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uptake of vesticular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which live in the soil and form mutually beneficialrelationships with plants.Produces and promotes a healthy root mass: Trials clearly showed a fourfoldincrease in root mass, length, girth and secondary development whengrown in vermicompost. The plants also established more quickly with sucha strong healthy root structure.Improves soil structure: Vermicompost contains a high percentage ofhumus, which helps soil particles bind together into clusters, creating channelsfor the passage of water and air. Worms also produce mucus and this is deposited in the vermicompost,again giving it a friable and crumbly structure. This translates into much less watering asvermicompost remains moist for longer, and is capable of holding two to three times its own weightin water.Produces a liquid ‘golden soil’ – vermi tea: A brew of vermi tea, made from fresh vermicompoststeeped in water for a short period, is full of nutrients and beneficial microbes, and has been found tobring natural fungal disease-suppressant qualities when sprayed onto the leaves of plants.Paul Farley (Technology Department)Block 3 Pond Dipping29