Towards clean agriculture: The potential of vermicompost against soil contamination by heavy metals

Abstract

In many regions of the country, farmers continue working lands that no longer produce as they once did. This is not due to a lack of effort or knowledge, but rather to the silent burden of heavy metal contamination that, little by little, is draining the life from the soil. Even so, this issue rarely appears in public discussions or in the decisions made by authorities. Therefore, when analyzing research such as the thesis “Effect of Vermicompost on Alfalfa Growth and Cadmium Content in Contaminated Soil from Huaripampa, Jauja,” the question inevitably arises as to why such accessible and promising solutions are not being implemented on a larger scale. The study demonstrates that vermicompost, an input that many people could produce, contributes to improving soil quality and reducing cadmium levels without relying on costly technologies. However, these alternatives continue to be overlooked. This work not only provides scientific evidence, but also serves as a reminder that, if there is a true intention to restore the land, it is necessary to begin considering solutions that are more humane, simpler, and more connected to local realities.