Earthworm compost is a boon for farmers; know the easy method to make it
Earthworm Compost: Using earthworms, the method of vermicomposting (also known as earthworm compost) turns agricultural waste into compost manure. It gives crops the macro- and micronutrients they need to grow and thrive. It is the perfect natural fertilizer, enhancing the soil’s chemical, biological, and physical qualities even further.
Thus, please elaborate on vermicomposting and earthworm compost in today’s post. Tell us about the scientific process used to create earthworm compost as well.
Components needed to create earthworm compost
- Cow dung that is two weeks old
- Fruits and vegetables that insects have ruined
- fruit and vegetable peels
- crop stalks and leaves
- Grass, etc.
Earthworm species that produce earthworm compost
- Eisenia fetida (Red Earthworm)
- Eudrilus eugenii (African Night Crawler)
- Perionyx excavates (Blue Earthworm)
For vermicompost, Eisenia fetida is usually used. This is distinguishable by the brown stripes that follow the red. This earthworm multiplies twofold in two to three months and thrives very well around 20 to 25 °C.
Method for Producing Vermicompost
Beds may be built on any shaded or paved site for vermicomposting. You may choose how large and small they are in terms of length and breadth.
- Cover the bottom of each bed with a layer of sand or sandy soil that is one to two inches deep.
- Cover it with 3 to 4 inches of rice or wheat husk.
- Pour 8 to 12 inches of 10 to 15-day-old cow manure upon it.
- Next, chop whatever it is that you wish to turn into vermicompost (plant waste, for example) into tiny, 4-6 inch pieces, and distribute them equally over the cow dung.
- One square meter of the bed should contain one thousand mature earthworms, wrapped with jute bags. 6. After that, use a sprinkler to thoroughly water the bed on top of the bag or sacks. There should be between 40 and 60 percent moisture. For this, irrigate the soil once a day in the winter, twice a day in the summer, and once every two to three days during the wet season.
- The earthworm compost becomes the color of spent tea leaves after two to three months.
- Three to four days before gathering vermicompost, stop watering it and let the surface dry. Gather it and sift it (using a 2.5 mm mesh screen) once it has dried.
- Gather the earthworms and return them to their new bed.
- Gather the compost and store it in a shaded area in a plastic or polythene bag.
- Two trenches (6 m x 1 m) provide around 1 ton of earthworm compost.
