Course 2 Unit 6
Part B – Vermicomposting
Introduction to composting
Teacher: Mariska Ronteltap
m.ronteltap@unesco-ihe.org
Course 2 Unit 6
Course 2 Unit 6
Part B: Vermicomposting
By the way: there are many video clips on vermicomposting in
general on YouTube.com
Overview
 Vermicomposting is a special type of
composting which uses certain earth worms
 Vermicomposting is already being used
worlwide for treatment of organic waste,
sewage sludge, manure, kitchen waste etc.
 Vermicomposting can also be used to treat
faeces (e.g. faeces collected from UDD
toilets), in order to make faeces into a
valuable product
 The Technical University in Hamburg
(TUHH) in Germany is conducting
research in the field of vermicomposting
of faeces, see their website (and also see
next slide):
 https://www.tuhh.de/alt/aww/projects.html
 https://www.tuhh.de/t3resources/aww/fors
chung/pdf/vermi_dry_toilet.pdf
Source: Google Images
Information sources for this presentation
 E-mails from Christopher Buzie in 2007
 http://doku.b.tuharburg.de/volltexte/2011/1095/pdf/DissertationChristopherBuzi
e.pdf
 PhD thesis of Moataz Shalabi “Vermicomposting of Faecal Matter
as a Component of Source Control Sanitation”, TU HamburgHarburg (2006).
 http://www2.gtz.de/Dokumente/oe44/ecosan/envermicomposting-of-faecal-matter-as-a-component-of-sourcecontrol-sanitation-2006.pdf
 Website “The compost guy” (general information on
vermicomposting, but not vermicomposting for faeces):
www.compostguy.com
 wikipedia
Definition of vermicomposting
 Vermicompost (also called worm compost, vermicast, worm castings,
worm humus or worm manure) is the end-product of the breakdown of
organic matter by some species of earthworm. Vermicompost is a
nutrient-rich, natural fertilizer and soil conditioner. The process of
producing vermicompost is called vermicomposting.
 The earthworm species (or composting worms) most often used are
Brandling Worms (Eisenia foetida) or Red Wigglers (Lumbricus rubellus).
These species are only rarely found in soil and are adapted to the special
conditions in rotting vegetation, compost and manure piles. Composting
worms are available from mail-order suppliers, or from angling shops
where they are sold as bait. Small-scale vermicomposting is well suited
to turn kitchen waste into high-quality soil, where space is limited.
 In addition to worms, a healthy vermicomposting system hosts many
other organisms such as insects, mold, and bacteria. Though these all
play a role in the composting process, the earthworm is the major
catalyst for the composting process.
Source: www.wikipedia.org
Course 2 Unit 6
Vermicomposting - basics
 Vermiculture (derived from the Latin word “vermis” meaning
worm) involves the mass production of earthworm for waste
degradation, and composting with “vermicast” production
 Earthworms are the “intestines of the earth”!
 They occur in diverse habitats especially those which are
dark and moist
 Organic materials like humus, cattle dung and kitchen
wastes are highly attractive for some species
Types of action of the earthworms
 Physical/mechanical:
– Substrate aeration and mixing due to the movement of
the worms inside the substrate as well as actual grinding
– Keeps organic waste constantly aerated and achieves
cooling
 saves costs on mechanical process units for mixing
used in conventional (hot) composting
 Biochemical:
– Microbial decomposition of the substrate in the intestines
of the earthworms
What do the earthworms do?
1. Maintain aerobic conditions in the mixture
2. Ingest solids
3. Convert a portion of the organics into worm biomass
and to respiration products
4. Expel the remaining partially stabilised matter as
discrete material (earthworm faeces or “castings”)
5. Worms and aerobic mesophilic microorganisms act
symbiotically to accelerate and enhance the
decomposition of the organic matter
Properties of end product from vermicomposting
 Very finely structured,
uniform, stable and
aggregated particles of
humified organic material
 Excellent porosity,
aeration and water
holding capacity
 Rich in available plant
nutrients, hormones,
enzymes and (benign)
microbial populations
 Mostly pathogen-free:
 Plant and human
pathogens are killed
during passage of the
earthworm gut
 Earth-like, soil building
substance that forms a
beneficial growing
environment for plant
roots
 Valuable and marketable
product
Source: Google Images
Course 2 Unit 6
Degree of organic matter degradation
depends on:
1. Portion of the waste that is degradable
2. Maintenance of aerobic conditions
3. Absence of toxic compounds
Source: Google Images
Vermicomposting is practically odour-free
 Earthworms release coelomic
fluids into the decaying waste
biomass which have anti-bacterial
properties and kill pathogens
 By creating aerobic conditions, the
release of foul-smelling hydrogen
sulphide from anaerobic
microorganisms is inhibited
So what’s the difference between conventional
composting (also called “hot composting”) and
vermicomposting?
Hot composting
Vermicomposting
 See next slides
Source of the photo: http://www.compostguy.com/composting/hot-composting-vsvermicomposting/ -- very informative website!
Differences between vermicomposting and (hot)
composting (slide 1 of 2)
Process variable
Vermicomposting
Conditions
Hot composting
Aerobic
Process
temperature
15 - 25ºC
50-70ºC
Type of
temperature
Ambient to mesophilic
(<35ºC) – otherwise worms
will be killed
Thermophilic (at least
for part of the time)
Method of
operation
Apply waste frequently in
thin layers (continuous
operation rather than batch)
Stack waste material in
large piles so that heat
produced is retained in
pile (usually batch
operation)
Course 2 Unit 6
Differences between vermicomposting and (hot)
composting (slide 2 of 2)
Process variable
Vermicomposting
Hot composting
Earthworms
Present in large
quantities
Only present at beginning
(die off at temperature in
pile > 35°C)
Pathogen
destruction
mechanism
Passage through worm
gut (biochemical
digestion)
Elevated temperature over
extended period (> 1
week) and action of
microorganisms
Final product
Vermicompost or
vermicast;
microbiologically active
(this is good for the soil)
Compost; relatively little
microbial activity
Vermicomposting: pros and cons
compared to hot composting
Pros
1) Tends to be somewhat less laborintensive - no turning/aerating
necessary (worm activity helps to
mix, fragment and aerate materials)
2) Cooler temperatures help to conserve
nitrogen
3) Higher moisture contents not an issue
(and actually preferred)
4) Materials can be constantly added (no
need to stock pile in preparation for
next ‘batch’)
5) Size of system unimportant - ideally
suited for both indoors and outdoors
6) Considerable evidence to indicate
that vermicomposts have beneficial
properties not found in hot composts
7) Under ideal conditions, wastes can be
processed very quickly
Cons
1) Won’t kill seeds (and although there
is a fair amount of evidence to
indicate pathogen destruction,
more research is required)
2) More space required to process
similar amounts as hot composting
- need to be careful with amount
added (since excess heat will kill
worms)
3) Outdoor systems much more
limited by cold weather
4) Worms need to be separated from
compost
5) Worms (although quite resilient) do
require some attention and proper
care.
Source: http://www.compostguy.com/composting/hotcomposting-vs-vermicomposting/
Hot composting: pros and cons compared
to vermicomposting
Pros
1) Enables processing of larger
quantities of materials in a
smaller area
2) Can proceed relatively quickly
under ideal conditions
3) Can kill weed seeds and
pathogens
4) On a large scale can proceed
easily in cold weather
Cons
1) Can be labor-intensive
(piling wastes, turning pile
etc) and require more
attention
2) Heat can kill off many
beneficial microbes
3) May require some stockpiling until sufficient
materials available for
‘batch’
4) Heating can lead to
considerable nitrogen loss
Source:
http://www.compostguy.com/compostin
g/hot-composting-vs-vermicomposting/
Vermicomposting can speed up the process of
composting
Source: Claudia Wendland, TUHH (Hamburg Technical University)
presented at Bulgaria ecosan seminar, April 2007
How to do vermicomposting of wet faecal
matter
“ For the treatment of wet faecal matter vermicomposting will be a
good choice. You can try to find the regional species when you
inquire which worms are found in dung, maybe there is a worm
farm around (often used for biowaste composting).
When you put them in, leave them with a good amount of their
original compost so that they can work from there into the
material. Make sure the heap is not getting too dry, some
controlled moisturing may be required.
Six months will give excellent compost, due to the origin of the
faeces from so many different people I recommend to work it into
the ground with care on a non-food field.”
Source: Ralf Otterpohl (TUHH Hamburg University, Germany),
Ecosanres Discussion Forum, 21 March 2007
Course 2 Unit 6
How to do vermicomposting if the faeces are
very wet?
“The trick is to properly manage the temperature and moisture
content of the material.
– For wet faeces you collect from UDD toilets which are not
properly used, I recommend you put it in filter sacks and
allow to drain for about a week.
– In the absence of a filter sack, you could use the closelywoven large African fibre baskets.”
Source: Chris Buzie (PhD student at TUHH Hamburg University, Germany),
Ecosanres Discussion Forum, 27 March 2007
Course 2 Unit 6
How to find the right earthworms?
 “Look around for a composting heap. Dig out the worms you find
in there (as many as possible) and add them in the drained
faeces.
 The species of earthworms you are likely to encounter in compost
heaps in tropical countries and which will likely be suitable for
treating faecal material are:
- Eudrilus euginiae (fast growing and capable of processing large
quantities of organic wastes rapidly but easily damaged by handling)
and
- Perionyx excavatus (also very prolific and not easily damaged).
 I am not suggesting that you take the pains in identifying these
organisms before using them as any earthworms you'll find in the
compost heaps around you will suffice.
 You do not need to dig deep into the heaps to look for them as the
earthworms will always congregate at the top layers where
temperature is lower.”
Source: Chris Buzie (PhD student at TUHH Hamburg University, Germany), Ecosanres Discussion Forum, 27
March 2007
Here is an idea: How about starting your own
vermicomposting process in your kitchen?
From: Marieke Heijnen in June 2007 (former online course participant)
“Hi everyone,
I just wanted to share my excitement of my new pets with you all- I became
very intruiged by the whole vermicomposting since the course and now
have a multi-story worm house in my kitchen. they don't smell, they're
great with kitchen waste (even my coffee grounds!) and soon they'll start
making very nutritious liquid which will make my plants very happy.
I took the easy way out as I ordered a 'worm starters kit' via
http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk (I got the can-o-worms)
http://www.reln.com.au/product_info.php?pid=9&cid=3
I already have excited many of my friends, and hopefully my worms will breed
lots so I can give some to others and also put them in outside compost
heaps!
So- recommend it to everyone, it's very fun!
Take care, Marieke “ (marieke.heijnen@gmail.com)
Research project: The effect of vermicomposting on presence of helminth ova
in human faeces
(November 06 to February 07)
Actual vermicomposting of organic wastes
in Manresa (XU Farm)
Source: Robert J. Holmer, Analiza U. Miso
Periurban Vegetable Project (PUVeP)
Xavier University College of Agriculture
Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
http://puvep.xu.edu.ph/
(see following slides for more information)
Course 2 Unit 6
Example of current research in this field:
EFFECT OF VERMICOMPOSTING ON THE PRESENCE OF
HELMINTH OVA (Necator americanus, Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris
lumbricoides) IN HUMAN FAECES
by: Michael Z. Nuesca
Xavier University College of Agriculture
Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
Presented at:
International Conference on Sustainable Sanitation:
Eco-Cities and Villages
26-31 August 2007, Dongsheng, China
http://www.ecosanres.org/icss/proceedings-presentations.htm
The full presentation is provided under Assigned Reading
Nuesca’s presentation:
Methodology
 Randomized Complete Block
Design
(2 factorial with 4 replications)
– Factor 1: Dried human
faeces collected from two
UDD toilets
– Factor 2:
Vermicomposting
Nuesca’s presentation:
Result Hookworm (Mean)
With
vermicomposting
Day 1 = 9.69
Day 30 = 4.06
Day 60 = 7.13
Number of Necator americanus per 2 grams
substrate
35.00
30.00
25.00
wit h
vermicom
posting
20.00
15.00
wit hout
vermicom
posting
10.00
5.00
0.00
1
30
60
Vermicomposting (days)
Without
vermicompsting
Day 1 = 9.38
Day 30 = 13.5
Day 60 = 30.31
Nuesca’s presentation:
Conclusion
 After 60 days,
– Vermicomposting significantly reduced the number of
Ascaris ova below the threshold level of USEPA.
– Whipworm ova were fully eliminated regardless of treatment.
– Number of hookworm ova were significantly less in the
vermicomposting treatments; however, above the threshold
level of USEPA.
Course 2 Unit 6
Nuesca’s presentation:
Recommendation
 Further researches on:
– Longer- period exposure
– Higher density of earthworms
– Effect of vermicomposting on other faecal pathogens
– Effect of vermicast on growth of different crops
And at the end: A little real life story about backyard
vermicomposting in the Philippines

“Today was composting day in our garden. Our gardener sieved the fresh
compost from one of our 2 compost boxes, bagged the fine stuff into rice
bags and mixed the rough, not yet fully composted bits with the content of
the other box. He has done that numerous times and usually he puts the
worms that are caught in the sieve together with the rough material into the
second box. Today, he could not finish the job and his 20 year old son, a
University Student jumped in for him. When my husband came home the
job was done and he asked the young man if he had also collected the
worms and put them into the other box. Well, he had not… He had killed all
my precious African Nightcrawlers that are such good compost makers! He
thought they were rather ugly and harmful creatures.”

Ulrike, where did you get the worms from? “Well, I sort of imported them
when I started with the compost. One of my German colleagues from DED
had established biowaste composting on the landfill of a nearby town. He
offered to get some of their compost and advised me to mix it with our
garden and kitchenwaste. The worms hatched from the worm eggs that
were in the compost (not only ascaris survive in soil ;-)). They grew very
well and are really great compost makers. “

Posting by Ulrike Lipkow, GTZ Philippines, during March-June ecosan
online course (in May 2007)