vermicomposting training

Concise Vermicomposting Training(CVT)

Nepal Science Foundation Trust(NSFT)Non-Resident Nepali Association(NRNA)

January 29 2016 Innovation hub, FNCCI building, Teku

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Purposes Agriculture productivity Clean and green city Replication to traditional composting

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Vermicast, also called worm castings or worm manure, is the fecal matter of an earthworm.

Vermicompost is the product or process of composting using various worms, usually red wigglers and other earthworms to create a heterogeneous mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste and vermicast.

This process of producing vermicompost is called vermicomposting.

Vermiculture (rearing earthworms) is actually an animal husbandry

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Ecological categories of Earthworm (Bouché 1977)

Epigeic Anecic EndogeicLive Organic Litter Horizontal burrow Vertical

Feed Organic matter Soil + organic matter Soil + humus(Phytophagous) (Geophytophagous) (Geophagous)

Discharge Holorganic feces Organomineral feces Organomineral

Example Eisenia Lampito PheretimaEudrilus Perionyx

Epigeic worms are commonly used for vermicomposting.

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EARTHWORMS SUITABLE FOR VERMICOMPOSTING

Epigeic species of earthworms, with their natural ability to colonize organic wastes

High rates of consumption, digestion, and assimilation of organic matter Tolerance to a wide range of environmental factors Short life cycles High-reproductive rates Endurance and tolerance of handling

Only few earthworm species display all these characteristics: Eisenia andrei, Eisenia fetida, Lumbricus rubelus, Perionyx excavatus, Eudrilus eugeniae, Lampito mauritti

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1 Cocoon Per

worm

2 wormsin mating

A maturedworm

12 hatchlingsfrom acocoon

4 wee

ks

1

wee

k

2 weeks

Life cycleOf

Earthworm

Temperature 25oCMoisture 75%

Eisenia fetida

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Eisenia fetida is widely used due to it’s :

1.Good reproductive potential2.Good digestive potential3.Good adaptation

Perionyx excavatous

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Eudrilus eugeniae

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Lampito mauritii

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Lumbricus rubellus

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RequirementsSpace and binBedding materialsBiodegradable wastesEarthwormsCoverWaterScreening mesh

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Space with protection from direct sun light and rain water is preferable.

Bin/Box Plastic bins and buckets Earthen pots Wooden boxes Styrofoam basket

Permanent RCC structure

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Bedding Materials

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Biodegradable wastes Kitchen scraps Cattle dung except dog and cat Waste papers Waste cotton clothes Farm weeds

Things to be avoided: Acidic materials like pickles, citrus, orange

etc. Excessive Garlic and onion Excessive Radish Meat products Milk products Alcoholic products

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Earthworms 1 Kilogram worm for space of 1m length and

1 m breadth 1 Kilogram worms need ½ kilogram waste per

day. Vermizyme enzyme in mucus

Cover Jute sheet, paper, hay etc.

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WaterWater should be sprayed time by time to

prevent from making dry. Spraying is necessary at dry season than at

rainy seasonScreening mesh

Mesh of size 1.5 mm is suitable.

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Method Selection of space and bin Holes at bin/drainage at pit Bedding: 3 inch of saw dust, rice bran, leaf litter, hay

etc. can be placed at bottom and water can be sprayed. Waste and scraps can be laid above bedding. Suitable amount of worms can be placed at one corner

where they spread with time. Wet cover can be used to cover whole process. Wastes can be added with interval of 2 days. Wastes should not be given to worms for 1 week

before harvesting vermicompost. Vermicompost can be harvested after 3 months.

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Harvesting Heaping method

News paper is laid down in the floor and vermicompost in the bin is poured on the paper at dusk time with dim light.

The vermicompost is then made small heaps and left for an hour.

Whole worms settle down at bottom where compost at upper surface can be removed.

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Sideway method Vermicompost is moved to one side and fresh

wastes is filled in space. This setup is left for 1 week where all the worms of vermicompost move to fresh waste.

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Enemies of worms Rats- Castanopsis spikes, cactus, traps etc. Mites- cattle urine, EM, Jeevatu Frogs Centipede, Millipede Birds Red ants- cattle urine, EM

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Points to be remembered Waste in small size is better for worms. Vegetables may contain pesticide residue which may affect

worms. So it is better to give after 2 days of storage. High moisture or low moisture can cause death of worms. Place or bin should be free of sunlight and rain. Vermicompost should be harvested after 3 months and

should not exceed 3 months. Harvested compost can not be used immediately as small

worms and cocoons are present. So this compost can be used after 3-4 weeks of harvesting.

Fresh cattle dung can not be used which may harm worm due to heat.

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Vermitea Liquid formed during vermicomposting process

or liquid formed dissolving proportionate amount of vermicompost in water is called vermitea.

Vermitea can be used as liquid fertilizer and as nutrient medium in Hydroponics and Aeroponics system.

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Properties of VermicompostPhysical properties

Easily dissolved in water High porosity Fine particle size Grey and black in color

Chemical propertiespH :7.0 - 7.5C:N ratio :12 -15:1N :1.7- 2.5%P :1.5 -2.25%K :1.25-2.0%Ca, Mg, SO4 :3.0-5.0 times better than FYMFe, Zn, Mn, Cu : 200-700 ppm

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Biological properties

Total bacterial count :more than 1010 (1 mg/L)Actinomycetes, Fungi, Azotobacter, Rhizobium :Approx.102-106

(1 mg/L)

Method of enhancing quality of vermicompost Addition of concrete powders to increase

Phosphorus Addition of EM, Jeevatu to raise Nitrogen level and

microbial activity

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Multiple uses of earthworms In piggery In poultryFish mealHuman mealAquarium fish mealEthno zoological purposes like medicine for

wounds, mammary secretion facilitation, Asthma etc.

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Thank You

Shreeram Ghimire(9851154104)

vermicomposting training

Environment