UNIT 1.

BASIC CONCEPTS

What is Vermiculture?:

Vermiculture is understood as the various operations related to the breeding and

production of worms, and the treatment, through them, of organic waste for recycling in the
form of fertilizers and proteins.

It is a technology based on the intensive breeding of worms for the production of humus
from an organic substrate. It is a natural decomposition process, similar to Compostage, in
which the organic material, in addition to being attacked by microorganisms (fungi,
bacteria, actinomycetes, yeasts, etc.) existing in the natural environment, is also attacked
by the complex system digestive of the worm.

In the intestine of the worm, processes of fractionation, splitting, synthesis and enzymatic
and microbial enrichment occur, which results in a significant increase in the rate of
degradation and mineralization of the waste, obtaining a high-quality product.

HISTORY

Although the intensive breeding of earthworms or Lombriculture seems like a new activity,
it is actually very old, its history goes back to time immemorial. The earthworm has always
been linked to the development of humanity.

The role of earthworms in improving cropland was well known in Ancient Egypt. A large
part of the fertility of the Nile Valley depended on these animals. That is why the pharaohs
had very severe punishments planned for those who damaged or smuggled them.

The great Greek philosopher Aristotle accurately defined them as "the intestines of the
earth." The Romans also knew how to appreciate worms, although it was not until the 19th
century that their true function in the ecosystem was scientifically explained.

References to worms also appear in Asian, Indian and European notes.

Charles Darwin began to be interested in worms as a child, amazed by reading the book
Natural History of Selborn, by the English naturalist.

His most famous books, "The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" and "The
Origin of Man", perhaps somewhat overshadowed another, no less famous one, which
appeared in 1881 entitled: "The Formation of Vegetable Land by the Action of the Worms".
This work would be the beginning of a series of research that today has transformed
vermiculture into a very important activity, which allows us to improve agricultural
production.

There are those who maintain that there were some appearances of the worm as food for
American Indians, but it is stated that Thomas Barret was the precursor of intensive
exploitation in California, in the year 1920. Around the same time, the Swiss Alberto Roth
brought them from Europe and used them in agricultural work in Argentina.

Hug Carter, in the United States, started his own hatchery in 1947. But the substantial
difference with Roth is that he used a different species of worm, the Eisenia Foetida, also
known as the Californian Red Worm, which for reasons of breeding, reproduction, and the
variety of organic waste it ingests, this worm and its varieties are the more suitable for
intensive humus production.

Carter is considered by many to be the first great worm breeder in the contemporary age.
He knew how to apply modern cultivation techniques, which with very slight variations are
still valid today.

The second half of the 1980s marked the greatest period of expansion of vermiculture in
Latin America, perhaps more accurately in South America.

This activity is carried out in almost all countries, however, Colombia, Chile, Peru,
Ecuador, Argentina and Brazil are notable for the growth of their worm farms.

In Cuba, the political-economic situation that prevented the continued import of chemical
fertilizers contributed to the development of large-scale vermiculture thanks to the initial
steps taken by José Ramón Cuevas.

Spain, Italy, Australia, India, the United States of America and Canada are among the
countries where vermiculture was maintained and expanded with greatest interest.

The main producing countries in Latin America are Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and
Ecuador. These countries have large industrial farms of Californian red worm.

The Philippines is one of the largest producers of worm meal for human consumption,
since the absence of smell and taste makes it competitive with fish meal, both in quality
and price.

In the current era, many countries continue to use obsolete breeding techniques, always
linked to field uses through humus, recognizing that it is the best organic fertilizer known.

The word "Vermiculture" was born as a company name from a group of researchers in
South America in the 1970s, when new breeding techniques appeared and their use
began to spread.

Classification of Worms
Lumbricids are among the most adaptively successful beings. Its origin is located in the
Precambrian, 700 million years ago. There is a large number of families, species and
subspecies that have been occupying seas, muddy lagoon beds and the upper layers of
almost all soils on the planet.

From an ecological point of view, earthworms can be divided into three large groups:

EPIGEOUS: they live on the surface of the soil, feed on organic matter and produce
humus. The dangers to which they are exposed - predation, floods, cold, fires, scarcity of
food - made them develop a series of adaptations to survive such as: high reproduction to
compensate for population losses, good appetite to make the most of the occasional
sources of food. (dry leaves, manure), resistant cocoons to preserve the eggs from drying
out.

ENDOGEOUS: they are the best known, they live inside the soil, dig horizontal galleries
and eat and defecate soil.

They feed on products that eliminate roots and organic matter dragged into the depths by
rain or by other worms and insects. By evolving in a more stable environment, their
reproduction rate is low and they did not develop protective pigments.

ANECICS: they live inside the soil, they dig vertical galleries and at night they rise to the
surface of the soil feeding on organic matter.

It is undoubtedly the most well-known and studied group. It digs "U" shaped galleries
where it spends most of its time. At night it comes out to nibble on plant remains, dragging
them to the bottom to devour them along with particles of earth. Aneciums play a very
important role in aerating and conditioning the soil (crushing, neutralizing pH, providing
bacteria), leaving those typical mounds that many confuse with anthills. These three
groups share the available resources. Most of what the endogeans ingest is mineral, with
the epigeans the relationship is reversed: their diet is almost exclusively organic. Anecics
have a combined diet.

For practical purposes, worms can be divided into two groups, namely:

 Wild or common worms

 domestic worms

THE WILD OR COMMON WORM:

It is a wild animal that is preferably located in humid places, in orchards, in forests, in

organic waste deposits, among others. It cannot be produced in captivity. The average life
of this worm is approximately 4 years.
It mates every 45 days and a maximum of 4 worms are born from each egg. It measures
12 to 20 centimeters. Their meat is soft and flaccid. It is a slow-moving animal.

The shelter or tunnel in which it lives can reach depths of 2.30 to 2.50 meters, due to the
constant search for an optimal temperature in its habitat, in accordance with its vital
demands. It prefers to live in clay or sandy soils where the humidity ranges around 40 to
45% and the temperature is about 10 to 12 °C.
This type of worm deposits its excrement on the surface of the ground.

The reasons underlying the greater profitability caused by the exploitation of this red worm
are the following:

Longevity: lives approximately 16 years.

Prolificacy: the red worm can produce up to 1,500 worms annually.

Excrement: the compost produced has a richness in bacterial flora of practically 100% with
2 billion colonies of active bacteria per gram of humus produced.
It is known as the Californian Red Worm because it was found in the State of California,
USA. where its properties for the ecosystem were discovered and where the first
hatcheries were installed.

ZOOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom Animal
Guy Annelid
Class Oligochaete
Order opisthopore
Family Lombricidae
Gender Eisenia
Species AND. foetida

Houseworm (California Red )

Very few of the world's worm species can be exploited or produced in captivity.

Worms being migratory animals par excellence, it was necessary, to develop Vermiculture,
that their habit be modified, which was achieved after more than 14 years of investigative
work. Today, its sedentary habit allows it to be kept in captivity and to be able to carry out
an industrial process in which not only can it be kept in a hatchery without it escaping, but
it also already has the capacity to live in high densities, without being altered. its
behavioral effects. Among domestic worms, the California Red Worms, known by worm
farmers as California red worms, can be considered the most versatile and profitable. Of
the more than 8,000 known species of worms, approximately 2,500 have been classified
and only three of them have been domesticated, Eisenia foetida being the best known and
the one used in more than 80% of the world's farms.

Morphological characteristics

It's dark red. Body elongated, cylindrical, flattened ventrally, pointed at the ends.

red worm

It measures 6 to 8 cm. long, 3 to 5 millimeters in diameter and weighs approximately 1 gram when
it reaches the adult stage. It ingests daily an amount equivalent to its weight, of which it expels 60%
in the form of humus and uses the remaining 40% for sustenance.
Breathe through your skin.
The worm is equipped with a digestive system that includes: mouth, pharynx, esophagus, crop,
gizzard, intestine and anus. The mouth is just a hole with a cavity. It does not have teeth so it must
suck or suck food.

The digestive system of the worm allows it to neutralize the acidity of the waste it eats; it has
calcareous glands that secrete calcium carbonate. This characteristic causes the resulting Humus
material to have a pH close to neutrality, which even acts as a corrector for acidic soils.

The tactile development of worms is impressive. With this sense, they know how to find their peers
to engage in copulation, detect dangers, avoid irritating substances and select foods.

They do not have eyes or ears, but they perceive light thanks to a series of photosensitive cells
scattered throughout the skin. This means that when they perceive sunlight, they rush to hide since
they can die quickly when exposed to light.

Blood is made up of a red liquid plasma, it circulates through blood vessels with capillaries. Worms
pump their blood through two large ducts located one in their belly and another on their back, which
interconnect with smaller vessels to irrigate the rest of the body.
There is no organized respiratory system. The oxygen absorbed through the skin is transported by
the plasma to the tissues where the exchange of gases takes place: oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Waste products are eliminated through nephridiopores.
It has a central nervous cord branched in each twig (ring), which includes sensory and motor fibers
that carry impulses from the epidermis and the opposite.
The muscular system is highly developed both longitudinally and perimeter (circularly), allowing
this wonderful specimen to carry out any type of movement. Its body is equipped with a series of
rings that allow it to adhere (nail) to the ground, stretch and shrink to move.
The excretory system is composed of paired organs located in all body segments except the first and
last. These excretory organs are the metanephridia.

Reproduction

Worms are hermaphrodites: they have both female and male

organs, however, this does not imply the existence of self-
fertilization, which is why individuals must mate to exchange
their gametes.

The male reproductive system is made up of two pairs of small

testicles with a vas deferens that communicates with the male
pore and two seminal vesicles. Its location is anterior, very
close to the mouth. Mature sperm are discharged during
mating.
Sexually mature worms
The female reproductive system includes a pair of ovaries that
communicate externally with the oviducts, and the seminal
receptacles in which the sperm received during copulation are
stored, until the moment of fertilization. This device is located
in a relative position posterior to the male genital tract.

The worm lives approximately 16 years, during which it mates regularly between 7 and 10 days,
after it acquires sexual maturity and if the temperature and humidity of the environment are to its
liking. With this same interval, it deposits a capsule or egg with a content that fluctuates between
2 and 20 embryos.
The Californian Red worm reaches sexual maturity at 3 months of age, when the clitelium
appears; which is a ring with a larger diameter than the rest of the body located approximately at
the height of its first third, if the total length of the worm is considered. They are adults at seven
months.

Thus, in each mating, one

worm receives the sperm of
the other and retains it in its
own female genital tract until
fertilization.

Mating can take place during

the day or at night and
requires two to three hours.
Worms mating Coconuts or worm eggs
Two worms in the mating Fertilization is carried out As a result of mating, at least
phase rotate in the opposite through the clithelium, two cocoons (cocoon) or
direction from each other, in whose glands produce the capsules (one from each
this way, they can contact the egg or capsule, which has a worm) will be produced.
male genital tract of one with greenish-yellow color, with These capsules will open after
the female genital tract of the approximate dimensions of 14 to 21 days, depending on
other. 2-3 by 3-4 mm, therefore not the temperature of the
being round but having a environment where they are
shape similar to a very small located.
pear, rounded on one side
and acuminate on the other.
Through the latter, the
worms emerge, once the
incubation period is over.

Growth and development

Once the incubation period is over, after 14 to 21 days,
depending on the management and control that has been
given to the vermiculture, especially the temperature, the
babies break the capsule envelope that has acquired a darker
color, and can be born from each egg between 2 and 21 small
worms. At birth, the group of small worms are white and
measure approximately 4mm.

The newborns remain in the deep part of the substrate and

then move to the surface in search of fine food. After 5 or 6
days they acquire a pink hue and measure 7mm. Between 15
and 20 days they take on a red color and measure 12 to 15 Worm emerging from the
mm. At 90 days they measure 3 centimeters, turn dark red and capsule
phenotypically resemble their parents.

From the moment they are born, worms are self-sufficient;

They eat alone and only need to survive that the substrate
where they are found is moist and tender enough to be pierced
by their tiny mouth.

A well-fed worm, with a bed in optimal conditions, produces

a capsule every 7 to 10 days, which takes 14 to 21 days to
incubate and from which an average of 12 worms can be
born.

Valid Reasons for Vermiculture

 We decide the scope of the investment.

 The crop can be divided.
 Large lands are not needed for its exploitation.
 No special materials are required for the
construction of the module or hatchery and
any material on the farm can be used.
 You can start whenever you want, even
combining vermiculture with other agricultural
or livestock activities.
 You decide how far you can expand.
 Installation costs are low.
 The invested capital appreciates.
 It does not require fixed work schedules.
 Humus or fertilizer is easy to handle and use.

 The worm is useful in recycling organic

materials on the farm, thus avoiding
contamination of water and soil because it is a
waste transformer.

Main Advantages of Vermiculture

Produce humus or vermicompost in order to:
 Improve soil texture and structure
 Substitute chemical fertilization
 Activate soil biological processes
 Increase defenses against pests and diseases in
plants
 For animal feed, whether live or processed into
flour
 For human food
 For fishing bait

 Obtaining the fluid

Harvesting of worm Dosage of Worm

castings Humus
Due to the mating
intensity of Californian The following table
worms it is advisable to shows the doses of worm
divide the original castings:
population at least three
times a year. Grasslands 800g/m2
The divisions will be
fruit trees 2 Kg/tree
carried out during the
humus collection periods, Vegetables 1 Kg/m2
carrying out a first 0.5-1
Grass
collection in March, a Kg/m2
second in September and 150
a third collection in Ornamental
g/plant
December. Being the Seedbeds 20%
summer period in which
Background 160-200
the worm reproduces
subscriber L/m2
most frequently.
0.5-2
Transplant
Once the worms have Kg/tree
been removed, the humus Land 2500-3000
will be left to dry for a recovery L/ha
few days. Next, a cone 100-200
will be formed as high as hedges
g/plant
possible with the material Rose bushes
that still contains worms 0.5-1
and woody
and eggs. Kg/m2
plants
This straw-covered cone Note: 1 liter of worm
will fill with worms in a castings at 50% humidity
few days and will be is equivalent to 0.54 kg.
covered with a black tarp
to maintain moisture and
prevent seeds from
sprouting.

Corn without worm castings

 Corn with worm castings

Unit 2. WORM BREEDING

Breeding Methods

There are various methods for raising worms: from using hoppers, tanks and wooden or
plastic boxes, to pits dug in open fields.

In general, we can say that the Californian red worm (Eisenia Foétida) can be raised
anywhere. The most common is the open-air hatchery, making cribs 1 to 2 m wide by the
length that is technically most appropriate and that facilitates the work.

A crib is nothing more than a rectangular space delimited by wood, bricks, cement blocks
or any element that serves as containment. But this is not essential either, since you can
simply pile the food on the ground and introduce the worms into it.

The cultivation forms can be:

 Family farms (small scale)

 Industrial operations (large scale)

For each case, the vermiculture farmer must keep in mind the objectives of the farm. If you
want to produce meat or humus or if you intend to use the worm in an ecological action for
the transformation of industrial and urban waste, you must determine what the type of
market is for the products and by-products resulting from exploitation.
Family farms

Family vermiculture can be carried out both inside and outside the home (terraces and
gardens). This domestic production system can be carried out in both boxes and hoppers,
in a small space, which allows continuous production of compost.

Domestic vermiculture can take advantage of an important fraction of organic waste by

transforming it into excellent quality fertilizer for home plants.

Breeding in crates

The simplest domestic breeding is using wooden or polyethylene boxes (with holes in the
bottom).
First, the worms are placed at one end of the box, depositing a small layer of garbage on
the side. The garbage that is added daily does not require prior conditioning, although it is
important to always cover the waste with a layer of earth or lumbricompost to prevent the
entry of insects and to incorporate bacteria that accelerate digestion.

Until the worms have moved to the garbage area, it is not advisable to cover them with
more waste to avoid harming them with the heat of fermentation.

It is important that the boxes are not exposed to full sun or the voracity of birds. The
garbage should be added gradually next to the initial nucleus of worms, without covering
them. This can only be done when the worms are acclimatized and can move through a
good part of the box.

During the breeding process, the boxes should be watered regularly but not excessively. If
the caregiver must be absent for a long time, he or she must provide the required amount
of food and ensure the moisture of the material.

Once the box is full, another box is started, taking some specimens from the first box to
sow worms.

When the garbage in the drawers turns into a dark mass, it is time to remove the worms.
To do this, a 5 cm layer is spread over the breeding medium. of manure or any other
residue that the animals like. After a few days the worms come up to eat and can be
removed.

The humus can be kept in drawers, bags or other type of container where it can maintain a
humidity of 30-40% and a little air can enter.

The worms that are extracted are used to start new boxes, or for fishing, animal food, flour,
etc.
Intensive Exploitation

Intensive light culture is carried out in a stratification of decomposed organic material

called a cradle, bed or bed, on which the worms are incorporated. The cribs can be inside
sheds or greenhouses, a method widely used in Europe, or outdoors as is customary in
our country.

When Californian worms are raised outdoors it is very important to place them in a shaded
place since the temperature in these places is lower than in full sun exposure. They must
also be protected against the action of strong winds and in non-flooded terrain.

For the production of shade, resinous trees (pines) and those that contain tannin (walnuts,
chestnuts) are ruled out since their leaves, when they fall and are consumed after
decomposing, are toxic to worms. In the case of installing the cribs under the canopy of
fruit trees, insecticide treatments should be avoided since the same products or the treated
leaves that fall on the beds would harm the worms.

The roots of the trees used to provide shade to the cribs tend to enter them in search of
water and nutrients. This is a real disorder because it decreases the humidity in the cribs
and the quality of the humus. A temporary solution is to place a band of high-density
polyethylene at the bottom of the crib, although over time it becomes punctured and the
roots find their way again.

The land

To start an open-air worm farm, with a commercial future, a fenced land is required, with
availability of abundant and good quality water (not brackish).

The land to establish worm farming must be located in an area where it is easy to find
organic substances, the basis of the diet, and in a place accessible by good roads that
allow the entry of raw materials when necessary and the removal of the product. made by
vehicle.
Intensive exploitation of red worms, according to the experiences of some vermiculture
farmers, can be carried out on low-fertility lands, preferably with slopes and good drainage.
Land with drainage problems

Worm beds in the shade of trees

When the humus is extracted by mechanical methods (mechanical shovel), the

polyethylene is easily damaged by the machine, which when removing the product also
excavates the earth.

Tree curtains (living barriers) are very important, not only to provide protection against
strong winds, but also to combat the cold, since they allow the temperature to be
maintained 2º or 3º C higher inside the property. Cribs should be placed in the direction of
the prevailing winds.

The land should have a slight slope so that rainwater drains off easily.

Unit 2. THE BREEDING OF WORMS.

Bed Preparation

As we said previously, cribs, beds or bunk beds are usually simple elongated mounds on
the ground, rectangular in shape, formed by food for the worms. Or they can be delimited
by wood, wire mesh, metal plates, bricks, cement blocks or any other material that serves
as containment.

In places with low temperatures and where rain is not a danger, the cribs are made in the
ground, digging a hole of 1 to 1.20 meters. wide by 50 cm. depth and the required length.
Food pile bed
Graphic taken from http://www.lombricultura-arg.com.ar

Plastered brick bed

Graphic taken from http://www.lombricultura-arg.com.ar

hardwood beds
Graphic taken from http://www.lombricultura-arg.com.ar
Prefabricated material bed
Graphic taken from http://www.lombricultura-arg.com.ar

Worm beds dug in the ground

Graphic taken from http://www.lombricultura-arg.com.ar

In general terms, the dimensions of the cradles can be 1 meter wide, 40 to 50 centimeters
high and a length of 2 meters or more, but not exceeding 30 meters in order to facilitate
tillage operations. The arrangement of the beds, their separation and their size have a lot
to do with the way production tasks are carried out, whether they are manual or with
machinery.
Another valid alternative for the production of worms is the creation of troja-shaped beds,
built at a certain height above the floor, with low-cost materials from the region such as:
open guadua or split cane, which is covered internally with resistant polyethylene duly
perforated in the part corresponding to the bottom of the bed, to promote drainage.

The use of boxes or plastic baskets as a bed for worms has the following advantages:

 Labor savings by 35%

 Space savings, at least 40%
 Easy handling
 Population density per box is higher
 The harvest is 40% more productive when compared to traditional procedures
 No physical infrastructure is needed to install them

The boxes are durable so they allow prolonged use.

Environmental conditions for the development of the Californian red worm

Humidity: It will be 70% to facilitate food ingestion and sliding through the material. If the
humidity is not adequate it can lead to the death of the worm.
The worms take the food by sucking it, therefore the lack of humidity makes this operation
impossible for them. Excess moisture causes soaking and poor oxygenation.

Temperature: The optimal temperature range for the growth of worms ranges between
12-25º C; and for the formation of cocones between 12 and 15º C. During the season of
high temperatures, more frequent watering will be used, keeping the beds free of weeds,
ensuring that the worms do not migrate in search of cooler environments. Sudden changes
in temperature alter their reproductive function and temperatures below 10°C reduce their
activity.

PH: The optimal pH is 7.

Irrigation: The irrigation systems used are manual and sprinkler.

The manual consists of a rubber hose with variable characteristics depending on the
function of the beds. Due to its simplicity it is very widespread but requires a worker
dedicated exclusively to this work, when the size of the crop requires it.
Sprinkler irrigation requires greater investment, with various modalities depending on its
arrangement in the beds. If the salt content in the irrigation water is very high, it will cause
a decrease in the nutritional value of the vermicompost.

Puddles should be avoided, since excess water displaces air from the material, making it
difficult for worms to breathe and causing anaerobic fermentation.

Aeration
It is essential for the correct respiration and development of worms.
If aeration is not adequate, feed consumption is reduced; in addition to mating and
reproduction due to compaction.

The substrate or food for the worms

The substrate placed in the bed is the food base for the worms, which will transform it into
humus. This substrate must contain essential vitamins and minerals to ensure its growth
and development.

The substrate constitutes the base of the bed and can be formed from a mixture of organic
materials, preferably rich in cellulose. The worms will be placed in this material, which
requires using only already decomposed materials, so that the internal temperature of the
material is adequate for the worms.
The organic materials useful in feeding worms are very varied, highlighting among others:

 Remains of sawmills and wood-related industries.

 Remains of tree and garden pruning.
 Organic materials from urban waste.
 Slaughterhouse waste.
 Plant waste from agricultural operations.
 Agro-industrial waste.
 Manure of domestic species.
 Fruits and tubers not suitable for consumption.
 Kitchen vegetable waste.
 Sewage treatment plant sludge.

The substrate can be built from organic matter, manure, paper, chopped cardboard and in
general all kinds of dry plant material (rice husk, wood shavings without resins or tannins,
dry leaves, etc.) and must meet the following characteristics , regardless of the substances
that make it up:

 Have a pH of no less than 6 nor more than 8. The success of the production
depends on the alkalinity and acidity of the substrate.
 Retain moisture.
 Stay porous, if it is too tight the worms cannot take in oxygen through their skin,
they become inactive and have a dark red color.
 Free of chemical substances such as insecticides, fungicides and herbicides.
 Have low protein and phosphorus content.

In general, the substrate is fresh manure; this must be allowed to mature for at least 15
days before sowing the worms to avoid high temperatures and the release of gases that
are harmful to them.

Recommendations for the use of different materials as food

It is hardly logical to think that the feeding of the worms will preferably be based on those
wastes or materials that are easiest to obtain in each location. However, it is advisable to
take into account some precautions when using some of the food sources:

 Wood chips or scraps from resinous species should not be used as the tannin
content can kill worms.
 Green plant materials such as tree trimmings, garden waste, farm waste and
kitchen vegetables must be composted before being mixed with other foods and fed
to the worms. It is recommended to crush these green materials to speed up the
decomposition process.
 Slaughterhouse waste (semi-digested food extracted from the stomach of
slaughtered cattle) contains a lot of liquid, so it requires one to two days to drain
before being used.

 When the food to be used is farmyard manure brought from other farms, it is
advisable to periodically establish whether the animals have been vermifuged. It is
not advisable to use the manure if at least 30 days have not passed since it has
 been treated. There is a risk of affecting the worms with the purgative residues
present in the excrement.

 Manure from chickens and other poultry is not advisable due to the strong acidity
caused by the high fermentation temperature (90 degrees C), and the long time
required for it to conclude (12-14 months), until obtaining the appropriate pH value.
 Pig manure has a complicated treatment and for this reason it is not recommended
in principle. It requires some time to mature and is very annoying due to the bad
odors it produces.

 The bovine manure supply must be mixed with decomposed plant residues in order
to increase the cellulose content.
 When printed paper is supplied, the recommendation is to discard those with color
inks. The black ink should be removed by keeping the paper in water for a few
days.

Compost based on plant materials

Substrate Classes

MANURES:
They are all excellent as food, especially for herbivores, because they are rich in
cellulose, carbohydrates and bacteria that break down and help the digestive process of
the worm.

In general, manure contains:

 4-20% protein
 0.7-2.77% nitrogen
  30-60% organic matter (cellulose, vitamins, minerals, etc.)

Manures used individually or mixed with others and with plant waste are the most desired
food for worms.

Bovine manure: It is very good to use as an initial substrate and food during production. It
is in optimal conditions and the easiest to achieve.

This manure is easy to handle, due to its lower compaction and acidification. It contains
enzymes that help facilitate bacterial action when passing through the worm's digestive
tract. The nitrogen content depends on the type of feed supplied to the animals, whether it
is forage, a mixture with legumes or a supplement based on concentrates. Additionally, it
contains vitamins and antibiotics that help the worm grow, therefore it is an excellent food
source.
A prior aging period of between 15 and 20 days is required, depending on the climatic
conditions of the place, especially the temperature, before use as food.
Experience shows that this manure can be handled alone or mixed with other materials,
such as forage waste or vegetable remains, without any problem. Of course taking into
account the management measures prior to being used in food.

Equine manure: It is optimal due to its high cellulose content. The main characteristic is
its high porosity, which makes it a very accessible material for handling with worms. Its
nutritional content, like that of all manures, depends on the quality of the materials
consumed, on which the nutritional quality of the worm humus will also depend at the end
of the process. With the use of this manure it is possible to obtain a humus with an
excellent presentation due to its texture.

Rabbit manure: It has a high nitrogen content, which can reach approximately 2%, this
makes frequent irrigation and turning necessary, prior to its use as food for worms.

Mixed with organic matter, this manure is one of the most complete foods for worms. It
contains proteins, a large amount of cellulose, vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, as the
food is predigested by the rabbit, the bacterial action is increased.

Sheep Manure: Like bovine manure , this manure has optimal conditions to be used to
feed worms, both due to its nitrogen content, minerals and vitamins, and low acidity. It has
the advantage of easy handling and transportation, due to its solid textural condition. It has
little humidity, so a greater quantity and frequency of irrigation is required.
Due to its thin consistency, it requires additives such as straw, cardboard, rice husks or
others, so that it does not compact.

Poultry manure: These manures are rich in protein content and phosphoric acid, which
makes them undesirable as food for worms. They tend to heat up quickly, which is why
they require a long period of decomposition with continuous watering and turning to reduce
salinity and gas content, mainly ammonia, which is toxic to worms. Tests should be done
to determine the appropriate time at which these materials can be used as food.

Pig manure: It is not recommended in principle due to its complicated handling

(production of bad smell during fermentation). It can be used after it has been treated in
manure dumps.

Maturation of manure: When the raw material for preparing worm food is manure, it must
go through a prior maturation period before being placed on the beds or beds.
To do this, a pile is made that will be wet and stirred regularly until its temperature drops to
25º C. This process lasts between 20 days and a month. The temperature should not be
higher than 32ºC or lower than 15ºC; The optimum is 20ºC.
Vermiculture manuals recommend very long periods for the maturation of different types of
manure. For example, 6 months for cattle manure and 12 to 16 months for poultry manure.
This period is excessive for commercial exploitation. Furthermore, after such a long
maturation there is very little protein left at the disposal of the worms.
The manuals also advise against mixing manure from different sources even if they are
from the same animal species, because it is very likely that they are in different stages of
maturation. However, it is advisable to have 3 or 4 types of manure to make combinations
that help reduce the maturation time and improve the composition of the food.
It is advisable to mature briefly, a maximum of one month and then, if necessary, add
some plant residue (10-20%) such as cereal husks, shavings or chopped grass to reduce
fermentation once the material is placed on the beds.
The substrate is the most important element in the cultivation of worms, since if we deliver
it stabilized, we ensure the reproduction of our breeding stock and in a short time we will
have multiplied it and we will obtain good crops of humus.

Other materials that can be used as a substrate

In addition to manure, any material of organic origin can be used as food for worms, such
as: dry grass, tree bark, dry leaves, wood shavings, rice husks, coffee pulp, paper,
cardboard, etc. (worms do not degrade glass, plastics or cans), which must be supplied
previously composted.

Manure for maturation

Waste and organic materials for worm food

Measurement of pH and temperature in worm food

Graphic taken from http://www.lombricultura-arg.com.ar

Factors to take into account when preparing and handling the substrate

The substrate constitutes a habitat and food source for the worms, therefore it must meet
environmental conditions that make their survival possible. It is then required to have
control over three important aspects:

Humidity :
Humidity is a very important factor that influences reproduction. It should be between 70
and 80%. Humidity above 85% causes worms to enter a dormant period that affects
humus production and reproduction. Below 70% humidity is an unfavorable condition.
Humidity levels below 55% are fatal to worms.

The test to measure the percentage of moisture in the substrate is known as the fist test,
which consists of grabbing a quantity of the substrate with the fist of one hand, then
applying force, normally that of one arm. If the water appears between the fingers without
dripping, it can be assumed that the humidity is correct. In any case it is better to use a
humidity meter.

Temperature:
Temperature is another factor that influences reproduction, feeding, humus production
and capsule fertility. A temperature between 18 to 25 degrees Celsius is considered
optimal, which leads to maximum performance of the worms. It must be checked
periodically.
When the temperature drops below 15º C, the worms enter a period of dormancy,
reducing their reproductive activity, growth and vermicompost production. The cocones
(eggs) do not hatch and the embryos spend more time enclosed until favorable conditions
arise.

pH:
The pH indicates the acidity or alkalinity of the substrate. The worm accepts substrates
with a pH of 5 to 8.4, but better if this value is between 6.5 and 7.5. To determine the pH of
the material, a pH meter or simple indicator paper can be used.

The first indicates the respective value on a numbered scale, the second requires
comparing the color that the strip of paper acquires when placed in contact with the
substrate, with a color scale used as a pattern.
To test with indicator paper (litmus paper), take a very wet sample of the prepared
substrate in your hand; A strip of indicator paper is inserted into it and the hand is kept
closed for 20-30 seconds. After this time, the strip of paper is removed and another 20-30
seconds are allowed to pass. It will be possible to observe that the strip of paper has
changed color and it is then that the color obtained can be compared with the different
sample colors that are represented in the packaging where the indicator paper is
contained.

In the respective range, each color corresponds to a different pH value and is

accompanied by a figure in numbers (from 0.5 to 13) which allows determining the
approximate value of the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the substrate.
The pH value of our product must be between 6.5 and 7.5, with the optimum being 7.0,
that is, neutral pH, that is, free of acidity.

The preparation of the substrate must be done through aerobic fermentation. This
fermentation is the result of the activity of a series of microorganisms of different kinds.
The length of time fermentation lasts depends on pH, humidity, temperature and type of
substrate.
The objective is for the food to stabilize at a pH close to 7, humidity of 80% and
temperature of 18 to 25 degrees Celsius.

Unit 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE

CROP
Cultivation Establishment
 Demarcation of beds for worms
Graphic taken from http://www.lombricultura-arg.com.ar

This operation must fully establish the width and length of the beds as well as the width of the
streets or paths. For this last measure, it is advisable to take into consideration whether the
management of the exploitation is eminently manual or if, on the contrary, machinery will be used,
since for this there must be enough space for circulation, turns and retreat.
The next operation consists of placing the prepared substrate inside the demarcated areas
corresponding to the beds, forming a layer of 10 to 15 centimeters. Humidity must be maintained in
this substrate through irrigation.

For the establishment or initiation of worm cultivation, in addition to the selection of materials for
the preparation of the substrate that will be used as food, the following is required:

 Demarcation and preparation of beds

 Acquisition of worm seed or breeding stock
 Survival and seeding test

The first step in the construction of the beds or beds is the demarcation.

Worms for breeding stock

Seed acquisition:
The seed constitutes the breeding stock that will be used to sow the beds and start the crop.
It must be obtained from a single supplier and hopefully from a known site, trying to include the
highest percentage of worms in a reproductive state.
Make sure that the red worm you are going to buy corresponds to the type or species you want to
purchase.
Never mix red worm with other species of worms.

Sowing worms
Graphic taken from http://www.lombricultura-arg.com.ar

Sowing worms

Vermiculture begins by depositing (sowing) the seedlings in the beds.

Sowing consists of manually incorporating the worms into the beds once the tests have been carried
out to guarantee the optimal state of the substrate. Not all seeds should be sown at the same time,
the substrate must be tested first.

Survival test :

Before sowing the seedlings on the substrate with which the beds were prepared, it is important to
ensure that the material used meets the conditions required by the worms. The test called:
adaptation or survival, commonly known as the 50-worm test (P50L), must then be carried out.
For this, a wooden box is used (dimensions 30 x 30 x 15 cm.), with drainage holes in the bottom,
where a layer of food about 10 centimeters thick is deposited, on which 50 adult worms are placed.
and young people grouped in the center of the box. If after 24 hours the worms are in good
condition, the process can continue.
The worms should be allowed to enter on their own, not worry about covering them.
Upon introduction, the worms will try to discover if the new environment is suitable to first
guarantee their permanence and then their productive action. After 24 hours it is necessary to verify
if the 50 worms are in optimal conditions, that is, if they are alive. The ideal condition is that all the
worms are alive.
Some worm farmers consider it acceptable to find a maximum of 2 dead worms, when the other 48
are in normal condition. His death could have occurred due to the effects of manipulation from
acquisition to the moment of testing.

If more than 2 die, it means that the food does not yet meet the appropriate conditions and
corrections must be made. On the contrary, if all the worms are alive or at least 48 and have been
distributed within the material, the food has been correctly prepared and the worms can be
inoculated within the beds.

To correct inadequate food conditions, the following should be done:

 If the pH is high (alkaline), add shredded newspaper

 If the pH is low (acidic), add lime and mix it
 If it is due to low humidity, add water
 If you have excess water, facilitate rapid drainage

If the material temperature is high, allow the bed material to decompose longer or remove some of
it, leaving a thinner layer.
 BASICS FOR CULTIVATION OF CALIFORNIAN RED WORM

Important!
Dear Student, REMEMBER! :
To prepare each of the activities, we suggest studying the recommended readings found in
the "Documents " section, in which you will find the explanations and examples necessary
to facilitate the completion of the requested tasks.
Don't forget to send all your products to your tutor's email Jjcastillr@senavirtual.edu.co

Unit 3: Activity No. 3

 Make a list of the most relevant qualities of worm castings for use in agriculture.

Unit 4. PRODUCTION PLAN

Facility

The development of vermiculture for commercial purposes requires us from the beginning to
make a Business Plan.

To formulate a Business Plan in vermiculture with the objective of achieving sustained

commercial production and/or scale production , we must define a series of parameters in the
first instance:

 Initial Capital destined for Productive Investment

 Production objectives to achieve
 Segregation of Working Capital and Fixed Capital
 Tasks to develop
 Production and Flow of Funds Chart
In this sense, having conceptually defined the basic parameters, we begin to develop them in
general terms:

1. Initial Capital destined for Productive Investment

The amount allocated to Working Capital is directly related to the "investment decision" of the
potential vermiculture farmer, whether in terms of availability of resources and/or credits to be
obtained and all of this according to the production objectives to be achieved.

2. Production Objectives to achieve

The objective of worm exploitation can be focused on:

 Production of organic fertilizers (vermicompost and worm castings)

 Intensive reproduction of Californian red worms (for production of live worm meat)
 "Scale" production of both humus and worm reproduction

3 . Segregation of Working and Fixed Capital

Undoubtedly, depending on the production objectives to be achieved, what amount of money

will be allocated to Fixed Capital and how much to Working Capital is determined.

The items to consider and subsequently Machines and tools:

weight for Fixed Capital are the
following: The tools are not standard.

Land:  Chopper to grind raw materials (manure and

fiber).
To start a farm with a commercial  Clod remover to break up raw humus.
future, land of no less than one hectare  Motorized screen (small) or manual, as
is required, otherwise the work required, with removable mesh with different
becomes very uncomfortable. It must openings (6, 7 and 8 mm) to use with different
be fenced and have mains water or degrees of humidity of the material and avoid
non-brackish well water. The land fillings. It gives the humus (previously aerated
must be located in a place accessible to and cleared of clods) a finer granulometry that
the trucks that will transport the raw favors its application to crops and adds
materials and remove the prepared commercial value.
humus.  Polyethylene bag sealer.
 Balances.
It must be taken into account that 50%  Wheelbarrows (as necessary) to transport
of the land surface is allocated to beds manure to the cradles and to extract the
and paths and the other half to the vermicompost, until it is necessary to acquire
storage of manure, humus without another means, such as a mechanical shovel,
removing clods and sheds for due to the expansion of the farm.
packaging and storage.  Rakes with long, rounded tips to remove
manure (or organic matter used) during the
composting stage.
 Long-handled forks with 4 rounded tips (so as
not to hurt the worms) for supplying food to
the cribs.
 15-tooth coal-type forks with rounded tips to
extract worms.
 Wide blades.
 Irrigation hose with its ½ or ¾ inch connection
couplings.
 Plastic watering cans.

 Cover for the floor of the cradles: when

mechanical shovels are used it is useful for the
rows of cradles to have a cement floor. This
should be a little wider and longer than the
cradle and be level (even if the ground has a
slight slope ).

Instrumental: Fixed costs

Thermometers for controlling the temperature of
beds and the atmosphere - pH meter Hygrometer. Staff
It will be the minimum personnel
Facilities: necessary to maintain a commercial farm
Cribs or beds for Intensive Reproduction and in terms of permanent employees for food
Production, built with the chosen materials and preparation activities for the worms,
design, Plastics, Covers, Medium Shade Nets, supply, monitoring and maintenance of
Protective Structure, etc. that are part of the environmental conditions on the farm and
infrastructure. day laborers for the activities of
assembling the crib and harvesting.
Working Capital
The items to consider and their weighting to Other expenses
determine the amount would be the following: When the decision has been made to set
up a commercial farm, it is advisable to:
Worms:
The number of worms as breeding stock will be in  Have technical advice, given by a
direct relation to the number of beds considered for person knowledgeable about the
the expansion stage in relation to the size of the
 production process.
project, applying the technical criteria for the case.
 Carry out the legal registration
The raw material: process of the company as a
Farms in general (bovine or equine manure from producer and distributor of
farms, waste from slaughterhouses, pigs, poultry organic amendments and the
farms, vegetable waste) is free, its collection registration of the products.
involves a cost as well as transportation. If it is
produced on the farm itself the cost will be almost
zero with the consequent savings in waste
collection services.

BASICS FOR CULTIVATION OF CALIFORNIAN RED WORM

Important!
Dear Student, REMEMBER! :
To prepare each of the activities, we suggest studying the recommended readings found
in the "Documents " section, in which you will find the explanations and examples
necessary to facilitate the completion of the requested tasks.
Don't forget to send all your products to your tutor's email Jjcastillr@senavirtual.edu.co

Unit 4: Activity No. 1

 Prepare a proposal for worm production for an area of 2,500 m2 proposing the
criteria related to the following aspects:
o Type of handling (manual - mechanical).
o Dimensions and number of beds.
o Quantity of worm per m2 of bed.
o Number of beds for the expansion stage.
o Amount of food required for the production stage.

o How often will humus extraction be carried out?