Abstract:
Vermicompost is a kind of organic fertilizer, and it was composted from organic wastes, digested by earthworms with rich nutrients and beneficial microorganisms. In recent years, the application of vermicompost in crop production has shown that vermicompost can improve soil structure and microbial population, promote crop growth, increase yield and quality of crop, strengthen plant resistance to diseases and pests, and reduce the toxic of heavy metals in soil to plants. Therefore, this review summarized the functions of vermicompost and its research progress in various crops production. The vermicompost was simple to prepare and had a wide source of raw materials. The vermicompost showed beneficial effects on soil ecological conditions, crop seed germination, crop yield and quality, and had an inhibitory effect on many kinds of plant diseases and insect pests. Vermicompost can be used as a direct substrate for cultivation, and can be combined with other substances (such as chemical fertilizer, biochar, vermiculite, etc.) to produce additional effects. Therefore, vermicompost has a good application prospect in agriculture.