal environmental and ecological impact.