# Properties of Vermicomposts Derived from Cameroon Sheep Dung
## 1 Introduction  
A sustainable agriculture strategy demands the implementation of multidirectional actions that combine productive aims of agriculture with environmental protection requirements. Soil protection is one of the significant objectives within this area. European Union countries are obliged to maintain appropriate soil functioning and take essential steps to avoid major processes that degrade the soil environment, stop their intensification and determine regions where degradation occurs [1]. A decrease in organic matter content and depletion of nutrients are the major threats to the natural functioning of soils. Loss of organic matter causes disturbances of chemical, physical and biological processes and alters the biogeochemical cycle of many elements which leads to the deterioration of quality and productivity of soils [2; 3; 4; 5]. Analyzing the problems of soil ecosystems, The International Decade of Soils (2015-2024) was announced by The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) at a Soil Conference in Vienna (5 December, 2015) [6]. One of the many factors causing such a situation is the use of mineral fertilizers. In Poland, an average of 133 kg ha\({}^{-1}\) is used on agricultural land [7]. In 2017, 11.6 million tons of nitrogen fertilizerwas used in EU agriculture--an increase of 8% since 2007 [8]. The use of mineral fertilization is inherent in additional costs, especially the purchase of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers is relatively expensive. In addition, some of them (mainly P or Ca) can be a source of soil pollution with heavy metals [9; 10]. Analysis of soil organic matter content and other fertility parameters suggest it would be more valuable to apply organic fertilizer or a mixture of organic and mineral fertilization [11; 12]. An increase in _Homo sapiens_ population, urbanization, industrialization and agriculture has increased the production of wastes, including those that are biodegradable. Of the latter, animal dung, may constitute a high-quality resource, serving for the production of composts and vermicomposts [13; 14]. Among these resources are manures from horses, cattle, pigs, poultry and other animals [15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20]. Manure used as a fertilizer can be a source of many nutrients for plants [21; 22; 23; 24]. For example, the analysis of the chemical composition of various types of manure in Poland showed on average 1 kg of dry matter: 4.8 g N, 3.1 g P2O5, 6.7 g K2O, 4.3 g CaO, 1.6 g MgO, 21.5 mg B, 23 mg Cu, 194 mg Zn, 1.63 mg Mo, 345 mg Mn, 2449 mg Fe [24]. The application of manure-derived vermicomposts has an effect on soil fertility and crop quality [18; 25; 26; 27]. This is particularly important in light soils, in which the water-air relationships cause naturally lower organic matter content compared to heavy soils [5]. In recent years, an interest in alternative stock of farmyard species has systematically grown in Poland [28]. This includes hair sheep, for example, Cameroon sheep or Somali sheep. Hair sheep originate from Africa but have acclimatized well to Polish conditions. Properly managed excrement, or vermicompost produced from hair sheep, could be an additional benefit for a sheep farmer. This farm-produced organic fertilizer can be used for plant growth and improvement of soil quality. Although there is literature on vermicompost from general sheep dung [29; 30; 31], no characteristics have been produced for the vermicomposting of Cameroon sheep droppings. In addition, it is worth noting as an issue, that under South Eastern Poland's conditions, agri-environmental programs are very popular [32]. Farmers covered by these programs, postpone moving of meadows until mid-July or even after 1 st August, to allow ground-nesting birds to successfully raise young. Such action, however, reduces the fodder value of the hay collected thereafter, which is only reluctantly eaten by stock. Such hay can be used as bedding, stored for natural biodegradation or burnt in biomass boilers.