VERMICOMPOSTING

Introduction
Vermicompostingisatechnologyofcompostingvarious
formsofbiodegradablewasteswiththehelpof
earthworms.
Thiscompostisperfectlybalancedandgoodinplants
nutrients.

Vermicomposting
Composting worms eat
decaying organic matter and
turn it into worm castings
(worm feces). The result is
vermicompost, a mixture of
worm castings and composted
material such as the bedding
in bin.

Why do it

Ecologically responsible
Reduce waste in landfills and
sewage treatment plants
Provides valuable additives for your
plants

Saves you money

Worms for fishing

Composting bins

Ready made
Layers
Drainage

Composting bins

Homemade

Depth
Surface area

Getting Started

Bin
Style
Moisture control
Aeration

Bedding

Cardboard
Newspaper
Coconut fiber
Old leaves
Wood chips

Seeding

Need a microbial rich substance

to start the bin off.

Compost
Vermicompost
Manure
Dirt

Nothing too fresh though! You

dont want to generate heat
from the seeding substance.

Worms

Not all worms are equal!

Composters, not earthworkers

Redworms Eisenia foetida

Full density is 1 lb per sq ft of surface area

Worms, worms
Worms become mature at 10
weeks
Will produce 2 to 3 cocoons
a week

Each cocoon holds 2-5 babies

Cocoons take 3 weeks to hatch

In 6 months, 8 worms will

multiply
into 1500 if conditions are
right
They will stop breeding if
there is
not enough food or space

Food scraps
1/2 lb of food per sq ft of surface area
(assuming full worm density) per day
kind

Vegetable scraps
Egg shells
Coffee grounds
Bread
Plant waste
No meat or bones
No pet waste

Worms eat the microbes that feed on the decaying food, not the
food itself.
Food wont attract them until it starts to spoil.
Consider pre-composting food

VERMICULTURE
It means artificial rearing and cultivation of
earthworm and the technique is the scientific
process of using them multiplication for the
betterment of environment.

VERMIWASH
It is a liquidplant growth regulator which contain
high amount of enzyme,vitamins and hormone
like auxin,gibberelin,cytokinin along with micro
and macro nutrient used as foliar spray.

OBJECTIVE OF VERMI
COMPOSTING

To study about preparation of compost by

earthworm.To know the importance of
vermicompost as a source of nutrient.To get
technique about the harvesting of
earthworm and compost.To know how to
use plant and animal waste efficiently.

Requirements
Earthworms

Anegeic

Subsurfacedweller
Lampitomauritii

Endogeics

Deepsoil
dwellers
Octochaetona
thrustoni

Requirements

Contd.

Earthworms:
Commonlyfollowingvaritiesareusedforvermicomposting

Epigeicssurfacedwellers

Nutrient profile of vermicompost

Vermicompost contains :
1.6% Nitrogen;
0.7% Phosphorus;
0.8% Potash;
0.5% Calcium;
0.2% Magnesium;
175 ppm Iron;
96.5 ppm Manganese;
24.5 ppm Zinc
15.5 C:N ratio.

PREPARATION OF VERMICOMPOST
MATERIALS
REQUIRED:
1.Organicwaste
2.Cowdung
3.Earthworm
4.Vermiunitbed
5.Temporaryorpermanet
shed
6.Ghunnybag
7.Water
Preparation of vermicompost from
paddy straw

PHASES OF VERMICOMPOST

Phase 1
collection of wastes, shredding,
mechanical separation of the metal, glass
and ceramics and storage of organic
wastes.

Phase 2
Pre digestion of organic waste for
twenty days by heaping the material
along with cattle dung slurry.
Phase 3
Preparation of earthworm bed. A
concrete base is required to put the waste
for vermicompost preparation.

Phase 4
Collection of earthworm after
vermicompost collection. Sieving the
composted material to separate fully
composted material.
Phase 5
Storing the vermicompost in proper
place to maintain moisture and allow the
beneficial microorganisms to grow.

PREPARATION
OF
VERMICOMPOST

PROCEDURE
Constructtheconcretetankbedsofsize3m*1m*0.5m
Thenconstructashedoverthebedtoprotecttheearthwormfrom
sunlightandnaturalenemieslikepoultry,duckandotherbirds.
Theoptimumtemperatureforvermicompostproductionis2030
oC.
Inthe1stlayerspread5cmofslowdecomposingmateriallike
bananaleaf,ricebarn,sugarcanetrashetc.andspreadathinlayer
ofcowdungonit.
Insecondlayerspread5cmofdecomposingmateriallikesaw
dust,straw,dryleafandspreadathinlayerofcowdungonit.
Sprinklewaterinordertoprovidingpressingofsecondlayerand
controltheheatreleasedduringdecompositionofcowdungif
fresh.

Spreadthegreenleaf,vegetablewasteetc.andaddpulsebarnor
powder.Partmixedwith2partcowdungupto30cm.Sprinklethe
waterandcoveredwithjutebagtoretainmoisturelevelof50
60%.
Aftertwoweeksremovethejutebagandgentleplace1000earth
wormsperm2ofbedandwaittillthewormsmoveinside.Cover
withjutebagandsprinklewithwatertoretainthemoisturelevel
of4050%.Neveruseplasticcoveringasittrapsheatandgas.
Sprinklethewaterregularlytocontrolthetemperatureand
moisture.Sprinklelimepowderorneemleafextractoverbagto
protectfrommosquitoesandflies.Turnthejutebagatsuitable
interval.
Compostisreadyafter68weeksofreleaseofearthworm.Asthe
compostisgettingready,thedarkbrowncolournoticedwith
sweetsmell,softandspongy.

Forcollectionofcompostprepareconeshapedheapduetonature
ofearthwormmovesdownwardandgoesfurtherinside.
Againprepareaheapandrepeattheprocesstillcollectionofall
compost.
Thencollectearthwormandusethemfornewbeds.

Care
Add food
Maintain
moisture
Harvest
castings

Harvesting Methods

For compost and restocking

Hand Sort
Halving
Bag trap

For compost only

Dumping

Points to remember
Composting worms dont do well out in your garden
unless your soil is rich in humus. They need compost
for food!
Inside or outside

Inside:
Space limitations
Bugs
Smell

Outside
Weather
Animals
Size

Preparation

Assembled bin
Placed on styrofoam
insulation sheet
Drilled holes in sides
for ventilation
Covered holes with
screening using glue
gun to keep out bees

Winterizing

Place large covered bucket or container in middle

of bin. Fill 2/3 with water.
Put birdbath heater into water. Cut hole in cover for
the cord. If extension cord is needed to reach
outlet, wrap joint securely with plastic.
Fill worm bin with bedding so it almost reaches top.
Wrap sides with sheets of styrofoam insulation.
Cut piece of foam insulation to lay on top of
bedding.
When temperature falls below freezing, plug in
heater. It should create a core that is not frozen
where the worms will gather.

Winter feeding
They should keep eating
Less amount perhaps

What makes worms THRIVE?

T temperature
H H2O
R recycle organics
I invertebrates
V ventilation
E environment and
pH

What makes worms

CRAWL?
C change of habitat
R rain
A absence of air
W water
L lack of food

More reality
Concerns

Solutions

Mushrooms

Smell

Time
Children/Pets

Come from wood chip bedding.

Just bury into bedding.
Properly maintained bin has little
smell.
Stop feeding for a week.
Change some of the bedding.
Remove uneaten food.
Except for harvesting, it takes less than
1/2 hour per week

Great learning tool for kids.

Closed bins keep pets out.

Uses
On house plants
In outdoor gardens
Very high in nutrients
Compost tea

Benefits of vermicompost
Vermicompost is a nutrient rich compost which:
o helps better plant growth and crop yield
o improves physical structure of soil.
o enriches soil with micro-organisms
o attracts deep-burrowing earthworms already present in the
soil which,indirectly improves fertility of soil.
o increase water holding capacity of soil.
o enhances germination, plant growth, and crop yield.
o improves root growth of plants.
o enriches soil with plant hormones such as auxins and
gibberellic acid.