Vermicomposting Steps in vermicomposting-

The vermicompost unit should be made in a cool, moist and shady place. Collected cow dung and
chopped leafy materials are mixed in the proportion of 3:1 and left for partial decomposition for

Technology:
15-20 days.
1.Spread a layer (15-20 cm thick) of partially decomposed material.
2.Sprinkle rock phosphate on this layer for enrichment depending upon need.
3.Sprinkle cow dung slurry as a layer.

An Alternative Approach in 4.Fill the bed completely with the material.

5.Release earthworms on the bed (for a 6’x2’x2’ size of bed, 1500-2000 worms are required).

Waste Management
6.Cover the bed with wire mesh or gunny bags or green nets to prevent birds from picking the
earthworms.
7.Sprinkle water at 3 day intervals during winter and rainy season and daily at summer season to

Dr. Rajiv Dubey maintain adequate moisture level and body temperature of the earthworms.
8.Bed should be turned once after 30 days for maintaining aeration and proper decomposition.
Assistant Professor (Agronomy) 9.Check compost after about 2 months. It is ready in 2-2.5 months. It is black, light and has no smell.

R.V.S.K.V.V., College of Horticulture, MP

What is vermicomposting?
Vermicomposting is the biological process of preparing manure from all kinds of organic residues
with the help of earthworms. The prepared manure by this process is known as vermicompost.
Vermicomposting is an effective way to increase organic matter of the soil and productivity of crops.

Why vermicomposting?
Vermicompost is an important component of organic farming and it has the following advantages.
• It leaves no chance of environmental pollution.
Fig 1. Vermicompost bed Fig 2. Sieving of compost
• It provides all essential macro and micro nutrients.
• It helps in reducing heavy metals toxicity in soil.
• It is economically viable and easily adopted low cost technology.
• It improves quality of agricultural produce.

Selection of Earthworms for

composting-
Earthworms which lives and work below the soil is not suitable for vermicoposting. The epigeic
earthworms like Eisenia foetida (Red earthworm), Eudrilus eugeniae (African night crawler), Perionyx
excavates (Blues or Indian blues) etc. are used for vermicomposting. Eisenia foetida is commonly Fig 3. Collection of earthworm after Fig 4. Putting of worms into new
used worms for vermicomposting in many parts of India because of its high multiplication rate and separation from compost culture bed
thereby converts the organic matter into vermicompost within 45-50 days.

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 Application of to crops
Vermicompost should be used always as a part of integrated nutrient supply system. Vermicopost
cab be used in field crops, ornamentals, vegetables and fruit crops. But generally vermicompost is
recommended for high value vegetables and fruits crops.

Crops Dose of vermicompost

Field crops 5-6 t/ha
Fruit crops 3-5 kg/plant
Fig 5. Harvested compost Fig 6. Packing and selling of
Vegetables 10-12 t/ha
vermicompost
Pots (for flowers) 100-200 g/pot

Nutrient value of vermicompost Harvesting of vermicompost

The content of nutrients in vermicompost depends upon the source and quality of the raw material.
The harvesting of vermicompost involves manual and mechanical separation of worms from the
The worm casting contains higher percentage (nearly two fold) of nutrients as compared to garden
castings. For this purpose, the prepared compost are dumped on the polythene sheet in the form
compost (Table 1)
of mound for few hours. In this process, most of the worms move towards bottom of the mound to
Table 1. Nutrient composition of vermicompost and compost avoid light. The cocoons, adult and young worms collect at the bottom and used for seeding the new
culture beds. The collected compost passed through a 3 mm sieve to recover the cocoons, young
worms and unconsumed organic wastes.
Nutrient element Vermicompost (%) Compost (%)
Organic carbon
Nitrogen
10-14
0.51-1.6
12
0.8 Storing and packing of
vermicompost
Phosphorus 0.19-1.02 0.4
Potassium 0.15-0.73 0.5
Calcium 1.18-7.61 2.2
To avoid sunlight, the harvested vermicompost should be stored in dark and cool place. Loss of
Magnesium 0.093-0.568 0.5 moisture and nutrient content will take place in presence of sunlight. One important thing is that
Sodium 0.06-0.16 <0.01 the harvested material is openly stored rather than packed in over sac. Packing should be done
Zinc 0.0042-0.011 0.0012 at the time of selling. If it is stored in open place, periodically sprinkling of water may be done
Copper 0.0026-0.0048 0.0017 to maintain moisture level beneficial microbial activities. Vermicompost can be stored for 1 year
Iron 0.2050-1.3313 1.1690 without loss of its quality, if the moisture is maintained at 40 per cent level.

Conclusion
Manganese 0.0105-0.2038 0.0414
Source: (Srinivasrao et al. 2011)
Vermicompost is a valuable input for sustainable
agriculture and wasteland management in India
and abroad. In India, there are many progressive
farmers experiences of using this technology
from various climatic zones and there will be
lot of demand for vermicompost in future for
developing cultivable land.

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