Contents: Earthworms: an introduction. 1. Types of earthworms. 2. Varieties of earthworms. 3. Characteristics of earthworms. 4. Life cycle of some species of earthworms. 5. Activities of earthworms. 6. Distribution and ecology of earthworms. 7. Description of suitable species of earthworms. 8. Food habits of earthworms. 9. Collection and preservation of earthworms. 10. Culturing of earthworms. 11. Types of earthworms suitable for vermicomposting. 12. Basic characteristics of species suitable for composting. 13. Methods of vermicomposting. 14. Changes during vermicomposting. 15. Nutrient value of worm cast and vermicompost. 16. Role of earthworms in improvement of soil fertility. 17. Use of vermicompost for crop production. 18. In situ application of vermiculture and crop productivity. 19. Vermiwash - a valuable liquid manure. 20. Economics of vermicompost and vermiwash production. 21. Use of earthworms in land improvement and reclamation. 22. Earthworms as animal feed. 23. Medicinal value of worm meal. 24. Influence of chemical inputs on earthworm activities. 25. Interaction of earthworms with other organisms. 26. Earthworms and pollution control. 27. Waste management and resource recovery. Glossary. References.

"Earthworms, the soil invertebrates, alongwith soil microorganisms carry out a yeomen's service of degrading organic waste materials and thus maintain the nutrient flux in the system. Even the earthworms crafts-manship for formation, development and conservation of soil is known from the time of Darwin during late nineteenth century, vermitechnology as such has not been realized before midtwentieth century.

Use of earthworms in agriculture, industry and environmental pollution control need to critically analyze. The authors has completed the job with great zeal and hard work." (jacket)