Vermicompost
is the excreta of earthworms, which is rich in humus. It’s an organic manure
(bio-fertilizer) produced as the vermicost by earthworms feeding on biological
waste material as well as plant residues. Earthworms eat cow dung or farm yard
manure along with farm wastes and pass it through their body and in the process
convert it into vermicompost. Vermicompost is the process of using worms and
micro-organisms to turn Kitchen waste and cowdung into a block,
earthy-smelling, nutrient-rich humus. This compost is an odorless, clean, Phosphorous,
Potash and several micro-nutrients essential for plant growth. It is
eco-friendly, non-toxic, consumes low energy input for composting and is a
re-cycled biological product.
The
worms used in vermicomposting are called red worms (Eisenia foetida). Red worms
prefer temperatures between 55 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit
and are suited to living in such cement made container. However, the temperature of the container should not
go below freezing or above 84 degree Fahrenheit.
A
NGO Experience:
Cement
made ring-slabs are normally available in the locality which is low-cost and
can be used for a long time to culture vercomposting. Keep this ring on bricks
floor which should be under a tin-shed or thatched roof or plastic shed to
avoid rainwater and sunlight. The base is erected in East-West direction length
wise to protect it from sunlight. Vermicomposting places must be able to retain
both moisture and air. The cement made ring requires a cover to conserve
moisture and provide darkness for the worms, thus the entire places should not
be too dry or too wet. As worms need to remain moist and also air to live, so
that adequate ventilator should be ensured. It the places is drying out, need
to light watering to keep it moist.
The
available bio-wastes are to be collected and to be heaped under sun about 7-10 days
and be chopped. Then sprinkling of partial decomposed cowdung slurry to the
heap is useful, where a thin layer of half decomposed cow dung (1-2 inches)
need to be placed at the bottom. After that bio-wastes and partially decomposed
cowdung layer at the ratio of 60:40 to be placed in the container. Then release
at the rate of 100 number earthworms per sq. feet area.
Any
kind of biodegradable wastes like crop residues, leaf litter, old cow dung,
weed biomass, vegetables waste, etc. can be used to prepare vermicompost.
Generally one Kilogram worms can take half Kilogram of Kitchen garbage farm
yard manure and cowdung (non-fresh cowdung) per day. After habituated
sometimes, feed can be provided to their entire body weight. However, it is
best to wait to provide fresh food until the given food has been taken fully by
the worms. In order to add worms to the container, simply scatter them over the
top. The skin on the worm reacts to light and they will immediately work their
way down into the container to get away from the light. Most of all vegetables,
fruits waste, tea bags, created egg shells, etc. can be used as feed to the worms,
but gastic and onion skin creates some problem. It is more manageable when more
leafy vegetables to be added with less fruit and citrus, as citrus have a
strong odour and the peelings seem to last a
long time in the container. At the beginning of vermicomposting, it will take
time to form bacteria, so that need to add small amount of kitchen waste and
old cowdung as start-up the vermicomposting. Kitchen waste and old moist
cowdung can be increased gradually in the container. If the containers Kept in
a dark place or covered the container, the worms will come to the surface to
eat.
If
it is possible to follow the all above system and maintain the technology in a
proper way with ensuring right environment, the worms will go to work to digest
the Kitchen wastes area within 3 months the worms will have digested all the
garbage and the container will be formed with rich and black coloured organic
fertilizer. It is assumed the worm casting container five times more nitrogen,
seven times more phosphorus and eleven times more potassium. The vermicompost
are rich in humic acids and improve the
structure of the soil. After fully prepared as compost with black colour and
odorless form, need to remove the same from container as vermicompost.
During
removed of vermicompost from the container, need to careful about worm eggs,
cocoons and small warms which should be picked-up from removed vermicompost and
returned them to the contains. After removal of vermicompost from container,
need to refill the containers with fresh layers.
During
extension of this activity at field level, it is observed that earthworms
multiply 200 to 300 times with two to three months, which can be used to prepare
vermicompost further
Advantages of
vermicompost:
v Vermicompost improves soil
aeration, texture and tills which helps to reduce soil compaction.
v It improves water retention
capacity of soil because of its high organic matter content.
v It improves nutrient status of
soil, both macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients.
Challenges
of vermicompost:
v Vermicompost pit should be
profited from direct sunlight and excess rainwater.
v Need to keep the pit at moist
level throughout the year.
Nutrition value in vermicompost:
Nitrogen 1.5 -2.5%
Phosphorus 0.9 – 1.7%
Potash .5 – 1.0%
Calcium 0.5-1.0%
Magnesium 0.2 – 0.3%
Sulphur 0.4
-0.5%
Also available of other
micro-nutrients with vitamins enzymes and hormones.
Conclusion:
At least 5% organic matter needs
to be available in the cultivable land for its better productivity. But present
studies say that organic matter is decreasing and now available less than 1%
which is alarming for soil health. Vermicompost is an unique opportunity to
increase organic matter which provides all nutrients in readily available form
and also enhances uptake of nutrients by plants. It provides excellent effect
on overall plant growth encourages the growth of new shoots/leaves and improves
the quality and shelf life of the produce. Vermicompost also minimized the
incidence of pest and diseases.
Under organic farming, A NGO extended
the technology at farm household level in a large scale, which Dept of Ag.
Extension under Government of Bangladesh should come-up to consider the
technology as national programme in order to improve soil health for better
crop production towards ensure food security at national level.