VERMICOMPOSTING

Worms are gardener’s best

friend
 Meet Our Team Members

PARTHIB
BANERJEE HAIMANTI
20053 SARKAR DIPANKAR DAS
20044 20012

ARPA BANIK SAMPURNA BAG PRIYANKA PRADHAN

20076 20125 20120
 ● Vermicomposting is a
biotechnological process of

What is
composting by which worms are
used to convert organic materials
into a humus-like material known as

Vermicomposting?
Vermicast .
● In the process of vermicomposting,
earthworms are used to recycle
agricultural wastes and to produce a
better quality compost.
● The vermicomposting process takes
three to six months. Actually, it
depends on how much you feed
your worms and how many worms
you have.
 Overview...
Vermicast is the end-product of the
breakdown of organic matter by
earthworms. These excreta contains
reduced level of contaminants and a
higher saturation of nutrients than the
organic materials before
vermicomposting.

Vermicomposting contains nutrient-rich

organic fertilizers, water-soluble
nutrients and soil conditioners. It is
used in sustainable, organic farming and
gardening.
 Composting with worms

Species of earthworms such as Eisenia foetida (Red earthworm), Lumbricus rubellus , Eudrilus
eugeniae (nightcrawler) and Perionyx excavatus , which are used in vermicomposting. These
worms are commonly used to produce vermicompost. They are referred to by a variety of
common names likes tiger worms, red worms, red wigglers and manure worms.

There are several reasons why red earthworms is mostly preferred in the process of
vermicomposting:

● Redworms adapted to live in 55 to 77 degree celsius. The temperature of the bin plays an
important role in worm selection for vermicomposting.
● Due to the high multiplication rate of red earthworm, they converts the organic matter
into vermicompost within 45-50 days. Therefore, it is a surface feeder helps to convert
organic materials into vermicompost from top.
Characteristics of Red earthworms ( Eisenia foetida)
● Body length : 3-10cm
● Maturity : 50-55 days
● Body weight : 0.4-0.6g
● Cocoon production : 1 in every 3 days
● Conversion rate : 2.0q/1500 worms/ 2 months
● Incubation of cocoon : 20-23 days
 More About Earthworms
By their activity in the soil, earthworms offer many benefits: increased nutrient availability,
better drainage, and a more stable soil structure, all of which help improve farm productivity
Advantages and also protect from climatic extremes.

Earthworms change the structure of their environments. Different types of earthworms can
make both horizontal and vertical burrows, some of which can be very deep in soils.
Burrows These burrows create pores through which oxygen and water can enter and carbon dioxide
can leave the soil.

The organic matter in castings improves soil structure. With more humus than traditional
compost or normal garden soil, castings increase the water retention in soil, improve soil
aeration and anchor plant nutrients.
Castings
RESEARCH NOTE:
Research shows that worm casts release four times more phosphorus than does surface
soil.

Worms are hermaphrodites. Each worm has both male and female organs. Worms mate by
joining their clitella (swollen area near the head of a mature worm) and exchanging sperm.
Sex and Mating
Then each worm forms an egg capsule in its clitellum.
 Vermicomposting Materials
● Decomposable organic wastes such as kitchen wastes, farm residues,
forest litter and animal excreta are commonly used as composting
materials.
● Mixture of non leguminous and non-leguminous crop residues enriches
the quality of vermicompost.
● In general, animal dung mostly cow dung and dried chopped crop
residues are the key raw materials.
 Methods of Vermicomposting:
Vermicomposting is mainly comprised of 2 methods:

● Bed Method: Composting is done by making a bed (6*2*2 feet) of organic

matter on the pucca/ kachcha floor. This strategy is easy to follow and put
into practice. The worm bed can be prepared by placing after saw dust or
husk or coir waste or sugarcane trash in the bottom of tub / container. A
layer of fine sand (3 cm) should be spread over the culture bed followed
by a layer of garden soil (3 cm). All layers must be moistened with water.
● Pit Method: Composting takes place in concrete
pits measuring 5*5*3 feet. Thatch grass and or any
other locally accessible materials are used to cover
the unit. Due to inadequate aeration,water clogging
at the bottom, and higher production costs, this
approach is not recommended. It is commonly used
for small scale production of vermicompost.Fill the
pit with following four layers:
1. 1st layer sand or sandy soil of 5-6 cm. This layer
helps to drain excess water from the pit.
2. 2nd layer paddy straw or other crop residue of 30
cm above 1st layer which will be used for providing
aeration to the pit.
3. 3rd layer - 15 to 30 days old dung over paddy straw
layer at a thickness of 20-30 cm. This helps in
initiating microbial activity.
4. 4th layer-pre-digested material about 50 cm.
The method we used:
We used the Pit method in
producing the vermicompost.
We have already discussed
about the process vividly in
the previous slide.
 Phases of Vermicomposting:
● Phase 1: Processing involving collection of wastes, shredding, mechanical separation of the metal, glass
and ceramics and storage of organic wastes.
● Phase 2: Pre digestion of organic waste for twenty days by heaping the material along with cattle dung
slurry. This process partially digests the material and fit for earthworm consumption. Cattle dung and
biogas slurry may be used after drying. Wet dung should not be used for vermicompost production.
● Phase 3: Preparation of earthworm bed. A concrete base is required to put the waste for vermicompost
preparation. Loose soil will allow the worms to go into soil and also while watering, all the dissolvable
nutrients go into the soil along with water.
● Phase 4: Collection of earthworm after vermicompost collection. Sieving the composted material to
separate fully composted material. The partially composted material will be again put into vermicompost
bed.
● Phase 5: Storing the vermicompost in proper place to maintain moisture and allow the beneficial
microorganisms to grow.
 Steps for Vermicomposting
● The Bin is prepared by making drill
holes in the side of rubbermaid storage
bin. Total number of holes has been
made upto 20.
● The compost bin was then placed at a
shady spot so that the so that the
worms do not exposed to too much hot
or too much light.
● Newspaper was been shredded into thin
strips to make the beeding for the
worms.
● Little bit of food and small scoop of dirt
was added and then we waited for
about two weeks.
● Red worms were then added .
● Then the bin was feeded with fruits ,
vegetables, coffee ground tea bags
crushed eggshells etc.
● Then the castings are harvested.
 Vermicompost Harvesting Methods

1. Handfuls – The simplest way to access the worm castings is digging down to the bottom of the worm compost bin and grabbing a
handful of vermicompost.

2.Pyramid Method – Another option is to wait until most of your worm compost bin has been converted into worm castings (they eat the
worm bin bedding too) and then dump the whole bin out on a tarp on a sunny day. Form a couple small pyramids of worm castings and
the worms will burrow into the pyramid because they don’t like the light. Then, carefully brush worm castings off of the outside of the
pyramid and set aside. The worms will burrow again. Repeat until almost all worm castings are harvested and left with a ball of worms.
Refill the bin with fresh worm compost bin bedding and add your composting worms back to the bin.

3.Side to Side Migration Method – Wait until all your bedding has been processed into vermicompost. Then, pull it all to one side of
your worm compost bin leaving the other side open. Fill the open side with fresh worm bin bedding and begin feeding your worms only on
that side. Over the course of a couple weeks most of your worms will take the hint and move to the new side and you can pull finished
vermicompost from the other.

4. Screen and Light Method – Take advantage of the fact that worms don’t like the light and will move away from it to harvest worm
compost. Pull several handfuls of vermicompost out from the bottom of your worm compost bin and spread thinly on a piece of window
screen or very fine hardware cloth. Then, put the window screen or hardware cloth on top of your open bin so that it is resting on the
bedding. Shine a light on the vermicomposting bin or leave outside on a sunny day and the worms in the vermicompost will move away
from the light, down through the screen, and back into their worm compost bin. Wait a couple hours for the worms to move and then
simply lift the screen off and use the worm castings.
 Harvesting of Vermicompost
The vermicompost is ripe and ready for harvest when:

● The raw materials, except for a few, particularly pieces of a woody stem, are fully
decomposed.At this stage, the vermicomposting ingredients would have undergone both
thermophilic and mesophilic processes of decomposition.
● The height of the pile would have dropped down to about one-third to one-half of that of the
original pile, and the pile temperature would be close to ambient temperature.
● The organic substrates are no longer distinguishable and the vermicompost appears
somewhat darkish brown, crumbly, and smells earthy, like that of freshly excavated fertile soil.
 How we harvested the Vermicompost
Since our amount of compost made
was less we harvested the
vermicompost using handful method
described.The harvested compost was
kept in a separate bag which can be
used for growing plants or be given
away.
 Nutrient Analysis of Vermicompost
The Nutrient Analysis of Vermicompost are :

Nutrient Element Vermicompost(%)

Organic Compound 9.8-13.4
Nitrogen 0.51-1.61
Phosphorous 0.19-1.02
Potassium 0.15-0.73
Calcium 1.18- 7.61
Magnesium 0.093-0.568
Sodium 0.058-0.158
Zinc 0.0042-0.110
Copper 0.0026- 0.0048
Iron 0.2050-1.3313
Manganese 0.105-0.2038
 Advantages of Vermicomposting

● Suppression of pathogens: Vermicompost, according to research, does not destroy pathogens in the soil;
rather, it prevents harmful microorganisms from becoming severe and harming your plants.
● Delivery of nutrients: Vermicompost often as higher quantities of plant-available nutrients, notably nitrogen
and phosphate, than ordinary compost.
● Retention of water: Due to its amazing water retention qualities, you'll be astonished at how thick
vermicompost is. Adding vermicompost or worm castings to the soil in places with depleted or diminishing -
water sources and/or soil rich in sand or clay can assist keep the water in the soil and saving that valuable
resource.
● plant growth control and increased yields: Several studies suggest that applying vermicompost or worm
castings to crops such as strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables increases production.
Hormones that govern and encourage plant development can be found in some vermicomposts.
● Remediation of polluted soils: It's beyond the scope of this essay to describe how, but several studies have
demonstrated that earthworms and the bacteria present in living vermicompost can repair soil polluted with
hydrocarbons, agrichemical pollution, heavy metal-free radicals, and other contaminants.
● Elimination of Pests: vermicomposts, like diseases, cannot kill or repel pests, but it can assist them to avoid
assault.
THANK YOU