PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE OF ORGANIC

FERTILIZER

• ROSALINDA B. LUCERO
• ATI-RTC CAGAYAN VALLEY CABAGAN, ISABELA
VERMICOMPOS
T
PRODUCTION
WHAT IS VERMICOMPOSTING?

 VERMI- LATIN WORD FOR

WORM

 IT IS SIMPLY COMPOSTING
WITH WORMS
VERMICOMPOSTING

 THE “END” PRODUCT

CALLED CASTINGS –
FULL OF BENEFICIAL
MICROBES AND NUTRIENT

 MAKES A GREAT PLANT

FERTILIZER
 BIOLOGY OF EARTHWORMS
• CLASSIFICATION:

 ANNELIDA (SEGMENTED WORMS)

 OLIGOCHAETA (FEW BRISTLES)
 BIOLOGY OF EARTHWORMS
 LIFE CYCLE
 EUDRILUS EUGENIAE (“AFRICAN NIGHT-CRAWLER”)
COMES FROM WEST AFRICA
 INTRODUCED IN THE PHILIPPINES IN 1982 BY DR.
OTTO GRAFF
 MOST EXTENSIVELY CULTURED SPECIES IN THE
TROPICS

Cocoons 2 wks Juveniles 2 wks Adult

(Eggs) (Young) (Breeder)
 BIOLOGY OF EARTHWORMS
Number of Earthworm Species
±4,000 in the world
400 > in the Philippines

 Characteristics
 Breathe through their skin

 Hermaphroditic

(have both sex organs)

 Active at night

 Many are migratory

 BIOLOGY OF EARTHWORMS

 LIFE SPAN
 1-2 YEARS IN NATURE
 MORE THAN 10 YEARS IN CAPTIVITY

 GROWTH RATE
 THE“AFRICAN NIGHT-CRAWLER” CAN GROW TO
MORE THAN 30 CM IN LENGTH AND 3 GRAMS
EACH
 CHARACTERISTICS:

• Soil-dwelling
animals without
backbones
• With tubular
and soft body
• Cold blooded
 CHARACTERISTICS:
• HAVE NO SPECIAL BODY
COVERING LIKE HAIRS OR
SCALES
• FEED ON MOIST OM
DECOMPOSED BY
BACTERIA AND OTHER
MICROORGANISMS IN THE
SOIL.
 IMPORTANCE OF “VERMI” OR
EARTHWORMS
• Enrich soils with
organic matter
which comes
from
biodegradable
materials

 Vermicompost:
excellent soil enhancer
and bioactive fertilizer
for organic farming
 IMPORTANCE OF “VERMI”
OR EARTHWORMS

• Vermimea
l
 Man’s
food
(Cambodia)
 A COMPARISON OF THE AMINO ACIDS OF “FISH
MEAL*”
AND “EARTHWORM MEAL**”
Amino Acids Fish Meal Earthworm Meal
(g/100g protein)
Arginine 3.9 6.1

Cystine 0.8 1.6

Glutamid acid 8.4 13.8

Histidine 1.5 2.6

Isoleucine 3.6 4.6

Leucine 5.1 7.9

Lysine 6.4 7.1

Methionine 1.8 2.0

Phenylalanine 2.6 4.1

Threonine 2.9 4.8

Tyrosine 1.8 3.4

*Sabine (1981) Valine 3.5 5.0

*Graff (1981)
STEPS IN VERMICOMPOST PRODUCTION
 STEPS IN VERMICOMPOST
PRODUCTION

1. SELECT SUITABLE SITE

• SHADED, FLOOD-FREE
• ACCESSIBLE TO WATER SUPPLY
• ACCESSIBLE TO SOURCE OF
COMPOST MATERIALS
 STEPS . . .
2. GATHER AND PREPARE MATERIALS
• FARM, GARDEN OR KITCHEN
WASTES
- RICE STRAW
- ANIMAL MANURES
- VEG. TRIMMINGS

AND FRUIT PEELINGS

 STEPS . . .
3. PREPARE BEDS
• MANURES SHOULD BE
PULVERIZED

• FRESHLY CUT GRASS SHOULD

BE SHREDDED (1-2.5CM)

• C/N RATIO BETWEEN 25-35

(EX: 75% SHREDDED FRESH
GRASS +25% FRESH KAKAWATE)
 STEPS . . .
3. PREPARE BEDS
• ADD WATER TO MATERIALS THAT
HAVE LESS THAN 60% MOISTURE
DEPENDING ON THE DRYNESS
OF THE MATERIALS
• MIX THOROUGHLY WHILE
WATERING
 STEPS . . .
3. PREPARE BEDS
• PLACE THE MATERIALS IN
OUTDOOR BEDS MEASURING
1X1M OR LARGER.
• COVER WITH PLASTIC SHEETS
ETC. TO START “ANAEROBIC
PROCESS” (1-2 WEEKS)
 STEPS . . .
4. STOCK THE WORMS
• 1 KILO OF EARTHWORMS (ABOUT
1,000 PCS.)

• FOR EVERY 1 M SQ. OF

VERMIBED THAT CONTAINS

• 100- 200 KILOS OF MATERIALS

 STEPS . . .

5. MAINTAIN THE BEDS

• AT LEAST 60 % MOISTURE LEVEL

• PROTECT THE EARTHWORMS

FROM ITS PREDATORS
 STEPS . . .
6. HARVEST THE
VERMICOMPOST.
• HARVEST WITHIN 30-45 DAYS

• SEPARATE THE VERMI FROM

THE VERMI- COMPOST BY
HANDPICKING OR BY USING
A SCREEN
 STEPS . . .

6. PROPERLY PACK VERMICOMPOST.

• SEALED BAGS OR SACKS

• STORE IN A COOL DRY PLACE
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF VERMICOMPOST
Determinat Uions NGra DMIaFn ER75 E% GNrassT+ 25S% R75A% GTasEs
+S25 %
SI Gss urF MUanuBre ST

% Sample - Sample - Sample - C Kakawate

A B Sample - D
Total Nitrogen 0.80 0.65 1.40 2.74
Total 0.37 1.59 2.53 1.33
Phosphorus
Total Potassium 0.20 0.60 0.37 3.54

Total Calcium 0.13 0.23 3.10 0.29

Total 0.17 0.50 0.40 0.52
Magnesium
Total Iron 0.42 0.46 1.50 0.43
Total Manganese 0.04 0.12 0.16 0.03

Total Copper 0.001 0.02 0.12 0.005

Total Zinc 0.01 0.03 0.11 0.01
PH 4.6 6.3 6.70 7.20
Moisture 30 50 15.0 35
Content
 DIFFERENT
SUBSTRATE
box substrate
1 CM+BN 60% cow manure + 40% banana

2 CM + BN 40% CM + 30% BN + 30% kakawate

Kakawate
3 CM + BN Corn 40% CM + 30% BN + 30% corn

4 CM + BN R 40% CM + 30% BN + 30% rice straw

ice straw
5 CM + BN 40%CM+ 30%BN + 30% weeds and grasses
Weeds and
Grasses
 WHAT TO NOT FEED
WORMS
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE REASONS YOU SHOULD AVOID PUTTING THE FOLLOWING FOOD
SCRAPS INTO YOUR WORM COMPOSTING BIN:
• MEATS, BONES, FAT AND ANYTHING OILY OR GREASY.
• DAIRY PRODUCTS INCLUDING BUTTER, SOUR CREAM, MILK, WHOLE EGGS (EGG SHELLS ARE OK) AND
CHEESE.
• CANNED SAUCES, PEANUT BUTTER AND OTHER PROCESSED FOOD.
• CITRUS FOODS LIKE LEMONS, LIMES AND ORANGES.
• ONIONS AND GARLIC.
• SPICY FOODS SUCH AS HOT PEPPERS.
• YARD TRIMMINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TREATED WITH PESTICIDES.
• PLASTIC, METALS, GLASS OR OTHER NON-BIODEGRADABLE ITEMS.
• SOAP
• PAPER THAT HAS A GLOSSY FINISH OR COLORED INK
• POISON IVY, OAK OR SUMAC OR OTHER POISONOUS PLANTS.
 BASIC RAW MATERIAL
FOR COMPOSTING
• RICE STRAW (DAYAMI), COCO HUSK
(BALAT
NIYOG),NG
SAPAL NG NIYOG, SAPAL NG TUBO,
ETC.
• ANIMAL MANURE (KAMBING, BAKA, BABOY,
ETC.)
• LEGUMINOUS PLANTS (SOYBEAN, MONGGO,
BAGUIO BEANS)
• EM, IMO, LABS (MICRO-ORGANISM THAT INCREASE THE
DECOMPOSITION
BASIC RAW MATERIAL FOR FOLIAR
FERTILIZER
• 60L CONTAINER
• AERATOR
• VERMICAST/
COMPOST
• MOLASSES
• IMO
• UNCHLORINATED
WATER.
 HOW TO MAKE ORGANIC FOLIAR
FERTILIZER (ACES
EXPERIENCE)
1. PREPARE A 60 LITER CAPACITY CONTAINER WITH AERATION
FACILITY.
2. PUT 50 LITERS OF UNCHLORINATED CLEAN WATER IN THE
CONTAINER.
3. AERATE THE WATER FOR 30 MINUTES.
4. PUT 3 KG OF VERMI-CAST INSIDE A TEA BAG AND PLACE INSIDE THE
CONTAINER
5. ADD 500ML MOLASSES, ADD 50 ML IMO AFTER 30 MINUTES.
6. COVER
7. HARVEST AFTER 24HRS. OF CONTINUOUS AERATION.
8. READY FOR USE (USED THE LIQUID EXTRACT WITHIN 24 HRS.)
 SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN FOLIAR AND SOLID
SIMILARITIES
ORGANIC FERTILIZERS
• BOTH RICH IN MACRO AT MICRO NUTRIENT
• BOTH GOOD IN ENVIRONMENT
• BOTH ENRICH THE SOIL, PLANTS AND ANIMALS
DIFFERENCES
• FOLIAR IS LIQUID WHILE SOLID IS HARD SUBSTANCE
• SOLID FERTILIZER HAS HIGHER NPK (NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS,
POTASSIUM) CONTENT
• FOLIAR IS EASIER TO USE
• SOLID IS APPLIED BY DIGGING HOLE IN THE SOIL, WHILE FOLIAR IS
SPRAYED ON AND AROUND THE PLANTS
 HOW DO YOU APPLY ORGANIC
FERTILIZER IN THE SOIL AND
IN THE PLANT
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF APPLICATION:

• SOLID FERTILIZER – APPLIED BY DIGGING THE SOIL, THEN

PUTTING THE SOIL MEDIA (3/4 HIGH) IN HOLE, THEN THE
SEEDLING, THEN THE BASAL (SOLID FERTILIZER), AS FOR
FINISHING COVER IT WITH TOP SOIL.

• FOLIAR O LIQUID FERTILIZER – APPLIED BY DRENCHING

(BODY OF THE PLANTS) OR DIRECT SPRAY TO THE LEAVES.
 RELEVANCE OF THE APPLICATION OF
CARBON- NITROGEN (C:N)
RATIOCALLED CARBON (C) AND NITROGEN (N)
• PLANTS CONTAIN ELEMENTS
• THE PROPORTION OF THESE ELEMENTS IS CALLED C:N RATIO
• IF THE COMPOST MATERIALS USED IS TOO HIGH IN CARBON THAN THE
NITROGEN, IT WILL RESULT IN HIGH C:N RATIO. THUS, THE
DECOMPOSITION SLOW DOWN. THIS IS BECAUSE THE MICRO-ORGANISM
NEEDS NITROGEN TO WORK NORMALLY.
 LEAVES – SOURCE OF NITROGEN
 TRUNKS, BRANCHES, ROOTS – SOURCE OF CARBON

 RECOMMENDED RATIO FOR COMPOSTING IS 25-35: 1 (25-35 PARTS

CARBON: 1-PART
NITROGEN)
 IMPORTANT
ELEMENTS IN
ORGANIC
• MACRO-NUTRIENTS – NITROGEN,
FERTILIZER
PHOSPHORUS AT POTASSIUM

• MICRO-NUTRIENTS – CALCIUM, ZINC,

BORON, MOLYBDENUM, COPPER, IRON,
SULFUR, SODIUM, SILICON
 KEY ELEMENTS THAT
MAKES A
FERTILIZER
• ALL MATERIALS, SUBSTRATES OR
ORGANIC
FECAL USED ARE LISTED IN
ALLOWABLE MATERIALS IN PNS FOR
ORGANIC FERTILIZER
• UNDERGO DECOMPOSITION PROCESS.
(MUST GIVE THE PLANTS AROUND 5-
7% NUTRIENTS).
TOP HARVEST METHOD
(THM)

Rain protected container

FIRST FEED STOCKING
Wait 2 weeks
Then add bulati
FIRST HARVEST

Every week
Or 2
inches
WATER AND
WAIT
Next Harvest
Every week
Or 2
inches
C.I.B.
 PROPER PRESERVATION OF
POTENCY OF ORGANIC
FERTILIZER

• PROPER STORAGE AND

PACKAGING
• PLACE IN DRY, COOL AND SHADE
PLACE
• ADD MOLASSES
 POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION OF AN
ORGANIC FERTILIZER TO THE
ENVIRONMENT
• IT HELPS TO CONTROL CLIMATE
CHANGE
• LESSEN THE GREENHOUSES
GASSES
• CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
 COMPLY IN THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF
COMMERCIAL ORGANIC
• LGU PERMITFERTILIZER
(BARANGAY AT MUNICIPAL)
• ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
CERTIFICATE (DENR)
• BUSINESS NAME (DTI)
• ORGANIC INPUT REGISTRATION (BAFPS)
• THIRD PARTY CERTIFICATION
 RECORDS TO BE MAINTAINED IN
ORGANIC FERTILIZERS
PRODUCTION
MATERIALS:

- SALES RECORD
- LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC
FERTILIZER
1. NPK CONTENT
2. LEVEL OF PATHOGENS (BAD MICRO-ORGANISM)
3. LEVEL OF HEAVY METALS
 IMPLEMENTATION OF PNS IN ORGANIC
FERTILIZER PRODUCTION

• MUST HAVE AN OPERATION MANUAL AS GUIDE. THIS

MANUAL SHOULD CONTAIN:

- ALLOWABLE MATERIALS TO BE USED (PNS)

- LEVEL OF HEAVY METAL PRESENCE IN THE PRODUCT
- LEVEL OF NUTRIENTS PRESENCE IN THE PRODUCT
-LIST OF MATERIALS THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED SUCH AS
PLASTIC, ALUMINUM WRAPPER OR STONE IN THE
FINISH PRODUCT
SAFETY FACTORS IN THE PREPARATION
OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER
1. USED PPE:
 HAT
 HAIRNET
 GOGGLES
 MASK
 APRON
 GLOVES
 BOOTS
 APPROPRIATE CLOTHING

2. TLC (TENDER, LOVING, CARE)

POLICY
 ORGANICS MEANS
NO EXPOSURE OF CHEMICALS AND POISONS
TO
THE FARMERS
ORGANI = HEALTHY
SOIL
C = HEALTHY
CROPS

= HEALTHY
FOOD

= HEALTHY
PEOPLE
EARTHWORMS ARE
EARTH’S

best friends