Development of plant-friendly vermicompost using novel biotechnological methods

For the first time in the world, raw tea waste from tea plants was mineralized by rapid biotechnological methods using beneficial worms, enzymes (protease, lipase, dehydrogenase, hydrolase, urease, nitrogenase, cellulase) and microorganisms (Aspergillus flavus, Bifidobacterium spp. Bacillus subtilis, Rhodotorula spp., Lactobacillus, Rhodopseudomas spp.). Thus, biocompost technology was developed to create an exclusive organic tea fertilizer. The biocompost product was developed in a plant-friendly format for sustainable use of local resources. It was rich in organic material and free from diseases and pathogens, according to organic farming methods. It was also reliable in terms of heavy metal content. In the biocompost study, the application of five different compost mixtures and three different application methods were investigated. Worm + Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria + enzymes accelerated the mineralization of the compost among the studies, and the lowest C/N and OM % ratio was obtained. The other physical and chemical parameters were also in accordance with the ideal values determined in the literature. Also, the increase of nitrogen without nitrogen loss during the composting process shows that mineralization was successfully completed. In concluded, it can be suggested that the developed organic worm compost fertilizer can be used on agricultural land and in regenerative agriculture.

Automated summary

For the first time, raw tea waste is mineralized using biotechnological methods with worms, enzymes, and microorganisms, creating an exclusive organic tea fertilizer. The biocompost is rich in organic material, disease-free, and compliant with organic farming. The study finds that using worms, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, and enzymes accelerates compost mineralization, resulting in ideal physical and chemical parameters. The developed organic worm compost fertilizer can be applied in agricultural land and regenerative agriculture.