Subject: INTERNATIONAL AG-SIEVE

From: [email-masked]
Date: 14 Jan 1995 00:19:47 -0000

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INTERNATIONAL AG-SIEVE  Volume VII, number 1   (SOIL FAUNA)
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-Spreading the word about vermicompost

-What is Vermiculture?

Below are more rough articles which will be included in the next issue (Vol 
VII, 1) of the International Ag-Sieve. The purpose of this electronic version 
of the newsletter is to send out the soon-to-be-printed articles to you, the 
reader, in the hope that you will respond and comment on the contents. Please 
send your suggestions to:

[email-masked]

Once comments are read, stylistic changes are made according to suggestions, 
and some individual remarks will be added to the printed version under our 
Readers React column. I hope you enjoy this up-coming issue, and I look forward

to your reactions.

Sincerely,

Roger Bairstow
Communications Manager
Rodale Research Institute

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Spreading the word about vermicompost

In the past ten years a group in India has prompted many farmers and 
institutions to switch from conventional chemicals to an organic fertilizer 
known as vermicompost.
Vermicompost is produced by certain breeds of earthworms which have become 
valuable friends to farmers in India.  By processing organic wastes, these 
worms produce vermicompost. Noted for its ability to increase organic matter 
and trace minerals, vermiculture has been a primary focus at Maharashtra 
Agricultural Bioteks in India, an organization which has initiated both 
commercial and educational ventures to promote vermiculture.  

In 1985 Maharashtra Agricultural Bioteks formed a company and set up a small 
plant to manufacture vermicompost from agricultural waste  Those involved 
believed that moving people towards sustainable agriculture might be best 
achieved by successfully operating a commercial venture based on regenerative 
principles.

Over the years, the organization has grown and produces 5,000 tons of 
vermicompost annually.  Its real achievement, however, has been in raising an 
awareness among farmers, research workers and policy makers in India about 
regenerative food production methods.

The group has been directly  responsible for 2,000 farmers and 
horticulturalists adopting vermicomposting.  These "converted" farmers and 
horticulturalists have now started secondary dissemination of vermicompost 
principles to their neighbors.

In 1991-92 Maharashtra Bioteks working with the India Department of Science 
and Technology promoted the adoption of vermicompost technology throughout 13 
states in India.  The group has also established a vermicompost unit with 
Chitrakoot Gramodaya University at Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh which produces 
five tons of compost per month. 

Research, Education and Demonstration 

The research agenda includes a program for the reduction of chemical 
fertilizer use on grapes, pomegranates and bananas.  Nearly 1,000 farmers are 
using vermicompost as a soil amendment in their orchards, reducing the use of 
chemical fertilizers by 90%.  Similar work is underway on mangoes, cashews, 
coconuts, oranges, limes, strawberries and various vegetable crops.

The organization has devised methods to convert some biodegradable industrial 
waste (pulp waste from paper mills, filter cake and liquid effluent from sugar 
factories, fruit and vegetable processing units, cafeteria waste and assorted 
city waste) into vermicompost.  These wastes are commonly regarded as 
pollutants.  Three facilities are already producing thirty tons of vermicompost

each month.

The organization has created a program which trains housewives and home 
gardeners to produce their own vermicompost from household and garden waste.  
The principle aim of this work is to increase awareness about regenerative 
practices.  To this end, vermicompost units have been developed and distributed

and in one year 100 housewives were trained to use them.

Contact:
Dr. Henamgee Jambhekar
Maharashtra Agricultural Bioteks
B/9 Shivai Housing Society
Near Sane Guruji Smarak
Pune: 411 030.  INDIA
Phone: 91-212-431983

What is Vermiculture?

Through their simple act of eating, earthworms promote bacterial growth, 
enhance soil structure and hasten decomposition of organic matter. However, not

all  earthworms are suitable for vermiculture.  

Earthworms are divided into two groups: humus formers and humus feeders.  The 
first group dwell on the surface and feed on nearly 90% fresh organic materials

and 10% soil.  They are generally red in color, have a flat tail and are also 
called epegic or detritivorous worms.  It is these worms that are harnessed for

vermicomposting. The second group, i.e. the humus feeders, are deep burrowing 
worms which are useful in making the soil porous and mixing and distributing 
humus through the soil.

Preparing your Vermicompost

%  Materials- You will need a supply of breeder worms and a wooden bed in 
which to keep them and the organic wastes. The bed should be 2 1/2 ft. high x 4

ft. wide x any length that is possible. You will also need a hose with which to

water the beds periodically and bags for packing the vermicompost.
    
%  Sieving and shredding- Decomposition can be accelerated if raw materials 
are shredded into small pieces. 

%  Blending-  Substances lacking in nitrogen (N) like sawdust, paper and straw 
can be mixed with nitrogen rich materials such as sewage sludge, biogas slurry 
and fish scraps to obtain a near optimum C/N ratio of 30:1/40:1.  A varied 
mixture of substances provides a good quality compost, rich in both major and 
micro nutrients.

%  Half digestion-  Before feeding to the worms, the raw materials should be 
kept in piles where the temperature is allowed to reach 50-55 degrees C 
(122-131 degrees F).  The piles should remain at this temperature for 7 to 10 
days.  

%  Moisture, temperature and pH-  The optimum moisture level for maintaining 
aerobic conditions is 40-45%.  Proper moisture and aeration can be maintained 
by mixing fibrous with nitrogen rich materials. The temperature of the piles 
should be within 28-30 degrees C (83-86 degrees F).  Higher or lower 
temperatures will reduce the activity of microflora and earthworms. The height 
of the earthworms' bed can help control the rise in temperature.   The pH of 
the raw material should not exceed 6.5 to 7.

After about a month the compost is ready.  It will be black, granular, 
lightweight and humus-rich.  To facilitate separating the worms from the 
compost, stop watering two to three days before emptying the beds. This will 
force about 80% of the worms to head to the bottom of the bed.  The rest of the

worms can be removed by hand. The vermicompost can then be packed in bags is 
and ready for application.

Jambhhekar, Hemangee.  Maharashtra Agricultural Bioteks training material.