Application of Vermicompost in Vertical farming:

Meeting the food demands of growing population

AcSIR societal program

Unmet needs presentation

Presented by

Vijay Babu Pathi

Junior Research fellow

AcSIR enrollment no.: 10CC20A17004

CSIR-IICB, Kolkata.

• It is estimated that by 2050, our growing global population will require 60% more food than we produce today (Alexandratos and Bruinsma, 2012; Tilman et al., 2002; Green et al., 2005).
• According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Between 720 to 811 million people in the world faced hunger in 2020.
• There is an increasing demand for protein, vitamin and mineral rich food as more and more countries transition from developing to developed nations.
• Problems with traditional farming: Arable land is limited, with agricultural land covering 38% and arable land covering 11% of the total land area, Scarcity of water, Climate change possess great challenge and Soil degradation.
• It is clear that places where population is growing also happen to be places where land is shrinking in terms of arability.
• Vertical Farming innovations could find better opportunity for the future food demands.

Vertical farming

• Vertical farming is the practice of producing food and medicine in vertically stacked layers, vertically inclined surfaces and/or integrated in other structures (such as buildings, shipping containers, tunnels, and abandoned mine shafts).
• Controlled- environment agriculture.
• The land productivity of Vertical Farming is twice as high as traditional agriculture.
• It can produce crops year-round.
• Involves soilless farming techniques such as, Hydroponics (the roots of plants are submerged in liquid solutions containing macronutrients and trace elements. Additionally, inert mediums such as gravel, sand, and sawdust are used as soil substitutes to provide support for the roots), Aquaponics (Production of terrestrial plants with the production of aquatic organisms in a closed-loop system that mimics nature itself), aeroponics (a liquid solution with nutrients is misted in air chambers where the plants are suspended).

Vermicompost

• It is the product of the decomposition process using various species of worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and other earthworms.
• It is one of the easiest methods to recycle agricultural wastes and to produce quality compost.
• It contains N (1.2-1.6%), P₂O₅ (1.8-2.0%) & K₂O (0.5- 0.75%).

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Advantages

• Improves soil aeration
• Improves water holding capacity of the soil
• It is an nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner
• Enriches soil with micro-organisms that produce enzymes ( phosphatase and cellulase) and plant growth hormones (auxins and gibberellic acid).
• Enhances germination, plant growth, and crop yield.
• Biowastes conversion reduces waste flow to landfills.
• Vermicompost production reduces greenhouse gas emissions such as methane and nitric oxide (produced in landfills or incinerators when not composted)
• Vermicompost shelters certain microbial populations that help in N fixation and P solubilization.
• Vermicompost gives No foul smell.

Application of Vermicompost in Vertical farming (Hydroponics):

• In Vertical farming (Hydroponics): Gravel, sand, and sawdust are used as soil substitutes to provide support for the roots. Macronutrients and trace elements are provided in liquid solution. Vermicompost can be a good alternative and can provide good support for roots, provides essential nutrients and growth hormones required for plant growth ( No need of external nutrient solutions, cost minimized).
• We can overcome the draw back of water pollution in hydroponics (water containing fertilizers and pesticides).
• No need to use fertilizers and pesticides.
• Farm/ agricultural waste can be converted to vermicompost and again reused for farming.
• Production of quality and healthy organic food.
• Increased crop production.

Thank You