Process of Vermicomposting

Vermicompost
Process of Manufacturing:
Soil is to be excavated in the four katcha sheds upto a depth of about one foot for preparing the beds which
contain organic waste, vermi castings and cowdung. The length and width of the beds is 100ft. and 5 ft.
respectively. Some paddy straw should be spread evenly at the bottom of the excavations. Vermi castings are
placed over this straw and the shredded waste material and cowdung slurry are charged in order to feed the
earthworms. Charging of waste and cowdung slurry should be continued till the heap of material is one foot
above the ground level. The entire bed should be sprinkled with water daily to keep the heaps moist. The heaps
are covered with gunny bags to keep them completely dark. The temperature should be maintained at less than 28
deg. C. In two months time, the entire waste would been digested by the earthworms and converted into dark
brown compost rich in organic nutritive matter. After drying, this material is sieved and sold.
Vermicompost and its utilization

Vermicompost is nothing but the excreta of earthworms, which is rich in humus and nutrients. We can rear
earthworms artificially in a brick tank or near the stem / trunk of trees (specially horticultural trees). By
feeding these earthworms with biomass and watching properly the food (bio-mass) of earthworms, we can
produce the required quantities of vermicompost.
Advantages of vermicompost:
1. Vermicompost is rich in all essential plant nutrients.
2. Provides excellent effect on overall plant growth, encourages the growth of new shoots / leaves and
improves the quality and shelf life of the produce.
3. Vermicompost is free flowing, easy to apply, handle and store and does not have bad odour.
4. It improves soil structure, texture, aeration, and waterholding capacity and prevents soil erosion.
5. Vermicompost is rich in beneficial micro flora such as a fixers, P- solubilizers, cellulose decomposing
micro-flora etc in addition to improve soil environment.
6. Vermicompost contains earthworm cocoons and increases the population and activity of earthworm in the
soil.
7. It neutralizes the soil protection.
8. It prevents nutrient losses and increases the use efficiency of chemical fertilizers.
9. Vermicompost is free from pathogens, toxic elements, weed seeds etc.
10. Vermicompost minimizes the incidence of pest and diseases.
11. It enhances the decomposition of organic matter in soil.
12. It contains valuable vitamins, enzymes and hormones like auxins, gibberellins etc.
Nutrient content of vermicompost

Nitrogen- 1.5 – 2.5 % Calcium- 0.5 – 1.0 %
Phosphorus- 0.9 – 1.7 % Magnessium- 0.2 – 0.3 %
Potash- 1.5 – 2.4 % Sulphur- 0.4 - 0.5 %
And other micronutrients with vitamins, enzymes and hormones.
Materials for preparation of Vermicompost:

Any types of biodegradable wastes-
1. Crop residues 2. Weed biomass 3. Vegetable waste 4. Leaf litter 5. Hotel refuse 6. Waste from agro-
industries 7. Biodegradable portion of urban and rural wastes.
Methods of preparation
1. The vermicompost can be prepared in concrete tank. The size of the tank should be 10 ft. length or more
depending upon the availability of land and raw materials, breadth 3- 5ft and height 3 ft. Suitable plastic
tube / basin structure may also be needed. The floor of the tank should be connected with stones and pieces
of bricks.
2. The available bio-wastes are to be collected and are to be heaped under sun about 7-10 days and be
chopped if necessary.
3. Sprinkling of cow dung slurry to the heap may be done.
4. A thin layer of half decomposed cow dung (1-2 inches) is to be placed at the bottom.
5. Place the chopped weed biomass and partially decomposed cow dung layer wise (10-20 cm) in the tank /
pot upto the depth of 2 ½ ft. The bio waste and cow dung ratio should be 60: 40 on dry wt. Basis.
6. Release about 2-3 kg earthworms per ton of biomass or 100 nos. earthworms per one sq. ft. area.
7. Place wire net / bamboo net over the tank to protect earthworm from birds.
8. Sprinkling of water should be done to maintain 70-80 % moisture content.
9. Provision of a shed over the compost is essential to prevent entry of rainwater and direct sunshine.
10. Sprinkling of water should be stopped when 90 % bio-wastes are decomposed. Maturity could be judged
visually by observing the formation of granular structure of the compost at the surface of the tank.
11. Harvest the vermicompost by scrapping layer wise from the top of the tank and heap under shed. This
will help in separation of earthworms from the compost. Sieving may also be done to separate the
earthworms and cocoons.
Vermi wash- a plant growth regulator

Vermi wash is a liquid plant growth regulator, which contains high amount of enzymes, vitamins and
hormones like auxins, gibberellins etc along with macro and micronutrients used as foliar spray.
Methods of preparation
1. Take one big bucket and one mug.
2. Set up one stop cork on the lower most part of the bucket.
3. Put a layer of broken bricks, pieces of stones having thickness of 10-15 cm in the bucket.
4. Over this layer put another layer of sand having thickness of 10-15 cm.
5. Then put a layer of partially decomposed cow dung having 30-45 cm thickness over it.
6. Then put another layer of soil having 2-3 thicknesses.
7. Now open the stopcock of the bucket and when the materials taken in the bucket.
8. Then put 100-200 nos. of earthworms in the bucket.
9. After that, a layer of paddy straw having 6 cm thickness is given.
10. Now open the stopcock of the bucket and spray water regularly for a period of 7-8 days.
11. After 10 days the liquid vermin wash will be produced in the bucket.
12. Hang one pot with a bottom hole over the bucket in such a way so that water falls drop by drop.
13. Every day 4-5 litres of water is to be poured in the hanging pot.
14. Keep another pot under stop cork to collect the vermin wash. Every day 3-4 litres vermin wash can be
collected.
Application
1. Mix 1 litres of vermin wash with 7-10 litres of water and spray the solution in the leaf (upper and lower
side) in the evening at the growing the crop.
2. Mix 1 litre of vermin wash with 1 litre of cow urine and then add 10 litres of water to the vermin urine
solution and mixed thoroughly and keep it over night before spraying 50-60 litre of such solution and to be
sprayed in one bigha of land to control various crop diseases.
Efficient species:
Eisenia foetida
Amyanthes diffrigens
Eudrillus engineac

Process of Vermicomposting

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Process of Vermicomposting

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Vermicompost

Vermicompost and its utilization

Nutrient content of vermicompost

Materials for preparation of Vermicompost:

Vermi wash- a plant growth regulator

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