The Role of Vermicompost and Vermiliquer in Conferring Tolerance to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Organic Farming System: A Critical Review

Abstract

Biotic and abiotic stresses negatively affect plant growth. Application of vermicompost and vermiliquer ameliorates the negative effects of these stresses on plants. Vermicompost as a result of organic wastes digestion by earthworms, is very low cost process allowing biomass recycling which its increasing use could be due to their numerous beneficial effects on plant growth promotion and development. The vermicompost and vermiliquer application increase the plant growth and yield under either biotic or abiotic stresses and also increased photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, and suppress plant diseases and pests. Vermicompost and vermiliquer -mediated increase in biotic and abiotic stress tolerance of plants is associated with improvement in soil properties, increasing plant water status, reduction of Na⁺ uptake, increasing uptake of minerals, and regulation of stomatal conductance and phytohormones. This review highlights both the potential of vermicompost and vermiliquer in alleviating biotic and abiotic stresses in plants and future prospect of the role of these environmentally friendly under biotic and abiotic stresses in organic farming system.