Overview
- Outlines simplified ways how smallholder farmers can produce vermicompost for possible adoption as a fertilizer
- Covers the latest information on the science of vermicomposting critical in sustainable food production
- Includes the socio-economic aspects associated with vermicompost use by smallholder farmers in Africa
Part of the book series: Sustainability Sciences in Asia and Africa (SSAA)
Part of the book sub series: Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (SAFS)
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Table of contents (20 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Science of Vermicomposting
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Front Matter
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Vermicompost Production
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Front Matter
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Vermicomposts on Soil Quality and Crop Growth
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Front Matter
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Keywords
About this book
This edited book collates the research done mainly in Africa on vermicomposting and related technologies that can assist African smallholder farmers in making nutrient rich organic fertilizers from their animal and crop residue wastes. Information on the development of organic sources of liquid fertilizer development for hydroponics is also presented. The book presents research findings on vermicomposting in a simplified way that will allow farmers and extension workers to adopt the indicated technologies. The book also covers critical aspects of standardization of vermicompost preparation, earthworm biology, nutrient enrichment of composts and organic liquid fertilizer production.
Vermicomposting is a technology that employs earthworms to enhance the biodegradation and fertilizer value of organic wastes. The earthworms optimize the biodegradation ecosystem during composting, resulting in a final nutrient rich product with more recalcitrant forms of carbon and much lower levels of veterinary antibiotics and their metabolites. Vermicompost as an organic fertilizer is highly preferred over other forms of soil enhancers. A lot of research has been done on vermicompost and related activities in Africa but remain scattered across various publications.The book is an invaluable source of information for farmers especially those practicing organic crop production, vermicomposting researchers, as well as extension workers.
Editors and Affiliations
About the editors
Hupenyu Allan MUPAMBWA
Hupenyu holds a PhD in Soil Science, where his research focused on vermicomposting as a waste beneficiation technology important in driving organic soil fertility. Currently, he leads the Desert and Coastal Agriculture research program at the University of Namibia. He has more than 14 years’ experience in agriculture research and training as well as university undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research. He has published more than 25 peer reviewed international publications, 11 book chapters and edited 1 book. His research focuses on waste beneficiation, vermi-technology, and organic soil fertility management with a drive towards improving the soil quality among resource poor farmers
Lydia Ndinelao HORN
Lydia is a Research Coordinator at the Multidisciplinary Research Services (MRS) Department, University of Namibia (UNAM). She holds a BSc in Agriculture (Crop Science) and MSc in Biodiversity Management and Research from UNAM. She obtained a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding from the University of KwaZulu-Natal under the TC Africa sponsorship in promoting women in nuclear science and technology. As a plant breeder, her role in crop improvement using nuclear science and technology led to the development of Namibia’s first-ever mutant the development of the first-ever germplasms of cowpea, Bambara groundnut pearl millet, and sorghum.
Pearson Nyari Stephano MNKENI
Pearson worked as a professor of soil science at the University of Fort Hare (UFH), South Africa until his retirement in 2018. Before 1997, he served as an Associate Professor in Soil Science at the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro, Tanzania. He is presently Dean of Science and Technology and Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Planning, Administrationand Finance at the University of Arusha, Tanzania. His research focus has been on ways of improving soil fertility using ecological approaches that minimize thecarbon, energy and water footprints of crop production. He initiated and led climate smart agriculture research at UFH. He led the development of climate-smart agriculture guidelines for South Africa as a consultant for the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in 2018. He has published over 90 articles and is ranked as an established researcher by the National Research Foundation of South Africa.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Vermicomposting for Sustainable Food Systems in Africa
Editors: Hupenyu Allan Mupambwa, Lydia Ndinelao Horn, Pearson Nyari Stephano Mnkeni
Series Title: Sustainability Sciences in Asia and Africa
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8080-0
Publisher: Springer Singapore
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life Sciences, Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023
Hardcover ISBN: 978-981-19-8079-4Published: 02 March 2023
Softcover ISBN: 978-981-19-8082-4Published: 03 March 2024
eBook ISBN: 978-981-19-8080-0Published: 01 March 2023
Series ISSN: 2730-6771
Series E-ISSN: 2730-678X
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: X, 368
Number of Illustrations: 21 b/w illustrations, 37 illustrations in colour
Topics: Microbial Ecology, Agriculture, Agriculture