Note: Intro -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Section 1. Role of Earthworm in Agroecosystem and Soil Fertility Management -- Chapter 1 -- Earthworm and Soil Fertility -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Earthworms -- Vermicompost -- Earthworm and Waste Management -- The Effect of Chemical Fertilizers, Herbicides, Agricultural Practices on the Population Dynamics of Earthworms -- Earthworm and Soil Physico-Chemical Structure -- Earthworm and Plant Nutrients -- Role of Earthworms in Water Infiltration -- Earthworms Promote the Growth of Roots -- Earthworms as Bio-Indicator -- Earthworms and Soil Bio-Diversity -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 2 -- Vermicompost: Enriching Soil Fertility by Inviting the Beneficial Microbial Community -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Vermicompost -- Earthworms -- Earthworm Gut Microbes -- Microbial Diversity and Enrichment in Vermicompost -- Vermicompost and Soil Fertility -- Significance of Vermicompost Associated Microbes in Soil Fertility -- Promoting Nitrogen Fixation -- Promoting Phosphate Solubilization -- Production of Plant Growth Promoting Enzymes -- Production of Plant Growth Regulators -- Production of Signal Molecules -- Vermicompost Associated Microbes in the Protection of Plants from Pathogens and Pests -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 3 -- Efficacy of Vermicompost as a Plant Growth Promoter -- Abstract -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Comparing Vermicompost with Biological and Inorganic Fertilizers -- 3. Impacts of Vermicompost on Various Plant Growth and Productivity Variables -- 3.1. Impact on Seedling -- 3.2. Impact on Plant -- 3.3. Impact on Roots -- 3.4. Impact on Shoots -- 3.5. Impact on Leaves and Chlorophyll -- 3.6. Impact on Flowers -- 3.7. Impact on Fruits -- 3.8. Impact on Yield -- 3.9. Impact on Ions Uptake -- 3.10. Impact on Quality -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 4. , Ecological Role of Earthworms as Bioindicators of Soil Health -- Abstract -- 1. Introduction: The Soil Health -- 2. Bioindicators of Soil Quality -- 3. The role of Earthworms in Soils -- 4. The Use of Earthworms as Bioindicators of Soil Health -- 4.1. Ecological Indicators -- 4.2. Ecotoxicological Indicators -- 5. Case Study: Earthworms as Ecotoxicological Indicators to Assess the Chronic Effects of Imidacloprid on Non-Target Soil Invertebrates -- 5.1. Introduction -- 5.2. Material and Methods -- 5.3. Results -- 5.4. Discussion -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 5 -- Role of Earthworms in -- Agro-Industrial Waste Management -- and Sustainable Agriculture -- Abstract -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Vermicomposting Potential of Various Agro-Industrial Wastes -- 2.1. Sugarcane Residues -- 2.2. Textile Mill Sludge -- 2.3. Bagasse -- 2.4. Rice Husk -- 2.5. Banana Agro-Waste -- 2.6. Corn Waste -- 2.7. Flower Wastes -- 2.8. Lignocellulosic Wastes -- 2.9. Sludge from Paper Mill -- 3. Role of Earthworms in Sustainable Agriculture -- 3.1. Plant Growth Parameters -- 3.2. Germination of Seeds -- 3.3. Disease and Pathogen Control in Plants -- 3.4. Increase in Plant Nutrients -- 4. Comparison of Chemical Fertilizers, Vermicompost and Farm Yard Manure on the Plant Yields -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 6 -- Vermicomposting: An Effective Alternative in Integrated Pest Management -- Abstract -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Vermicomposting and Pest Management -- 2.1. Vermicomposting and Arthropod Pest Management -- 2.1.1. Mechanism -- 2.2. Vermicomposting and Nematode Pest Management -- 2.2.1. Mechanism -- 2.3. Vermicomposting and Other Pests -- 3. Vermicomposting and Integrated Pest Management Programmes -- 4. Factors Affecting Pest Control Potentialof Vermicompost and Vermicompost Tea -- 4.1. Compost Source, Grade and Maturity -- 4.2. Brewing Time and Aeration. , 4.3. Compost to Water Ratio -- 4.4. Dilution and Application -- 4.5. Microbial and Nutrient Supplements -- Conclusion and Future Goals -- References -- Chapter 7 -- Role of Earthworms in Plant Growth and Health Improvement for Sustainable Agriculture -- Abstract -- 1. Introduction -- 1.1. Earthworm Ecology -- 2. Role of Earthworms in Soil Quality Improvement -- 2.1. Soil Factors Affecting Earthworm Population -- 2.1.1. Soil Types -- 2.1.2. Soil Moisture -- 2.1.3. Temperature and pH -- 3. Interaction of Earthworms with Microorganisms -- 4. Role of Earthworm in Plant Growth and Developments -- 5. Biotic and Abiotic Stress Alleviation by Earthworms -- 6. Impact of Modern Agricultural Practices on Earthworms -- 6.1. Tillage -- 6.2. Pesticides -- 6.3. Inorganic fertilizers -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 8 -- Earthworm (Eutyphoeus Orientalis) Behavioral Response to Biopesticide (Quercetin/Azadirachtin) and -- Chemical Pesticide (Chlorpyriphos) -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Materials and Methods -- Test Substrates -- Preparation of Neem Leaf Extract -- Preparation of the Test -- Quercetin/Azadirachtin Contaminated Soil -- Chlorpyrifos Contaminated Soil -- Test Animals -- Avoidance Tests -- Dual Chambers Avoidance Test -- Seven Chambers Avoidance Test -- Data Analysis -- Results -- Survivability and Biomass Test -- Dual-Chamber Test -- The Seven Chamber Test -- Avoidance (%) Test -- Cast Production in Dual Chamber Test -- Cast Production in Seven Chamber Test -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 9 -- Earthworms: A Contrivance to Ameliorate Water Infiltration Rates and Water Holding Capacity in Agroecosystem -- Abstract -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Ecological Stratification of Earthworm -- 3. Earthworm as an Ecosystem Engineer -- 3.1. Soil Formation -- 3.2. Soil Structure -- 3.3. Aggregation -- 3.4. Stability of Aggregates. , 4. Earthworms: Soil-Water Relationships -- 4.1. Porosity and Infiltration -- 4.2. Micropores and Macropores -- 4.3. Soil Water Infiltration -- 4.4. Soil Water Retention and Water Holding Capacity -- 4.5. Earthworm Cast and Soil Evaporation -- 5. Earthworms and Microcosm -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgment -- References -- Section 2. Vermifiltration/Vermiwash -- Chapter 10 -- Effects of Vermicompost and Vermiwash on the Growth of Crops -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Vermiculture -- The Role of Earthworms -- Characteristic of Vermicompost -- Characteristic of Vermiwash -- Benefits of Vermicompost and Vermiwash Combined -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 11 -- Use of Vermicompost and Vermicompost Leachate in Enhancing Stress Tolerance and Agricultural Production -- Abstract -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Chemical and Biological Components of Vermicompost and Their Effects on Soil Health -- 3. Plant Beneficial Effects of Vermicompost and Vermicompost Leachate -- 3.1. Growth Enhancing Effects in Plants -- 3.2. Stress Mitigating Effects in Plants -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 12 -- The Combination of Liquid Biofertilizer Vermiwash with Biopesticides - Boon for Control of Pest Infestation and Crop Productivity -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Biological Wastes -- Earthworms -- Earthworms and Vermicomposting -- Vermiwash -- Biopesticides -- Mode of Action of Biopesticides -- Garlic (Allium sativum L.) -- Neem (Azadirachta indica) -- Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) -- Effect of Vermiwash with Biopesticides on Plant Growth and Their Pest Infestation -- Helicoverpa armigera -- Earias vittella -- Merits of Biopesticides over Chemical Pesticides -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 13 -- Earthworm-Assisted Remediation of Wastewater through Vermifiltration -- Abstract -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Treatment Methods for Municipal Wastewater. , 3. Use of Vermitechnology in Waste Management -- 4. Vermifiltration -- 5. Limitations of Vermifiltration -- Conclusion and Future Prospectus -- References -- Section 3. Industrial Application of Earthworm Biomass -- Chapter 14 -- Earthworm as a Potential Antimicrobial Source -- Abstract -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Classification of Earthworms -- 3. Medicinal and Dietary Properties of Earthworms -- 3.1. Medicinal Properties -- 3.2. Dietary Properties -- 4. Different Microbes and Their Effects on the Environment and Human Health -- 4.1. Beneficial and Harmful Role of Microorganisms -- 4.1.1. Antibiotic Producing Microorganisms -- 4.1.2. Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria -- 5. Antimicrobial Activity of Earthworms on Different Microbes -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgment -- References -- Chapter 15 -- Significance and Importance of Earthworm as Potential Biopharmaceutical Source -- Abstract -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Role of Earthworms in Health and Medicine Industry -- 2.1. Fibrinolytic/Fibrinogenolytic, Thrombolytic/Antithrombotic and Anti-Coagulative Activities -- 2.2. Antioxidant, Antiulcer & -- Hepatoprotective Activity -- 2.3. Anti-Inflammatory Activity -- 2.4. Antipyretic Activity -- 2.5. Cytotoxic Activity of Earthworm -- 2.6. Anticancer/Antitumor Activity -- 2.7. Antimicrobial Activity of Earthworm -- 2.8. Wound Healing Activity of Earthworm -- 2.9. Role of Earthworm in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration and Schwann Cell Proliferation and Migration -- Conclusion -- References -- About the Editors -- Index -- Blank Page -- Blank Page.