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 !