A minireview on vermicompost and vermiwash as green pesticide for sustainable crop production: Approaches, applications, and advancements

Indiscriminate use of chemicals is the main cause of reduction in crop yield as well as certain serious diseases. There is an increased demand of organic substitutes which can be met by production of technology that involves the use of organic and environment friendly fertilizers. Vermicompost and vermiwash are suitable substitute for chemical fertilizer. In vermicomposting, organic matter is exposed to bacteria and enzymes of earthworm gut that alter the nutritive constituents and provide the unique consistency and property to vermicompost, also the derived leachate is vermiwash. Chemically, they consist of mucous, proteins, hormones, enzymes, macronutrients, micronutrients, and several microorganisms. Vermicompost and vermiwash hold immense potential for sustainable crop production by the application as fertilizer, biopesticide and disease control, food security, enhancing salinity tolerance as well as in allied fields. This technology is also undergoing advancements with the progression of science and technology. This review focusses on the approaches for preparing vermicompost and vermiwash, applications in the field of sustainable crop production and others as well as advancements in this technology.