Skip to Content

“Vermicompost: What It Is and Why It’s ‘Black Gold’ for Soil”

22 November 2025 by
Shyam Brahmbhatt

Vermicompost, also known as worm castings, is a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer created by earthworms. At Baroda Organics, we harness this natural process to produce high-quality compost that strengthens soil, boosts plant growth, and supports sustainable agriculture.

What’s Inside Vermicompost:

  • Rich in macronutrients (NPK) and trace micronutrients (calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, etc.). bharatkhaad.com+2growo.lv+2

  • Contains beneficial microorganisms, such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria and fungi, that improve soil health. gramonnati.org

  • Includes humic substances and plant growth hormones (auxins, gibberellins) that promote strong root growth. MDPI+1

Key Benefits:

  • Improves Soil Structure: Enhances aeration, water retention, and helps form stable soil aggregates. Agriculture Institute

  • Slow-Release Nutrition: Releases nutrients gradually, reducing nutrient loss, leaching, and the risk of overfertilization. MDPI

  • Boosts Microbial Activity: Enriches soil with beneficial microbes that help suppress pathogens and support plant health. gramonnati.org+1

  • Increases Disease Resistance: The microbial diversity and natural enzymes (like chitinase) help plants naturally defend against soil-borne pathogens. FarmstandApp

  • Eco-Friendly & Sustainable: Vermicomposting recycles organic waste into high-value soil amendment, reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers. gramonnati.org

How to Use Vermicompost:

  • Soil Amendment / Mixing: Integrate vermicompost into your soil mix before planting. For many crops, mixing in 10–50% vermicompost by volume gives strong benefits. Thrive Lot

  • Top-Dressing: Use vermicompost as a top layer around growing plants, then water to help microbes penetrate the root zone. (Users on gardening forums also recommend this.) > “I put compost … covering the top layer … and let the nutrients reach the plant via leaching.” Reddit

  • Vermicompost Tea (Liquid Fertilizer): Steep castings in water to make a microbial-rich “tea” that can be used as a foliar spray or soil drench.

  • Sustainable Application: Use periodically (e.g., twice a year) to maintain microbial balance without overapplication. Reddit