TECHNOLOGY OF THE PRODUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE BIOHUMUS

Аннотация

Biohumus, commonly known as vermicompost, is an organically rich, biologically active soil amendment produced through the cooperative action of earthworms and associated microorganisms upon diverse organic substrates. As global agriculture confronts mounting pressures from soil degradation, synthetic fertilizer dependency, and escalating regulatory scrutiny of chemical inputs, vermicomposting has emerged as a scientifically validated, economically viable, and environmentally benign technology for organic waste valorization and soil fertility restoration. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the technology of environmentally safe biohumus production, encompassing the biology and ecology of vermicomposting organisms, the physicochemical and biochemical transformation of organic matter during vermicomposting, critical process parameters and their optimization, feedstock selection and pre-treatment strategies, reactor design configurations ranging from small-scale windrow systems to large-scale continuous-flow reactors, quality assessment methodologies, and the agronomic and environmental impacts of biohumus application. Special attention is devoted to environmental safety considerations—including the elimination of pathogens, weed seeds, and heavy metals, as well as the fate of emerging organic contaminants during vermicomposting. Current regulatory frameworks governing vermicompost quality in the European Union, United States, and emerging economies are reviewed. Future perspectives on integrated biohumus production within circular bioeconomy frameworks, combined with precision agriculture applications, are discussed.