Vermicomposting

VermicompostinVermicomposting:g: Principles and Principles and

PracticesPractices

VERMICOMPOSTINGVERMICOMPOSTING

- - the process of producing the process of producing organic fertilizer organic fertilizer ((vermicompostvermicompost) from ) from bio-degradable materials bio-degradable materials with earthwormswith earthworms

PRINCIPLESPRINCIPLES Similar to ordinary Similar to ordinary

composting except that composting except that earthworms (vermi) are earthworms (vermi) are addedadded

In ordinary composting, In ordinary composting, microorganisms (i.e., microorganisms (i.e., bacteria and fungi) are bacteria and fungi) are the “decomposers” while the “decomposers” while in vermicomposting, in vermicomposting, microorganisms and microorganisms and earthworms (“soil earthworms (“soil engineers”) work engineers”) work together.together.

─ Vermicompost does not heat.Vermicompost does not heat.─ Vermicompost can be used for improving soil Vermicompost can be used for improving soil

texture and enhancing water-holding capacity texture and enhancing water-holding capacity of soil.of soil.

─ Vermicompost may be low in NPK but Vermicompost may be low in NPK but contains essential micronutrients (e.g., contains essential micronutrients (e.g., calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron and zinc) not found in “complete iron and zinc) not found in “complete fertilizers.”fertilizers.”

PRINCIPLESPRINCIPLES

PRINCIPLESPRINCIPLES

- Vermicompost has microbial activities - Vermicompost has microbial activities that promote plant health and that promote plant health and pest/disease resistance.pest/disease resistance.

- The quality of vermicompost depends on - The quality of vermicompost depends on the materials used and the processes the materials used and the processes

applied.applied.

Action of earthworms in the Action of earthworms in the composting process has the composting process has the benefits/advantages of:benefits/advantages of:─ C:N (C-75% N-25%)C:N (C-75% N-25%)─ Compost-feeding earthworms Compost-feeding earthworms

(e.g., “African nightcrawler”) (e.g., “African nightcrawler”) digest organic matter in their digest organic matter in their alimentary tract and produce alimentary tract and produce “sanitized, deodorized and “sanitized, deodorized and texturized” humus (castings).texturized” humus (castings).

─ Vermicompost consisting of Vermicompost consisting of castings and undigested castings and undigested organic matter contains plant organic matter contains plant growth regulators (i.e., growth regulators (i.e., auxins, gibberelins and auxins, gibberelins and humic acid)humic acid)

PRINCIPLESPRINCIPLES

Plant Nutrient Profiles of Plant Nutrient Profiles of Grasses (75%) + Kakawate Leaves (25%)Grasses (75%) + Kakawate Leaves (25%)BEFORE AND AFTER VERMICOMPOSTINGBEFORE AND AFTER VERMICOMPOSTING

Nutrient (%)Nutrient (%) BEFOREBEFORE AFTERAFTER

NitrogenNitrogen 0.530.53 2.742.74

PhosphorusPhosphorus 0.290.29 1.331.33

PotassiumPotassium 0.650.65 3.543.54

CalciumCalcium 0.020.02 0.290.29

MagnesiumMagnesium 0.080.08 0.520.52

IronIron 0.120.12 0.430.43

CopperCopper 0.0010.001 0.0050.005

ZincZinc 0.0040.004 0.010.01

ManganeseManganese 0.0060.006 0.030.03

PRACTICESPRACTICES For Japanese rice (Korishaki For Japanese rice (Korishaki

variety) production in Canlaon variety) production in Canlaon City, Oriental Negros City, Oriental Negros

OISCA FARM (c/o Tony Mapa)OISCA FARM (c/o Tony Mapa)─ Vermicompost is produced from Vermicompost is produced from

rice straw and cattle manurerice straw and cattle manure─ Vermicompost is applied at two Vermicompost is applied at two

tons per hectare during land tons per hectare during land preparation (basal); urea is preparation (basal); urea is applied for top-dressingapplied for top-dressing

─ Rice yield is 1.6 tons/ha in wet Rice yield is 1.6 tons/ha in wet season and 2.4 tons/ha in dry season and 2.4 tons/ha in dry season.season.

─ Savings on use of chemical Savings on use of chemical fertilizer; improved soil structure fertilizer; improved soil structure and good eating quality of rice and good eating quality of rice

For sugarcane production in For sugarcane production in Negros Oriental (more than Negros Oriental (more than 4,000 has)4,000 has)

Rolly Bongoyan (Basay)Rolly Bongoyan (Basay)─ Vermicompost is applied at 1.5 Vermicompost is applied at 1.5

tons/ha at a cost of P4,500 in tons/ha at a cost of P4,500 in addition to 150 kg of chemical addition to 150 kg of chemical fertilizer (P3,000).fertilizer (P3,000).

─ Sugarcane production Sugarcane production increased from an average of increased from an average of 55-60 metric tons to 70-80 55-60 metric tons to 70-80 metric tons/hametric tons/ha

─ Average sucrose recovery rates Average sucrose recovery rates improved to 2.51 LKGTC from improved to 2.51 LKGTC from 2.10 LKGTC2.10 LKGTC

PRACTICESPRACTICES

PRACTICESPRACTICES Alex J. Amor, Jr. (Sibulan)Alex J. Amor, Jr. (Sibulan)

--Vermicompost produced from Vermicompost produced from bagasse, sawdust, leaves and bagasse, sawdust, leaves and animal manuresanimal manures-Vermicompost is applied at -Vermicompost is applied at 750 kg – 1 ton/ha750 kg – 1 ton/ha-Yield of sugarcane is 90-100 -Yield of sugarcane is 90-100 tons/ha with 1 ton of tons/ha with 1 ton of vermicompost (P3,200) and vermicompost (P3,200) and 400 kg of chemical fertilizer 400 kg of chemical fertilizer with savings of at least P7,000 with savings of at least P7,000 compared to using chemical compared to using chemical fertilizer alone.fertilizer alone.

Advantages of Advantages of VermicompostingVermicomposting

Faster than many other forms of compostingFaster than many other forms of composting Resulting soil is richer than many other forms Resulting soil is richer than many other forms

of compostingof composting Easy to set up and manageEasy to set up and manage Environment-friendlyEnvironment-friendly Recommended method under RA 9003 Recommended method under RA 9003

(Ecological Waste Management Act of 2001)(Ecological Waste Management Act of 2001) Provides incomeProvides income

Advantages of Advantages of VermicompostingVermicomposting

Eliminates the problem of garbage disposal Eliminates the problem of garbage disposal (70% of garbage going to landfills can be (70% of garbage going to landfills can be composted)composted)

Reduces biodegradable wastes to about 1/3 Reduces biodegradable wastes to about 1/3 of its original sizeof its original size

Local markets of vermicomposting are Local markets of vermicomposting are growinggrowing

Vermicompost has no offensive odor, Vermicompost has no offensive odor, texturized, and pathogen-freetexturized, and pathogen-free

Materials neededMaterials needed

Earthworms Earthworms (African Night Crawlers)(African Night Crawlers)

- 100 worms per square meter- 100 worms per square meter The Culture bedThe Culture bed

- maybe a clean steel barrel, used basin, pail, - maybe a clean steel barrel, used basin, pail, used cement bags, etc.used cement bags, etc.

- maintain 60% moisture level of pile- maintain 60% moisture level of pile

-Ideal depth is 18 inches and varies in sizes -Ideal depth is 18 inches and varies in sizes from 3x3 ft to 4x8 ft.from 3x3 ft to 4x8 ft.

Materials neededMaterials needed

The Culture bedThe Culture bed

- the deeper the bed, the more compact it - the deeper the bed, the more compact it gets, and with little activity of the wormsgets, and with little activity of the worms

- must be free-draining under the composting - must be free-draining under the composting bedbed

Materials neededMaterials needed

The Feed StockThe Feed Stock- anything of biodegradable nature (vegetable - anything of biodegradable nature (vegetable left overs, animal manure, rice straw, banana left overs, animal manure, rice straw, banana stems, dried leaves, banana peelings, farm stems, dried leaves, banana peelings, farm wastes, grasses, etc.wastes, grasses, etc.- shredding hastens decomposition- shredding hastens decomposition- must be kept at darker environment- must be kept at darker environment- for good quality organic matter, combine - for good quality organic matter, combine 75% grasses & 25% kakawate leaves 75% grasses & 25% kakawate leaves

Materials neededMaterials needed

75-90 kgs compostible materials needs 1 kg 75-90 kgs compostible materials needs 1 kg of vermi (worms)of vermi (worms)

- in 30 days, 0.5 kg earthworms can produce - in 30 days, 0.5 kg earthworms can produce 10 kgs of vermicompost10 kgs of vermicompost

- 3 parts grass (75%) & 1 part Nitrogen - 3 parts grass (75%) & 1 part Nitrogen source (25%) (may include animal wastes, source (25%) (may include animal wastes, kakawate leaves, ipil-ipil leaves, azolla, kakawate leaves, ipil-ipil leaves, azolla, vines, kudzu, centrocema,mungo, peanuts vines, kudzu, centrocema,mungo, peanuts and camote)and camote)

Materials neededMaterials needed

The Feed StockThe Feed Stock

- must undergo anaerobic decomposition - must undergo anaerobic decomposition before putting the wormsbefore putting the worms

- water the vermicomposting units - water the vermicomposting units occassionallyoccassionally

- provide shelter from heavy rains to minimize - provide shelter from heavy rains to minimize leaching out of plant nutrients; also against leaching out of plant nutrients; also against predators such as birds, rats, frogs, ants, etc.predators such as birds, rats, frogs, ants, etc.

ANTONIO DE CASTRO, Baras, ANTONIO DE CASTRO, Baras, RizalRizal

Organic FertilizerOrganic Fertilizer

Comparative Cost: 50 kg Comparative Cost: 50 kg sacksack

Chemical Fertilizer vs. Chemical Fertilizer vs. VermicompostVermicompost

Year 2006Year 2006

Urea: P 800 -950Urea: P 800 -950 Made from natural gasMade from natural gas

VermicompostVermicompost

P 100.00-150.00 P 100.00-150.00 Made from leaves, grass, Made from leaves, grass,

animal manure, etc.animal manure, etc.

Year 2007Year 2007

Urea: P 950.00 -Urea: P 950.00 -1,000+1,000+

VermicompostVermicompost

P 200.00-250.00P 200.00-250.00

Vermicompost for SALE……Vermicompost for SALE……P 8.00 / kl. - P 10.00 / kl. P 8.00 / kl. - P 10.00 / kl.

P 200.00 per bag (50 kls.)P 200.00 per bag (50 kls.)