Culture of vermi

1. EarthWorm
Vermicomposting

2. What is vermicompost?
• Vermicompost is the end result of worms
decomposing organic matter to produce a usable
fertile source of worm castings, that supply vital
nutrients and beneficial microbes to soil, and
plants.

3. The Red wriggler
Eisenia foetida
• This species has an appetite for decaying organic
waste material such as vegetable, newspaper,
manure, grain hull, and almost all plant matter,
along with non chemically processed papers, pet
hair, drier lint.
• It can eat ½ of its body weight in one day.
• Doubles in population in 60 days, (depends on the
size of vermicomposting space.

5. Worm+composting
• Why?
• On site fertilizer/compost.
• Low maintenance
• Rapid rate of decomposition
• No loss in nutrients, to the atmosphere
• No waste!

6. Food chain of
vermicomposting

7. • Castings, are 50 % higher in organic matter than soil
that has not moved through worms.
• CEC- castings create a greater amount of charge-
holding surface area.
• Other nutrients have the ability to attach to the organic
matter that passes through the worm.
• Worms digestive enzymes (also the bacteria in the
worms intestines) unlock many of the chemical bonds
that other wise tie up nutrients and prevent their plant
availability.
• Castings are 7 times richer in phosphate, 10 times the
available potash, 5 times the available nitrogen, 3
times the usable magnesium,
• 1 ½ times higher calcium.

8. Vermicomposting and plant
pathogens
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFGQR5ERaP
Q
• A practical application of vermicomposting will be
with greenhouse cultivation of transplants.
• Do to the oxygen rich environment the worms
produce, plant pathogens, and human pathogens
find it difficult to survive.

9. Commercial applications
-can be used for seed bedding
-transplant mix
-organic fertilizer
-Organic disease management practices
-potential business
-

10. Biostead applications
• On site fertilizer
• Nutrient rich organic matter
• Used for greenhouse production
• -transplants, raised beds, rice paddies, zero
agricultural waste, zero food waste.
• Compost tea
• No Odor!
• Low physical maintenance

11. How to Vermi farm!
You need a structure to hold the worms
• Worms need a moist, cool, dark environment
• Hence: “Earth”-Worm..
• temperatures between 55 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit and are
suited to living in a worm bin
• Under a kitchen sink, in a garage, in a basement, under shade
outside. Underground in greenhouse.
• Make sure there is enough space for the worms to reproduce.
• Let them eat there meal before adding more!
• Do not let them loose into your garden!

12. • 1 lb. per 1000 worms
• 1/2 lb. of kitchen scraps/green waste/ carbon is
eaten each day.
• Average person in America throws .6 lbs. of food
waste each day. Over 20 lbs. per month
• 30-40% of our food is ending up in landfills
annually.

13. Making a change, is too
make the system in play
obsolete

14. Worms are woman/mans
best friend!

15. Diverse ways of
vermicomposting

17. tips
• Very small amounts of citrus fruits
• No meat, To avoid pest problems, and rodents, and smell. Don’t
waste meat, that animal will be shaking its head in the spirit
world.
• Egg shells are really important for adding grit to the worms
digestion.
• Make an effort to dry them out, and crush them before placing
them into the bin.
• Eggs shells help lower acidity, due to the calcium in the shells.
• do not add excess applications of eggshells though. Let the
worms eat the eggs shells before adding more, Add around ½
cup of eggs per month, per 1 lb. of worms. (may vary)

18. More tips
• Making bedding- fill the bin ¾ the way with
newspaper scraps, cardboard, coconut husk, rice
hulls.
• Make sure to soak the bedding before hand.
• Worms eat their bedding
• Avoid glossy newspaper or magazines. Only soy
based ink, or other plant based colors are
acceptable.

19. Advantages of
Vermicomposting
1. Offers more nutrients
2. No leaching
3. Zero soil pullotion
4. Improves soil texture
5. Contains growth hormones
6. Improves growth of plants
7. Takes less space
8. Ensure zero waste
9. Improves quality of the harvest
10. Saves money

20. Thank You!