UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

The vermicompost is an ecologically sustainable, biological process that converts solid waste into valuable, stable, and nutrient-rich compost. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on microbial biology, metabolic transformation, enzyme activity, and earthworm- microbe interaction that drives the process of organic waste breakdown and stabilization. Recent advances in microbial ecology and species-specific earthworm interaction are integrated to provide a comprehensive perspective on waste conversion efficiencies, not addressed in earlier literature. The influence of waste substrates and earthworm species, including Eisenia fetida, Eudrilus eugeniae, Perionyx excavatus, and Lumbricus rubellus, on vermicomposting efficiency is discussed with respect to microbial succession, nutrient mineralisation, and compost stabilization. Key microbial consortia, particularly bacteria and fungi groups enriched in earthworm gut, enhance decomposition processes and improve vermicompost quality. Although the precise mechanism underlying earthworm-mediated facilitation remains incompletely understood. This review discusses the application of vermicompost in the management of industrial, agricultural, and municipal wastes, enhancing plant growth, soil fertility, and environmental sustainability. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in elucidating microbial functional pathways, optimising systems under stress conditions, and designing large-scale reactors. Future research must focus on advanced microbial characterization, species-specific interactions, and reactor efficiency to reinforce the vermicomposting role in sustainable waste management.