This document provides information on vermicomposting, which is the process of using worms and microorganisms to break down food scraps into a nutrient-rich fertilizer called vermicompost. It discusses how vermicomposting works, the materials needed like a worm bin and bedding, suitable worm species, the harvesting process, and advantages of using vermicompost like enriching soil and increasing plant yields.

1. -Niraj Kumar
Payal Gunaki

2. Background
 Vermicomposting is as old as life on Earth
 Michigan biology teacher ,Mary Appelhof arrived at the
idea of home Vermicomposting
 In the winter of 1972, she created a Vermicomposting Pit in
her basement . The end of the season saw 65 lbs. of garbage
consumed and resultant worm compost aiding impressive
vegetable growth in her garden

3.  The process of using worms and micro-organisms to
turn kitchen waste into a black, earthy-smelling,
nutrient-rich humus- Vermicompost
 Containing water-soluble nutrients, Vermicompost is
an excellent, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil
conditioner
What is it?

4. Materials Required
 Worm Bin
 Bedding
 Water
 Worms
 Food Scraps
 Temperature- 12`c to 25`c, ideally

5. Eisenia fetida
Lumbricus rubellus
Eisenia hortensis
Eudrilus eugeniae
Perionyx excavatus
Suitable Species

6. Procedure
 Select a location for your worm bin
 Prepare bedding. It should be very damp, spread
evenly and filling three-quarters of the bin
 Sprinkle a couple of handfuls of soil (from outdoors or
potting soil) into it to introduce beneficial
microorganisms and to aid the worms' digestive
process
 Gently place worms on top of the bedding. Leave the
bin lid off so worms will burrow into the bedding.
Add food scraps, once they settle

7.  Dig a hole in the bedding, place food scraps and cover with
at least an inch of bedding. Wait a week before adding
more food
 Leave untouched to get worms used to new surroundings
 Bury food scraps in a different area of the bin each time
(any time of the day)
 Other creatures may be observed

8. Harvesting Worms & Compost
 After about six weeks, worm castings seen
 In three or four months, harvest the castings. Partially
decomposed bedding, food scraps and worms will be
seen with castings
 This mixture is Vermicompost

9. Harvesting Vermicompost
 Two Methods:
 -Place food scraps on only one side of worm bin for
several weeks, most of the worms will migrate to that
side. Remove the Vermicompost from the other side of
the bin and add fresh bedding.
 Repeat process on the other side of the bin

10.  -Empty contents of worm bin onto a plastic sheet
where there is strong sunlight/artificial light. Wait
20-30 minutes and scrape off top layer of compost
 Pick up worms that get scattered in groups and gently
return them to the bin in fresh bedding
 Worm eggs contain two to ten baby worms. Place the
eggs back inside bin

11. Mechanism
 Earthworm gut is an effective tubular bioreactor with feed
entering from one end and castings leaving through other end
 73% gram -ve, facultative anerobic, Vibrio sp
 A novel temperature regulatory mechanism accelerates
bioprocess and prevents enzyme inactivation due to high
temperature
 Mucous produced by glands in anterior region of gut
provides favorable substrate

12. Using Vermicompost
 Either use immediately or after storing
 For outdoor plants, mulch/mix material into soil. Can
also be used as a top dressing on outdoor plants or
sprinkled on your lawn as conditioner
 For indoor plants mix with potting soil. For top
dressing, remove decaying bedding and food scraps
from the castings. No worms or eggs in the castings, as
they will not survive
 "compost tea" to feed plants

13. Advantages
 Enriching soil (5-10% richer in K, P, N)
 Increasing harvest yields
 Suppressing plant disease
 Media is freely generated!

14. Thank You!