small-scale vermicomposting - p2pays

8/9/2019 Small-Scale Vermicomposting - p2pays

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Small-Scale

Vermicomposting

Rhonda Sherman

Biological & Agricultural Engineering


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What is Vermicomposting?

Vermicompostingis a processthat relies on earthworms andmicroorganisms to help

stabilize active organicmaterials and convert them to a

valuable soil amendment andsource of plant nutrients


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Why is Vermicompost a GoodSoil Amendment?

Teeming with beneficial microorganisms andenzymes

Improves soil structure

Reduces erosion

Increases soil porosity

Holds moisture

Improves pH of acidic soil


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Vermicompost Effects on Plant GrowthDisease & Pest Suppression

Increases in: Germination, Growth,

Flowering, Crop Yields

Earthworm castings contain plant growth hormones

Vermicompost can decrease attacks by insects, plant

pathogens, parasitic nematodes


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Turnips Grown at NCSU with0%, 10%, 20% Vermicompost


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Why Vermicompost Food Scraps?

Keep garbage from getting smelly andattracting pests

Reduce impacts of landfills Largest human-related source of methane in USA (34% of all

methane emissions) (http://www.epa.gov/methane/sources.html 2006)

Save water, electricity, and money by not using kitchensink garbage disposals

Produce a free, high-quality soil amendment
http://www.epa.gov/methane/sources.html%202006http://www.epa.gov/methane/sources.html%202006


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How Do I Vermicompost At Home?

Determine bin size

Build or buy a bin

Prepare bedding Add worms

Bury food scraps

Harvest and use compost


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What Type of Worm Bin?

Wooden or plastic bin with lid Buy one or make your own

Dark color, not clear!


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Drill Holes for Air and Drainage

Air : around uppersides of bin

Air optionsOne hole on each end (3-inch holes)

Use 3-inch hole saw

Insert soffet vents

Four holes on each wide side (1-inch holes) Glue hardware cloth inside bin to cover holes

Or leave holes open

A bunch of tiny holes all the way around

Drainage: six holes on bottom (1/4-inch)

Do not drill holes in lid


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Where Do I Put My Worm Bin?

At home:Garage or carport

Back porch or deck

Kitchen or basement

Closet

Bathroom

Apartment balcony

Where you work:Lunch or break room

In your office


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What Do I Put in the Bin?

Moist Bedding Shredded newspapers

Shredded leaves

Shredded cardboard

Handful of Soil


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How Do I Prepare the Bedding?

Moisten bedding:Soak in water 15 minutesWring out like spongeFluff up before placing in bin

Fill bin half way

Add more as it disappears

Keep bedding moist Spritz with plant mister


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Add Worms

Use Eisenia fetida (Red Wigglers) Do not get from your yard or bait shop

More than 4,000 species of wormsget the right one

Buy from a worm grower

Go to http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/people/faculty/sherman

Click on Vermicomposting

Click on Directory of Vermiculture Resources

Prices vary widely, so check around
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/people/faculty/shermanhttp://www.bae.ncsu.edu/people/faculty/sherman


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How Many Worms Do I Need?

Worms consume ~half their weight daily

So, 1 pound of worms eats ~ lb food a day

~1,000 worms to a pound (Eisenia fetida)

Do not start with less than 1 pound of worms

Best to start with 2 pounds of worms


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What Do I Feed the Worms?

Vegetables

Fruit

Coffee grounds & filters

Tea bags & leaves

Leftovers


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Where Do I Store Food Scraps?

Kitchen Scrap Carrier

OR
http://www.composters.com/pbj/imageGallery.php?imageID=929


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What Should I NOT Feed Worms?

Meat Grease

Bones

Citrus Dairy products

Cat or dog feces


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How Do I Feed the Worms?

Dig hole in bedding

Use 3-prong tool

Put food in hole,

cover with bedding Cover well to prevent

fruit flies and odor

Rotate burial of foodscraps

Do not overfeed!


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What Do I Need to BeCareful About?

Temperature: 55-83 F (60-70 ideal)

Moisture: 60-85% (80% ideal)

Aeration: Keep bin aerobic pH: 7.0 best

What e lse?- Dont overfeed-Cover food


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How Do I Harvest the Castings?Method #1: Light Separation

Empty bin onto large plastic sheet

On sunny day or under strong light

Wait 10 minutes, scrape off top layer Remove more vermicompost every 10 minutes

Return worms to bin with fresh bedding


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How Else Can I Harvest Castings?Method #2: Sideways Separation

Feed worms on one side of bin for several weeks

Most worms will migrate to that side

Harvest the side you havent been feeding Add fresh bedding to empty side

Feed only that side for several weeks, then

harvest other side


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How Else Can I Harvest Castings?Method #3: Vertical Separation


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Interested in Worm Farming?

NCSUs 9th Annual Vermiculture Conference

June 4 5, 2009

Vermicomposting technologies

Benefits & uses of vermicompost

Vermicompost research studiesMarketing products

Testing vermicompost, soil and feedstocks

Brewing and using vermicompost tea

Class A stabilization of biosolids by vermicomposting

http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/workshops/worms09/index.htm


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Slide Set Prepared by:

Rhonda ShermanBiological & Agricultural Engineering

North Carolina State University

Box 7625, Raleigh, NC 27695-7625

Phone: 919.515.6770

Fax: 919.515.6772

E-mail: [email protected]

www.bae.ncsu.edu/people/faculty/sherman
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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What Will Earthworms Eat?

Kitchen scraps & platescrapings

Animal manure

Agricultural crop residues

Yard trimmings

Scrap paper

Organic byproducts fromindustries

Sewage sludge


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Vermicompost Application Rates

Established plants: Add 2T per quart potting mixaround base of plant, water in. Repeat every 2-4 wk

Seedling establishment: Combine 1 part castingswith 4 parts potting media

Transplants small containers: add cup to holeprior to planting; larger plants, shrubs, trees:1-2cups prior to planting

Lawn and turf established:7 lbs/100 sq ft;new:10 lbs/100 sq ft

Source: RT Soluti


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E. fetidaReproductive Rate

Time to sexual maturity: ~85-150 days

2.8 months to 5 months

Average number of young per egg: ~3

Time to emerge from cocoon: ~3075 days

1 to 2.5 months

Reproductive rate: ~10 young per worm per week

What Type of Earthworms Are


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What Type of Earthworms AreUsed for Vermicomposting?

More than 4,000 species of earthworms Only six species used for vermicomposting worldwide

Eisenia fetida (Red Wigglers) are most commonly used

Epigeic species found in upper topsoil where feed on

decaying matter Anecic: vertical burrows

Endogeic: horizontal

Eff t f V i t M l B


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Effects of Vermicomposts on Mealy BugInfestations on Peppers

Pl P i i N d P l i


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Plant Parasitic Nematode Population

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