282 week study of vermicast production in the philippines

1. Eudrilus Eugeniae (African Night Crawler)
Starting Formula for Potting Mix
1/4 Vermicast
1/4 Rice hull charcoal
1/4 Soil - from your farm
1/4 Sand
282 Week Study Of Vermicast Production In The Philippines
Keith Mikkelson, Aloha House, Palawan, Philippines
4. Results
• 282 weeks yielded 241 liters per week from 38 sq. m. = 6.37 liters/sq. meter/week
• (1975 days yielded 34 liters/day from 38 sq. m. = 0.91 liters/sq. meter/day)
• 88 tons from 38 sq. m. harvested over 5 years, 4 months, 27 days
Vermiculture area can now be accurately calculated for potting soil volume requirements.
Vermicast ppm NPK %
Nitrogen (N) 5,100 0.51
Phosphate (P2O5) 8,200 0.82
Potash (K2O) 2,500 0.25
Manganese 110
Iron 677
Copper 6
Zinc 206
1. Background and Introduction
• Profitable vegetable and herb production can be a challenge in tropical conditions due to
poor fertility, heavy rains, strong UV rays, high heat and excessive evaporation.
• Plant nurseries can buffer these environmental stresses with micro climates but potting soil
methods and formulas are often inconsistent and perform inconsistently.
• A high quality potting soil can be consistently made with local materials throughout Asia.
2. Purpose
Determine the volume of pure vermi castings produced per square meter in order to boost
production and lower input costs through farm generated fertility utilizing vermiculture of non food
waste. A farm with integrated livestock can use manures as the key source of fertility in
vermiculture production thus boosting potting soils for higher profits.
3. Methodology
The Top Harvest Method (THM) of gathering pure castings of the Eudrilus Eugeniae
(African Night Crawler-A.N.C.) was tracked on a resource center in the Philippines. Top
harvesting the castings allows the A.N.C. maximum production and allows the farmer to
collect the highest quality and volume for his efforts. A method was developed for pure
vermicast production that enhanced a high performance potting soil for intensive nursery
management in the tropics.
Manures from pastured goats, cows and hogs were pre-composted with Effective
Microorganisms for 2 weeks before use and added to the feed stocks in the vermi beds as
needed. 9 beds totaling 38 sq. meters were stocked. Beds were never emptied. This
insures a full colony of A.N.C. and beneficial composters within the soil food web. Loss of
eggs and juveniles to removal and screening is minimized because of the top harvest
method. Prolific breeding take place in the feedstock and egg deposits are maximized.
Castings do not need screening when top harvested with care. Beds are watered weekly
for five consecutive days to promote feeding/breeding activity. To aid in cast removal, water
was withheld for 24 hrs. prior to harvest. Aeration of the beds takes place with gentle fork
manipulation weekly after harvest. Castings averaged 30% moisture content and were
measured by volume weekly. Castings are used in a high performance potting mix
consisting of 4 equal parts of vermicasts/ rice hull charcoal/ clay soil/ sand.
Top harvesting castings
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