Vermicomposting and Other Zoocomposting Systems for Solid Waste Valorization: Concepts, Designs, and Applications

by Pratiksha Patnaik, Tabassum Abbasi, S.A. Abbasi

Overview

This groundbreaking book explores the science and innovation behind zoocomposting—composting facilitated by animals such as earthworms, black soldier flies, and termites. It presents the high-rate vermicomposting (HRVC) paradigm, a revolutionary approach that enables the rapid conversion of phytowaste, even toxic and recalcitrant plant materials, into potent organic fertilizers without the need for pre-composting or manure supplementation. The book details the design and performance of advanced vermireactors, the transformative effects of vermicomposting on plant growth, and the potential of BSF and termites in waste degradation. By tracing the history and mechanisms of both microbial and animal-assisted composting, this work offers valuable insights into sustainable waste management and soil fertility enhancement, making it an essential resource for researchers, environmentalists, and agricultural innovators. It serves as a practical guide for professionals and researchers working in agriculture, soil science, and sustainability in general.

• Explores high-rate vermicomposting (HRVC), black soldier fly composting, and termite-assisted waste degradation for efficient organic waste recycling.
• Presents cutting-edge reactor systems that accelerate the decomposition of phytowaste, including toxic and recalcitrant plant materials, without pre-composting or manure supplementation.
• Highlights the benefits of zoocompost products in improving soil fertility, enhancing plant growth, and supporting eco-friendly waste management practices.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367355135
Publisher:	CRC Press
Publication date:	10/13/2025
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Prof S. A. Abbasi

Prof S. A. Abbasi, presently Distinguished Professor, School of Advanced Engineering, UPES, Dehradun, has been a full university professor and director (1987-2015), and Emeritus Professor (2015-2024) at the Centre for Pollution Control and Environmental Engineering, Pondicherry University. Prior to it he was the founder Head of the Water Quality & Environment Division at the Centre for Water Resources, Kozhikode (1979-87), and a Visiting-cum-adjunct Professor at California State University (1984-1987). He has also been a Visiting Professor at the universities of Minnesota, Florida, Nevada, California−Berkeley, Malaya and Al-Ahsa.

With 50 books, close to 400 papers in indexed journals, 12 patents, over 23,000 citations and a Hirsch Index currently at 82, Prof Abbasi is among the world’s foremost experts in the fields of bioprocess engineering, process safety, and environmental engineering. In the recent Stanford University study, he was ranked among the world’s top 0.5% scientists, and the latest AD Scientific rankings puts him among the India’s top two in environmental science & engineering.[https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/pondicherry-university-professor-felicitated/article33349572.ece] .

Among numerous coveted honours and awards received by Prof Abbasi are the National Design Award in Environmental Engineering, the IPCL award for Safety and Hazard Management in Petroleum Industries, the National Hydrology Award, the International Desalination Association’s prize, The Trever Kletz award, and fellowships of the National Academy of Sciences and the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers. Prof Abbasi is also well-known for his poetry (ghazal and geet), fiction, and his work on fostering inter-faith harmony. Details of his oeuvre can be had at https://vidwan.inflibnet.ac.in/profile/61966.

Dr Pratiksha Patnaik

Pratiksha Patnaik received her BSc and MSc degrees in ecology and environmental sciences, topping in both programmes and receiving gold medals. She later obtained her PhD in 2018 for her path-breaking researches on zoocomposting with focus on valorising phytowaste and food waste. Besides several research papers in prestigious journals Dr Pratiksha’s work has resulted in a book, Prosopis juliflora :Attributes, Impact, Utilization, published by Elsevier, and four patents.

Dr Tabassum-Abbasi

Tabassum-Abbasi has received her BTech, MTech, and PhD degrees in instrumentation and control engineering, environmental engineering, and environmental technology, respectively – all from Pondicherry University. She too has been a class topper throughout, receiving gold medals. She has been working as Assistant Professor at the University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun since January 2019, attaining senior grade in 2022, and has spent an year (2023-24) in post-doctoral research at the University of Edinburgh as a British Council Women in Science Fellow. Besides 45 research papers on bioprocess engineering and sustainability in highly cited journals, she has received three patents, and has registered another two. She has authored a book and has another in press. 

Table of Contents

Preface

About the Authors

Part I

Composting: A general introduction

Chapter 1

Composting as it occurs in nature in comparison to human-controlled composting

Chapter 2

Distinguishing features of human-controlled composting

Part II

Earthworm-based zoocomposting: Vermicomposting

Chapter 3

Distinguishing features of earthworm-based zoocomposting (vermicomposting)

Chapter 4

Earthworms and a brief history of appreciating them

Chapter 5

Design and operation of conventional vermireactors

Chapter 6

The shortcomings of the conventional vermicomposting technology, which necessitated development of the high-rate vermicomposting paradigm and the associated technology

Chapter 7

The paradigm of high-rate vermicomposting and its validation

Chapter 8

Vermireactors designed on the basis of the high-rate vermicomposting paradigm

Chapter 9

Design and performance evaluation of machines for separating earthworm-vermicast-substrate mixtures

Chapter 10

Effect of vermicomposts derived from phytomass and waste paper on different species of commonly used plants

Chapter 11

Transformations caused by vermicomposting which convert even toxic and allelopathic weeds into benign organic fertilizers

Chapter 12

Long-term impact on the growth and fecundity of successive generations of earthworms fed exclusively on one or the other species of weeds

Chapter 13

First-of-its kind success in rapidly vermicomposting a xerophyte and utilizing the product as an organic fertilizer

Chapter 14

Vermicomposting as an ideal foil to upgrade macrophyte/algae based sewage treatment systems into close-loop biorefineries

 

Part III

Use of black soldier flies in zoocomposting

Chapter 15

The unique role of black soldier flies in the zoocomposting of food waste

 

Chapter 16

A novel, versatile, effective, yet inexpensive system for carrying out BSF-mediated zoocomposting of difficult-to-treat food and abattoir waste: ZOCOFA

 

Part IV

Zoocomposting with termites: termigradation

Chapter 17

Termites and their unique ability to biodegrade ligninous waste and fix nitrogen