There is an immense demand for vermicomposting employing psychrophilic vermiculture (Aporrectodea caliginosa) for management of wastes under the Himalayan ecosystem. Dalweed (weeds from the world-famous urban Dal Lake) and cow manure (CM) are cheaply and abundantly available bio resources in Kashmir valley. Dalweed (DW), disposed of in the heart of the city, ascribes unpleasant effects on tourism and the natural ecosystem. Initial substrate mixtures of DW and CM with different ratios (CM₁₀₀, DW₁₀₀, CM₈₀:DW₂₀, CM₆₀:DW₄₀, CM₄₀:DW₆₀ and CM₂₀:DW₈₀) and castings harvested were analyzed for the following parameters: pH, TOC, TN, NO₃^- P, K, Fe, Zn, C:N, C:P, and C:S ratio. The results of a 56day study revealed in consistency and disparity towards the bio-optimization of coprolites depending upon the type of waste residue and mixture ratio used. Treatments with medium to low dalweed residues (CM₆₀:DW₄₀ followed by CM₈₀:DW₂₀) were found to be optimum and significantly primed chemical properties of castings using A. caligenosa. C:N, C:P, and C:S ratios showed a non-linear response with maximum decrease in C:N ratio by 35%, C:P ratio by 38% in CM₁₀₀, and C:S ratio by 67% in DW₁₀₀. Humification ratio, humification index, and percent humic acids were changed across all the treatments with the highest respective values of 21.33 ± 1.05, 11.33 ± 0.76, and 47.83 ± 0.76 for CM₆₀:DW₄₀. Results also showed that the earthworm population and biomass significantly increased with the highest respective increments of 57.53% and 74.88% in CM₆₀:DW₄₀ over initial values. Moreover, the highest number of cocoons (95.67 ± 1.17) were recorded within CM₆₀:DW₄₀ and the lowest in the control (43.33 ± 1.53). Dehydrogenase and fluorescein diacetate activities were inconsistent with the highest in CM₄₀:DW₆₀ (64.64%) and CM₂₀:DW₈₀ (63.54%) respectively over the initial substrates, while highest urease activity (74.40%) was observed from CM₁₀₀. The results highlight the role of A. caliginosa in sustainable transformation of CM and DW with insightful, beneficial, and priming impacts on castings for its agronomic value.

The challenges posed by diminishing agricultural land, rapid urbanization, climate change, and the competition for resources between the food and feed industries have significantly constrained the availability of cultivable plant food sources. This scarcity is particularly acute in developing tropical countries, where resources often fall short in providing sufficient proteins for both human and animal consumption. However, there is substantial potential in the underutilized plant-derived materials, specifically millet crops, which are known for their protein richness and hold cultural significance, especially among tribal communities. The identification, assessment, and introduction of these underexploited millet crops offer a sustainable, long-term solution to ensure a steady supply of food and feed materials. The gluten-free millet grain family, with its tiny, spherical seeds, shows promise as a useful and plentiful food source. The name "millet" comes from the French word "mille," which means "a thousand," highlighting the possibility that a handful of grains may contain up to a thousand. With a 10,000-year history originating in Northern China, millets offer low fat, dietary energy, and glycemic index values along with nutritional advantages and resistance to pests and drought. These hardy crops include amino acids, dietary fibres, iron, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin B, and other essential elements. Notably, pearl millet's exceptional nutritional characteristics led the Indian government to classify it as a nutri-cereal in 2018 due to its remarkable nutritious qualities. The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2023 to be the "International Year of Millets," adding to the significance of millets. The Indian government declared 2018 to be the "Year of Millets." By highlighting the benefits of millets' nutrition, encouraging their growth, and incorporating them into regular meals, these programs want to raise awareness of the world's food and nutrition issues.