This PPT prepared by Dr.E.Sreenivasan of The Western India Plywoods Ltd,is an introduction to the field of industrial wood waste management using vermitechnology

1. Dr.E.SREENIVASAN
Technical Manager, R&D
THE WESTERN INDIA PLYWOODS LTD
BALIAPATAM
KANNUR-670010
Ph:8289865990
E-Mail: dr.sreeniettammal@gmail.com

2. WHAT ARE WOODWASTES?
Lignocellulosic wastes
refer to plant biomass
wastes that are
composed of cellulose,
hemicellulose and
lignin

3. WOOD WASTES
Examples
 Bark
 Sawdust
 Peeler waste
 Chipper bottom waste
 Chip residues
 Pulp sludge
 Cutting waste

4. WHAT IS VERMICOMPOSTING?
Vermicomposting is essentially the consumption
of organic material by earthworms. This speeds up
the process of decomposition and provides a
nutrient-rich end product, called vermicompost,
in the form of ‘worm castings’.
The technique yields organic fertilizers, permits
safe disposal of certain organic wastes and reduces
the requirement for landfill.

5. EARTHWORMS
 Earthworm gut is a bioreactor which increases the
beneficial microbial density facilitating rapid
decomposition of wastes
 About 3600 species of earthworms recorded in the
world
 Three types: a)Endogeic b)Anecic and c)Epigeic

6. EARTHWORMS

7. EARTHWORMS FOR VERMICOMPOSTING
Common species
 Eudrilus eugeniae
 Eisenia foetida
 Perionyx excavatus
 Lampito mauritii

8. EARTHWORMS FOR VERMICOMPOSTING
DESIRABLE ATTRIBUTES
 Excellent conversion efficiency: Worm should exhibit high biomass
consumption and high rate of conversion of ingested biomass to body
proteins, a physiological trait required for achieving high growth rate.
 Tolerance to environmental changes: Worm should have wider
range of tolerance to environmental factors including adaptation to
feed on a variety of organic residues
 High multiplication rate: Worm should produce large numbers of
cocoons with short hatching time enabling rapid population growth
and, linked to this rapid growth, faster composting of organic residues.
 Early maturity: Life cycle of the worm should be such that
mature/adult phase is quickly reached.
 Disease resistance: Worm should be disease resistant.

9. VERMICOMPOSTING
Methods
 Pit below the ground
 Heap above the ground
 Tank above the ground
 Cement ring
 Commercial model

10. VERMICOMPOSTING

11. VERMICOMPOSTING
Precautions
1.Maintain the moisture at 50-60 % level in the pit.
2.Temperature between 25-28 ºC.
3.Base material (FYM) should be partially
decomposed.
4.Proper aeration should be provided without
disturbing the worms.

12. VERMICOMPOSTING
Tanks above ground

13. VERMICOMPOSTING
Semi-commercial

14. VERMICOMPOST
Sieving

15. VERMICOMPOST
Packing

16. VERMICOMPOST
Sample

17. VERMICOMPOST
Benefits
 Because of the chemical nature of the
vermicompost which is essentially a lignin
complex with ion exchange and adsorption
properties, nutrients are tenaciously held and
made available slowly throughout the life of the
plant.
 Retain enormous quantity of water
 Fixation of organic carbon in soil thereby reduce
atmospheric carbon responsible for global
warming

18. VERMICOMPOST
Benefits
 Productive utilization of organic waste materials
 It is a store-house of plant nutrients.
 It improves the physical, chemical and biological
properties of the soil and better crop productivity.
 Earthworms effectively harness the beneficial soil
microflora, destroy soil pathogen and convert organic
wastes in to vitamins, enzymes and others organic
compounds.
 Vermicompost is becoming an alternative to
conventional compost and FYM sources for organic
farming.
 It also controls soil as well as environmental pollution.
 It maintains the soil health

19. VEGETABLE CULTIVATION
USING VERMICOMPOST

20. THANK YOU