Prepared by:

Oscar Aala Helen Rantugan and Jocelyn Ricafort AGRONOMY SECTION

Vermes Latin word for worms

Vermicomposting is the process of producing

organic fertilizer through the

action of earthworms Vermiculture is the process of raising earthworms or worm farming

Substrate is the mixture feed to the worms which they will

excrete as vermicasts. They also serve as their habitat

Vermicast- is a worm excreta. It is granular in aggregates which

are mineral granules bonded in such a way that they are resistant to erosion and soil compaction.

Vermicompost or worm compost- mixture of vermicasts

with some of the substrate that the worms have not eaten. for use as an animal protein source.

Vermimeal- is a processed earthworm biomass in powdered form

EARTHWORM & ITS STRUCTURE

Earthworms are segmented invertebrates that inhabit soils and organic waste. - externally segmented - no skeleton - possessed thin colored cuticle - tube within a tube - has digestive tract that runs the length of the body.

Contn
- reproductive

organs,water balance control and nervous system lie b/w 2 tubes - outer and inner tubes are made-up of strong sets of muscle. - with blood-like fluid that fills the rests of the space b/w the 2 tubes.

Earthworm species used in vermi composting Temperate Species

1. Red Wiggler 2. Red Tiger Eisenia fetida Eisenia andrei

3. Red Worms

Lumbricus rubellus

Tropical Species
4. Blue Worms Perionyx escavatus

6. African Nightcrawlers Eudrilus euginae

Reproduction of Earthworms
Reproduction Cycle of Eudrilus euginae

Reproduction and Growth Rate

African Nightcrawler (Eudrilus eugeniae)
3.6 cocoons per adult per week 81% hatching success rate 2.3 hatchlings per cocoon 6.7 youngs per adult per week

Maximum Growth Rate

13-27 days for the cocoons to hatch (20 days ave.) 32-95 days from hatching to sexual maturity (63 d ave.) 43-122 days from egg to maturity (83 days ave.)

Contn..
Perionex excavatus
19.5 cocoons per adult per week 90.7% hatching success rate 1.1 hatchling per cocoon 19.4 youngs per adult per week

Maximum Growth Rate

16-21 days for the cocoon to hatch (18.5 days ave.)

29-55 days from hatching to sexual maturity (42 d ave.) 45-76 days from egg to maturity (60.5 days ave.)

PROCESS CHART FOR VERMICULTURE/VERMICOMPOSTING PREPARATIONS

vermicasts Organic waste vermicomposting earthworms

STEPS IN VERMICOMPOSTING
SITE SELECTION

GATHERING OF ORGANIC MATERIALS

ANAEROBIC DECOMPOSITION (20-30 days) AEROBIC DECOMPOSITION (40-60 days)

VERMICOMPOST

EARTHWORM BIOMASS

STEPS IN VERMICOMPOSTING
Site Selection must be shaded, well-drained
with available water supply

Anaerobic stage raw materials are mixed, watered and

covered in receptacle or vermicomposting unit (bin) to initiate anaerobic decomposition for 10 15 days Aerobic stage this is the stage wherein earthworms are introduced into the substrate. Aerobic decomposition lasts for 40-60 days depending on the materials used. Within the period, watering (not soggy) is done regularly to provide the right moisture (60-80%) for the earthworm to grow and multiply

SUITABLE ORGANIC WASTES FOR EARTHWORM PROCESSING

ANIMALWASTE

Cattle Horse Pig Chicken Rabbit

PLANT REFUSE Leaves

- ipil-ipil - accacia - banana etc. Vegetable waste - kitchen & market Grasses/straws/corn stalks Leguminous plants

INDUSTRIAL / URBAN

Saw dust Sugar baggase Paper Restaurant Food market

Raw Materials for Vermicomposting according to Element Source Nitrogen Source: Farm Animal waste Cow manure Hog manure Poultry manure Goat manure Green Manure Legumes Ipil-ipil Madre cacao Sunflower
Azolla or peanuts

Potassium Source: Rice straw Corn stalk Corn cobs Banana trunk Coconut trunk Sugarcane Trunk Water Lilies Pineapple peelings Biodegradable garbage

Phosphorus Source:

Guano Egg shell Sea shell Mud press

Properties of Vermicompost

has high porosity, aeration , drainage, high water and nutrient-holding capacity. contains macro and micro-nutrients readily available to plants. contains plant growth hormones and humic acids which act as plant growth regulators.

COLLECTION OF SUBSTRATES

PREPARATION OF SUBSTRATES

Feeding the earthworms

Different types of vermibin

Vermicomposting in hollow-block bin

Contn..

Design of earthworm beds

2.5 m

5m 0.35 m

1m

Earthworms in action

Vermicast/vermicompost

Harvesting

Segregate the worms manually. Scrape the vermicasts slowly not to harm the worms. This can be done by tapping the vermicast lightly so that the worms will move downward and we can freely remove the vermicasts without damaging the worms. Segregate the mature or breeder from the juvenile worms. Mature worms can be sold as breeding materials or use again in another vermicomposting activity while juveniles can be transferred to another bin for them to grow.

When 90 % of the substrate were consumed(visual estimate) stop water application to the worm bin for one week for easy segregation of worms from the vermicompost.

Segregate the worms manually.

Unconsumed substrates can be collected and mixed with the newly prepared substrate until they are totally consumed by the worms. Do not sun dry the harvested vermicomposts. Maintain 30 % moisture content. Put the castings in perforated plastic bags, sacks. To transport earthworms, place them in a bag (katsa) and tie the open end with a rubber band. This container can provide the worms proper aeration.

ADVANTAGES OF VERMICOMPOSTING/VERMI CULTURE

Environment friendly since earthworms feed on any thing that is biodegradable, vermi-composting partially aids in the garbage disposal problems. No expensive inputs required worms are now locally available and the materials as feed to them are abundant in the locality as market wastes, grasses, used papers and farm wastes.

Profitable both worms and castings can be sold.

Worms could be used as feed to animals.

Worms are efficient wastes converters, Thus decomposition is fast. Vermicast is an effective bio-fertilizer and media for seedlings and potted plants.

BENEFITS OF VERMICOMPOST
1. Increase moisture and nutrient retention of soil 2. Improves aeration and root penetration 3. Reduces crusting of soil surface 4. Micronutrients are added 5. Increases the number of beneficial soil organisms that suppress harmful soil organism and enhance the release of nutrients from the substrates.

Composition of Vermicompost Derived from Different Substrates

Substrate Horse Manure Market Wastes Moisture (%) 10.26 16.14 N (%) 1.77 1.16 P2O5 (%) 3.16 0.87 K 2O (%) 0.44 0.27 Ca (%) 0.44 0.54 Mg (%) 0.92 1.39 Fe (%) 1.00 1.61 Mn (%) 0.01 0.01 O.M. (%) 39.78 25.32

Rice Straw
75% sawdust 25% Kakawati Paper Substrate Kitchen Waste Grasses Banana Leaves (Dried) Camote Rabbit Manure

4.37
23.98 17.43 8.46 5.78 10.42

1.18
0.59 0.76 2.43 1.11 1.21

0.71
ND ND 0.37 0.56 0.53

1.68
0.39 0.12 1.03 1.29 2.93

1.20
1.52 1.22 7.67 0.59 1.89

0.70
1.38 ND 1.02 0.59 0.70

3.65
0.11 0.14 2.93 0.86

0.11
ND 0.11 0.09 0.05

32.14
-

2.52 1.27

2.32 1.04

1.56 0.68

3.46 0.88

0.46 0.49

0.84 1.40

3.30 1.12

41.56 30.43

C:N Ratio

Why is C:N Ratio Important? Decomposition of organic material (C) by microorganisms requires N -- will stunt plant growth if C:N ratio is to high Good C:N Ratio = 30:1

Carbon to Nitrogen RatioFor Selected Materials(by WeightMaterial )

C:N Materials with High Nitrogen Values

Vegetable Waste Coffee Grounds Grass Clippings Cow Manure Horse Manure Horse Manure (with Liter) Poultry Manure (Fresh) Poultry Manure (with Liter) Pig Manure

12-20 : 1 20 : 1 12-25 : 1 20 : 1 25 : 1 30-60 : 1 10 : 1 13-18 : 1 5-7 : 1

Materials with High Carbon Value

Foliage (Leaves) Corn Stalks Straw Bark Paper Wood Chips and Sawdust

30-80 : 1 60 : 1 40-100 : 1 100-130 : 1 150-200 : 1 100-500 : 1

Major Plant Nutrient Elements in EarthwormProcessed Animal Waste

Element Content (% Dry Weight) Waste Material
Separated Cattle Solids Separated Pig Solids

N
2.20 2.60

P
0.40 1.70

K
0.19 1.40

Ca
1.20 3.40

Mg
0.25 0.55

Mn
0.02 0.03

Cattle Solids on Straw

Pig Solids on Straw Duck Solids on Straw Chicken solids on Shavings Commercial Plant Growth Medium

2.50
3.00

0.50
1.60

2.50
2.40

1.55
4.00

0.30
0.60

0.05
0.05

2.60
1.80 1.80

2.90
2.70 0.21

1.70
2.10 0.48

9.50
4.80 0.94

1.00
0.70 2.20

0.10
0.08 0.92

Clive A. Edwards and Norman Q. Arancon Soil Ecology Laboratory, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, U.S.A.

Effect of Earthworm Activity on Nutrients in Organic Waste Exchangeable

Organic Waste Nitrate Nitrogen (ppm) Readily Soluble P (% d.m.) (% d.m.) K
0.19 0.41

Ca Mg
0.35 0.59 0.05 0.08

Cattle waste Unworked Worm worked Pig waste Unworked Worm worked Potato waste Unworked Worm worked

8.8 259.4

0.11 0.18

31.6 110.3

1.05 1.64

1.49 1.76

1.56 2.27

0.45 0.72

74.6 1428.0

0.19 0.22

1.94 3.09

0.91 1.37

0.24 0.34

d.m., dry matter. Clive A. Edwards and Norman Q. Arancon Soil Ecology Laboratory, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, U.S.A.

Chemical Characteristics of cattle manure-based vermicompost and cattle manure- based traditional compost
Parameter
Total Nitrogen (%) Phosphorous (%) Patassium (%) Calcium (%) Magnesium (g
-1 -1

Vermicompost*
2.0 0.50 0.85 4.30 g-1) 0.56

Traditional Compost**
0.90 0.33 0.44 2.55 0.50

Aluminum (g
Copper (g Zinc (g
-1 -1

g-1)
g-1)

7002
30.5 523 321

7444
15.6 388 133

g-1)
-1

Manganese (g

g-1)

pH 6.8 7.5 *Vermicompost derived from 7.% organic materials composed of Gliricidia and Leucaena leaves and twigs(25%) and Grasses (75%),plus 20% garden soil, plus 10% cattle manure. Nightcrawler earthworms were inoculated in the vermi-bins.
**Traditional compost was derived from 70% organic materials composed of Gliricidia and Leucaena leaves and twigs (25%) and grasses (75%), plus 20% ordinary garden soil and 10% of cattle manure
Eric F. Salamanca and Hiroto Aihira (Institute of Agroforestry and Watershed Management, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, Bocnotan, 2515 La Union) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Manila, Philippines

Other organisms in the worm bin

Centipedes Centipedes are swift predators that will kill worms and need to be removed immediately. Be really careful, they will use the claws behind their heads to sting. Stingers possess poison glands that they use to paralyze small earthworms, insect larvae and small insects and spiders. Centipedes have one set of legs per segment on their bodies.

Earwigs Earwigs are outdoor insects usually found under mulch, logs or dead leaves. They both need and are very attracted to moisture. Rapid runners, earwigs are easily identified by the prominent pincers on the end of the abdomen. The common earwig is a light, reddish brown flattened insect, up to one inch in length. Most species of earwigs are scavengers that feed on dead insects and decaying plant material. Some species are predators. Earwigs may try to pinch if handled carelessly, but are harmless to people.

Fungus Gnats

Fungus gnats look like small reddish brown mosquitoes. They are harmless to people and earthworms. The larvae feed on fungus or plant roots. Adults attack houseplants. To reduce fungus gnat populations in your worm bin, let it dry out by keeping the lid off until the bedding dries out a bit.

Isopods Often called pill bugs, sow bugs, or rolypolies, Isopods look like tiny armadillos. They are really crustaceans with delicate gills along the abdominal surface. Isopods need to be kept moist or they will die. Isopods are vegetarians, and will not harm earthworms.

Millipedes Millipedes are vegetarians that eat decaying plant tissue. They are harmless to earthworms. Millipedes move much more slowly than Centipedes and have a rounder body. Millipedes have two sets of legs per segment on their bodies.

Springtails Springtails are tiny, wingless insects, usually white in color. They feed on mold, fungi, bacteria and decomposing plant material so they are harmless to earthworms. Springtails can jump about 75 mm. They have a tiny spring-like structure under their bellies that shoots them into the air when the catch is triggered. Springtails are most numerous in wetter bedding, while numbers decrease as the bedding dries out.

Land Planarians Land Planarians, also called Flatworms, are iridescent slimy worms with a hammer or disk shaped head. They eat slugs, each other, and are voracious predators of earthworms. Much like slugs, they hide in dark, cool, moist areas during the day. Feeding and movement occur at night. Land Planarians are extremely destructive to earthworm populations and need to be removed and destroyed upon sight. Smashing will not destroy them, as they grow back from small pieces. Spray with orange oil or bleach, or collect to dry out in hot sun.

Fruit Flies

A Fruit Fly has red eyes and a brownish colored body. They are attracted to decaying fruit and vegetable matter. Unfortunately, were there is rotting food, there are usually Fruit Flies. At least they are harmless, even if they are a nuisance. Microwave or freeze food before placing in the worm bin, as this destroys any eggs that exist in the food waste, to prevent infestations. Old fashioned, sticky fly strips work well to clear out adult Fruit Flies.

Predators of Earthworms
Birds

Frogs

Lizards

ants

rats