Opportunities
and
Potentials
Vermicomposting…
…is a LOW-COST, LOW-TECH
but SCIENTIFICALLY-BASED
technology
Low cost because
materials used in
vermicomposting are
abundant and available
all over.
Example of materials that can be used:
- Grass
- Rice straw
- Corn stalks
- Cane tops
- Madre de cacao leaves
- Ipil-ipil leaves
- and other nitrogenous
materials
Low tech because the
procedure is simple…
STEPS
1. Gathering
2. Mixing
3. Shredding
4. Composting
5. Vermicomposting
6. Harvesting
Scientifically based…
because many scientists
all over the world have
attested to the
efficacy of
vermicompost.
What is Vermiculture ?
Vermiculture
culture
earthworms.
-
is
of
The goal is to continually
increase the number of
worms in order to obtain
a sustainable harvest.
• The
worms
are
either
used
to
expand
a
vermicomposting
operations or sold to
customers who use
them for the same or
other purposes.
•
Glenn Munroe-Manual of On-Farm Vermicomposting and
Vermiculture(Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada)
What is Vermicomposting?
Vermicomposting - is the
process by which worms
are used to convert
organic
materials
(usually wastes) into
humus-like
material
known
as
vermicompost.
• The goal is to process the
material as quickly and
efficiently as possible.
Glenn Munroe-Manual of On-Farm Vermicomposting and
Vermiculture(Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada)
Vermicomposting (Production Process)
Gathering/Mixing of Raw Mat. 75
% Carbon Source and 25 %
Nitrogen Source
Shredding
Packaging
Pre-Compositing
Stocking
Harvesting
The African nightcrawler, known
scientifically as Eudrilus eugeniae, is the
compost or manure earthworm that feeds on
decaying organic materials. It can stay up to
the 6-inch portion of the top soil but is
dependent on decaying organic materials
above the soil for survival.
Improved Practices on Vermiculture
and Vermicomposting
Vermi Bed
Stocking
2 X 2 meters
- 5 kgs. per square meter
Vermicasting Production per month – 400 kgs.
Vermi-bed
Worm (African Night
Crawler )
Vermicompost
Quezon
Source: Mr. Almeda
SWAC- Region IV-A
Cavite
Source: Mr. Ariel Almeda
SWAC-Region IV-A
Result
Analysis
and
BPI’s TEST RESULTS
By Mrs. Lina Villegas
VERMICOMPOST COMPOSITION
Determination
Animal Manure
Plant/Leaves______________
%
Rat
Chicken
Peanut Neem
Azolla Ipil-ipil Kakawate Cocodust
+ Ipil-ipil
Total Nitrogen (N)
1.40
1.52
1.33
1.06
2.26
2.33
2.74
0.15
Total Phosphorous (P)
2.53
0.49
0.47
0.73
0.69
0.69
1.33
0.23
Total Potassium (K2O)
0.37
1.28
0.37
0.38
1.52
1.10
3.54
0.04
Total Calcium
3.10
0.43
1.09
0.63
0.05
0.15
0.29
0.08
Total Magnesium (Mg)
0.40
0.24
0.51
0.30
0.31
0.33
0.52
0.0
Total Iron (Fe)
1.50
1.47
0.62
0.33
0.49
0.17
0.43
0.16
Total Manganese (Ma)
0.16
0.06
0.04
0.02
0.06
0.02
0.03
0.00
Total Copper (Cu)
0.02
0.02
0.0003
0.0003
0.008
0.004
0.005
0.01
Total Zinc (Zn)
0.11
0.04
0.02
0.02
0.06
0.04
0.01
0.02
Moisture Content (%)
15.53
33.27
--
--
19.70
22.52
10.85
--
PH (%)
6.70
7.20
7.20
6.80
6.80
5.70
7.20
4.4
Analysis of substrate combination of grasses (75%) +
kakawate leaves (25%) before and after feeding to
earthworms for the production of vermicompost.
Basic
Requirement
(practical and appropriate
practices)
Five Basic Things That Worms Need:
1.A hospitable living environment, usually
bedding”.
Adequate moisture (greater than %
called “
2.
water content by weight)
3. A
food source
4. Adequate
aeration
5. Protection from
extremes
temperature
CARBON TO NITROGEN RATIO
(C:N - 3:1)
(3)
(1)
Some examples of
carbon and nitrogen
sources
NITROGEN SOURCE
CARBON
SOURCE
Grass
Rice straw
Corn
Stalks/Stover
Wood
Saw dust
Cocodust
Cococoir
Paper
Cane tops
Cane trash
Plant Source
Animal
Manure
• Kakawate
Leaves
• Ipil-ipil Leaves
• Mongo
• Kudzu
• “Baging Ilog”
• Wild Sunflower
• Katuray leaves
• Azolla
• Peanut
All animal
manures
except dog,
cat and
human
Gathering of Materials/
Identifying of Materials
Source of Carbon 75%
Grass, Rice Straw, Corn Stalks,
Sugar Cane Tops, Yard Waste
Source of Nitrogen 25 %
- Vines, Madre de Cacao/Kakawate
and Ipil-ipil
- Animal Manure – Rabbits, Cattle,
and Pig
Profile of
African Night
Crawler
The Worm’s
sexual Resume’
Productivity of Earthworms in Animal
and Vegetable Waste:
Life Cycle
TIME FOR
SPECIES COCOONS
TO
HATCH
(DAYS
)
TIME TO
TIME EGG
SEXUAL
TO
MATU
RITY
MATURITY
(DAYS)
(DAYS)
32-73
53-76
85-149
Eudrilus
Eugeniae
12-27
32-95
43-122
Perionyx
excavatus
16-21
28-56
44-71
Dendrobaena
veneta
40-126
57-86
97-14
Eisenia fetida
Clitellum
Other species of earthworms
Giant Earthworm of Australia
(Megascolides australis)
Source: Rafael D. Guerrero III
PCAMARD
Giant Earthworm of Banawe
(Pheretima sp.)
 They are hermaphrodite and some species live
for ten years or longer.
 The optimum temperature for growth and
survival is 25 C but they died at temperatures
below 9 C and above 30 C.
 The moisture content for optimal growth is 5080% MC, with considerable decreases in
growth at 90% MC.
 All species are very sensitive to ammonia and
cannot survive long in organic wastes
containing much ammonia (e.g., fresh poultry
manure).
 They are tolerant to pH but given a choice,
they prefer more acid material, with an
apparent pH of 5.0.
Under favorable condition:
Stocked earthworms would start
mating.
Two
earthworms
bind
together in a clitellum and exchange
sperm.
Mating is done once a week.
Rate of egg production
eggs/week/earthworm.
is
3-5
The egg would be hatched in 2-5
weeks and sexually matured in 6
months.
Next victim
Output
And
Indicators
When compared with soil, worm
casts also contain 1.5 times calcium,
3
times
more
exchangeable
magnesium and 8 times as many
microorganisms which promotes
healthy plant growth.
The casts are rich in humic acid,
which condition the soil, have a
perfect pH balance, and have plant
growth factors similar to those found
Application to Rice, Vegetables and other Crops
Vermicompost can
be used as Feed/s
to Swine (10 to 20
percent on
Biofeeds
Formulation)
Vermicompost can
be processed into
vemi-tea which is a
good foliar
fertilizer.
“Lets Work
for a
Better Environment
and a
Sustainable Future “
Thank
You !