Vermi benefits

Soil

Improves its physical structure,Enriches soil with micro-organisms (adding enzymes such as phosphatase and cellulase). Microbial activity in worm castings is 10 to 20 times higher than in the soil and organic matter that the worm ingests and attracts deep-burrowing earthworms already present in the soil and also improves water holding capacity.


Plant growth

Enhances germination, plant growth, and crop yield. Improves root growth and structure and
enriches soil with micro-organisms (adding plant hormones such as auxins and gibberellic acid)


Economic

Biowastes conversion reduces waste flow to landfills, elimination of biowastes from the waste stream reduces contamination of other recyclables collected in a single bin (a common problem in communities practicing single-stream recycling). Creates low-skill jobs at local level and low capital investment and relatively simple technologies make vermicomposting practical for less-developed agricultural regions


Environmental

Helps to close the "metabolic gap" through recycling waste on-site. Large systems often use temperature control and mechanized harvesting, however other equipment is relatively simple and does not wear out quickly. Production reduces greenhouse gas emissions such as methane and nitric oxide (produced in landfills or incinerators when not composted or through methane harvest)



As fertilizer


Vermicompost can be mixed directly into the soil, or leached in water and made into a worm tea by mixing some vermicompost in water, bubbling in oxygen with a small air pump, and steeping for a number of hours or days.

The microbial activity of the compost is greater if it is aerated during this period. The resulting liquid is used as a fertilizer or sprayed on the plants.

The dark brown waste liquid, or leachate, that drains into the bottom of some vermicomposting systems as water-rich foods break down, is best applied back to the bin when added moisture is needed due to the possibility of phytotoxin content and organic acids that may be toxic to plants.