Vermicompost is an excellent organic fertiliser in which bacteria are the major colonizers,
which include high population of nitrogen fixers, phosphate solubilizers, and sulphur
bacteria. Fungi are established to be active degraders of organic matter in soils. Many
substrates are first colonized by what are known as sugar fungi such as the Mucorales. Blue
green algae (BGA) have been recorded by us in vermicompost and are the Anabaena sp,
Oscillatoria, Tolypothrix, Chlorella and Westiellopsis. All these when incorporated into the
soil through vermicompost contribute to soil health and provide nutritious food contributing
to human health. Several simple organic foliar sprays have several components similar to
plant growth promoter substances in them. Vermiwash is one such excellent liquid fertiliser.
Studies by our team have revealed the presence of growth promoting substances which
invariably are associated with plant growth. There are about 3 isomers of indole compounds
separated in Vermiwash; the 2-(4-methylphenyl) indolizine is an alkaloid which has a
significant role in plant growth promotion, Maleic acid is a well established plant growth
promoter, and Methyl 2-4(-tert-butylphenoxy) acetate belongs to the ring-substituted phenoxy
aliphatic acids generally exhibiting a strong retarding effect on abscission and in turn
promotes plant growth. Vermiwash by its instinctive quality might probably promote
humification, increase microbial activity to produce plant growth promoting compounds and
enzyme production. All the compounds present in vermiwash may not individually help in
plant growth but perhaps act synergistically along with the beneficial soil microbes found in
vermiwash. These products influence soil health and in combination with other products such
as Panchagavya, Gunapasela and likewise can provide wholesome nutrition to the plant
through the soil. In organic farming practice we do not nurse the plant, we nurse the soil
which in turn promotes its group of biotic elements to churn the nutrients as desired by the
plant.