Vermiculture
Terms and Definition
• Vermicomposting- is the process of producing compost or organic fertilizer
through the action of earthworm.
• Vermiculture – the process of propagating worms or simply worm farming.
• Vermicast- is worm excreta, it is considered by many to be the best organic
fertilizer.
• Substrate – mixture fed to the worms which they will excrete as vermicast.
• Carbon to Nitrogen ratio (C:N)- is an estimate of the relative amounts of
these two elements in the substrate. The desired C:N is 3:1.
• Vermi-compost- is interchangeably used with vermicast. While vermicast is
pure excreta, vermi-compost is considered by some authors as the mixture
of vermicast with some of the substrate that the worms have not eaten in
the worm bed.
Vermiculture
• Is the management of worms
• It defines the thrilling potential for waste reduction, fertilizer production, as
well as an assortment of possible uses for future.
• Enhances the growth of plants that provide food along with producing
prosperous and financially rewarding fertilizer.
• Earthworms is one of the natures pinnacle “Soil Scientist”
• Worms facilitate the amount of air and water that travel into the soil. They
break down organic matter and when they eat, they leave behind castings that
are exceptionally valuable type of fertilizer.
• Earthworms as Chinese Character for earthworms when translated to English
means “ Angels of the Earth”
Vermiculture
• Earthworm species (Composting worm) most often used are Red
Wigglers (Eisenia foetida) or Red Earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus).
• Together with the bacteria, earthworms are major catalyst for
decomposition in a healthy vermicomposting system, although other
soil species also play a contributing role: these include insects, other
worms ad molds.
Different Earthworms Species in
Vermicomposting
Different Earthworms Species in
Vermicomposting
• African Night Crawler (Eudrilus euginae)
Characteristics of African Night Crawler
• Hermaphrodites
• Matures in 6 weeks
• Population doubles in about a month
• Temperature requirement 25-29 degree Celsius under shade
Advantages in Vermicomposting
• Environment friendly
• No imported inputs required
• Labor extensive
• Highly profitable
Benefits of Vermicompost/ Casting in the Soil
• Increase moisture and nutrient retention of the soil
• Improves aeration and root penetration
• Reduces crusting of soil surface
• Micronutrients are added
• Increases the number of beneficial soil microorganisms
• Soil Conditioner
• Improves soil structure, porosity and water holding capacity,
• Supplies the essential nutrients for better plant growth,
• Provides plant growth regulators
• Results in 100% organically produced crops.
FERTILIZER PRODUCTION
CARBON TO NITROGEN RATIO (C:N , 3:1)
NITROGEN SOURCE
CARBON
(3) (1) SOURCE Plant Source
Animal
Manure
Grass •Kakawate
Rice straw leaves
Corn stover •Ipil-ipil leaves
•Mongo All animal
Wood
•Kudzu manures
Saw dust
except dog,
Some examples of Cocodust •“Baging ilog”
September 2006
•wild sunflower cat and
Cococoir
carbon and nitrogen Paper •Katuray leaves human
sources Cane tops •azolla
Cane trash •peanut
MATERIALS
Carbon Nitrogen (50%)
(50%)
Plant Animal
Manure
• Sawdust • Madre de • Carabao
• Cocodust Cacao • Cow
• Rice straw leaves • Chicken
• Corn waste • Ipil-ipil
• Pig
leaves • Goats
September 2006
• Baging Ilog
• Legumes
Stages of Vermicomposting
1. Anaerobic Stage
partial decomposition
10-20 days
2. Aerobic Stage
Worms are introduce to the substrate
40-60 days
Steps in making VERMICOMPOSTING
1. Site Selection
2. Resources for making substrate
3. Maintenance
4. Harvesting
5. Preservation of the Vermicompost
1. Site Selection
Cold Temperature
Not directly exposed to the sun
Not flooded area
There is availability of water
Availability of Materials and resources
Good Ventilation
2. Resources for making substrate
A. Gather all needed materials to B. Chop the legumes or
make a substrate roughage as possible
Prepare earthworm’s food
C. Vermi bin
a. Anaerobic
decomposition
b. Aerobic
decomposition
3. Maintenance
Maintain 70 % moisture
(5 -7 drops)
Secure your pit from sunlight and insects
Always provide substrate to your Earthworms
4. Harvesting
manual extraction Transfer of
worms
Harvesting will commence 28-35 days or
4-5 weeks after stocking of worms
Separate the breeder worms
from juvenile/baby worms
5. Air-drying and Storing
Sieve the Vermicast to separate
the fine and the coarse Air drying
6. Drying and Sacking of the Vermicast
1. 30%
moisture
2. Store in a dry and cool place.
The earth without worms would soon become
cold, hard bound, and void fermentation and
consequently sterile.
Charles
Darwin
