Vermicomposting

Solid Waste Management

• Vermicomposting is the bioconversion of organic waste into a bio-
fertilizer due to earthworms’ activity
• operating conditions such as temperatures, pH, electrical conductivity
and moisture content levels must be ptimized.
• Normally, the vermicomposting process takes place in vermi-reactors
which include plastic, earthed pots and wood worm bins
• Vermicomposting is known as low cost technology process used for
the processing or treatment of organic waste. 
• Effective recycling technology that improves the quality of the products which is
disinfected, detoxified, and highly nutritive.
• It is a low cost, eco-biotechnological process of waste management in which
earthworms are used to cooperate with microorganisms in order to convert
biodegradable wastes into organic fertilizer.
• Earthworms excreta (vermicast) is a nutritive organic fertilizer rich in humus, NPK,
micronutrients, beneficial soil microbes; nitrogen-fixing, phosphate solubilizing
bacteria, actinomycets, and growth hormones auxins, gibberlins and cytokinins, is
a suitable alternative to chemical fertilizers, being an excellent growth promoter
and protector for crop plants.
• Thus, vermiculture not only results in management of soild waste but also
produces excellent nutrient enriched vermicompost
Earthworms
• Various earthworms have been used for vermicomposting and these
include Megascolex Mauritii, Eisenia Fetida, Eudrilus Eugeniae,
Perionnyx Excavatus, Lampito Mauritii, Eisenia Andrei, Lampito
Rubellus and Drawida Willis
• However, Eisenia Fetida has been noted as the earthworm of choice
for vermicomposting and is adaptable to changing conditions and has
lower chances of compromising on the vermicompost process.
• The change in earthworms weight, length, reproduction rate and
population density have also been used to measure the progress of
vermicomposting.
Vermicasts
• Vermicompost is an odourless, dark brown bio-fertilizer obtained from
the process of vermicomposting.
• The vermicompost obtained are also termed vermicasts as they are
expelled as casts from the earthworm gut.
• Various types of rganic waste have been reported to produce
vermicompost and a range of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and
potassium (K)
• The quality of the vermicompost is measured by the vermicompost
biodegradability coefficient (Kb).
Advantages of Vermicomposting
• [1] It is cost effective method.
• [2] It helps destroy the harmful pathogens under the low temperature
conditions.
• [3] The earthworms have a tendancy to treat the medium of soil (acidic
or alkaline) to neutral soil. Thus it could prove as a soil pH regulator.
• [4] With the effect of earthworms soil becomes fertile, improves soil
texture and water application reduces.
• [5] The optimal carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio is available in
vermicompost, which determines the quality of compost
Things to Think About
• Ideal for apartment dwellers or small offices.
• Schools can use vermiculture to teach children conservation and recycling.
• It is important to keep the worms alive and healthy by providing the proper conditions and
sufficient food.
• Prepare bedding, bury garbage, and separate worms from their castings.
• Worms are sensitive to changes in climate.
• Extreme temperatures and direct sunlight are not healthy for the worms.
• The best temperatures for vermicomposting range from 55° F to 77° F.

• In hot, arid areas, the bin should be placed under the shade.
• Vermicomposting indoors can avoid many of these problems.
Methods of vermicomposting
• Three commonly used methods for vermicomposting are discussed
belowvv
• Bin composting
• Pit composting
• Pile composting
1.Bin composting: The most common method for small scale composting is bin
composting method. The bin can be constructed of several materials such as
wooden/plastic/recycled containers like bathtubs and barrels. A vermicompost bin
may be in different sizes and shapes, but its average dimensions are 45 × 30 × 45 cm.
Around 10 holes with 1–1.5 cm in diameter holes in bottom, sides and cap of bin is
useful for aeration and drainage.
2.Pit composting: For large scale composting, pits of sizes 2.5 m × 1 m × 0.3 m under
thatched sheds with sides left open are advisable. The bottom and sides of the pit
should be made hard with a wooden mallet.
3.Pile composting: Pile method is mostly used for vermicomposting in larger scale. The
piles can be made in porch place like greenhouse or in a floor with some facilities for
drainage in warm climate. The pile size may vary in length and width, however, its
height is average height of bin used for bin composting.
Conventional steps involved in vermicomposting

1.Materials required for vermicomposting: Carbon and nitrogen-rich organic

materials, spade, ground space, stakes, hollow blocks, plastic sheets or used
sacks, water (according to the season) and water sprinklers, shading materials,
nylon net or any substitute to cover the beds, and composting earthworms.
2.Site Selection: Vermicompost production can be done at any place which is
having shades, cool and has high humidity. For instance, abandoned cattle
shed, or poultry shed or unused buildings or artificial shading could also be
provided.
3.Shredding of organic waste material: The collected organic waste material
should be processed for shredding along with mechanical separation of the
metal, glass and ceramics that should be kept aside.
4. Pre-digestion of organic waste material:
•  Pre-digestion of organic waste should be done for at least 20–25 days (e.g., cattle dung slurry). Regular
watering is required for partially digesting it and making it fit for earthworm consumption. Raw
material to be used includes for composting – cow dung, crop residues, farm wastes, vegetable market
wastes and fruit wastes.
• Cow dung should be at least 20–25 days old to avoid excess heat generation during the composting
process.
• Moreover addition of higher quantities of acid-rich substances such as citrus wastes should be avoided.
• It is important to mix carbonaceous with nitrogenous organic materials at the right proportions to
obtain a C: N ratio of about 30:1, as it results in product of highest stability, the best fertilizer-value and
with lowest potential for environmental pollution. For example, rice straw and fresh manure are mixed
at about 25:75 ratio by weight. When the material with higher carbon content is used with C:N ratio
exceeding 40:1, it is advisable to add nitrogen supplements to ensure its effective decomposition.
5. Earthworm bed preparation: An hospitable living environment for worms called
bedding is prepared. Bedding is a material that provides the worms with a
relatively stable habitat with following characteristics:
6. High absorbency: As earthworms breathes through their skins and therefore
bedding must be able to absorb and retain water fairly well. Worms dies if its
skin dries out.
7. Good bulking potential: Worms respire aerobically and different bedding
materials affect the overall porosity of the bedding, including the range of
particle size and shape, the texture, and the strength and rigidity of its
structure. If bedding material is too dense or packs too tightly, then the flow of
air is reduced or eliminated. This overall effect is referred as the material’s
bulking potential.
8. Low protein and/or nitrogen content/high Carbon: Earthworms consume their bedding as it breaks down
and it is very important for this process to be slow. High protein/nitrogen levels can result in rapid
degradation of bedding and its associated heating, creating inhospitable or fatal conditions. High carbon
content is required as earthworms and microbes in the feed mixtures activate microbial respiration and
degradation of organic wastes, thereby increasing the loss of organic carbon during the vermicomposting
process
9. Vermiculture bed: Vermiculture bed can be prepared by placing a first layer of saw dust, newspaper, straw,
coir waste, sugarcane trash etc. at the bottom of tub/container. Newspaper is one of bedding material that
high in absorbency whereas for the sawdust the level of absorbency is poor to medium. A second layer of
moistened fine sand of 3 cm thick should be spread over the culture bed followed by a layer of garden soil
(3 cm). The floor of the unit should be compacted to prevent earthworm’s migration into the soil.
10.Loading of organic waste mixture in bed: Third layer of the pre-digested organic waste prepared is added.
Thereafter a thin layer of cow dung mixture is placed on the surface of waste material as starter food for
compost worms. Then compost worms are to be added without spreading them out. Earthworms
consume various organic wastes and reduce the volume by 40–60%. Earthworm eats waste equivalent to
its body weight, and produce cast about 50% of the wastes, it consumes in a day.
11.Composting process: After addition of compost worms wait for at least 15 days for the thermophillic
process to end. During this process there is a rapid increase in temperature followed by a gradual
decrease. During this period turning to the material 2–3 times at 4–5 days interval is required.
• Its temperature should be maintained at 30°C, when temperature approaches ambient temperature (<35°C)
covering is to be removed and for temperature maintenance, upturning and regular sprinkling of water is advisable.
• Prominent precautionary measures include; Composting pit should be covered with nylon net or any substitute
material to serve as barrier against predators like ants, birds, lizards as it may disturb the activity of earthworm,
Blockage of side air vents should be avoided as it can quickly lead to putrefaction and extreme weather conditions
such as frost, heavy rainfall, drought and overheating should be avoided.
• No smell comes out of composting site if the right products or bedding and feed are used. The vermicompost once
formed completely will give the smell of moist soil. Maturity could be judged visually also by observing the
formation of granular structure of the compost at the surface of the tank. Next step is to make a heap in sunlight on
a plastic sheet and keep it for 1-2 hours.
• The worms will gather at the bottom of heap. After removing vermicompost on top, the worms settled down at the
bottom can be carefully collected for use in the next batch of vermicomposting.
 Effect of abiotic factors on vermicomposting

• The most important abiotic factors which affect vermicomposting process

include moisture, pH, temperature, aeration, pH value, ammonia and salt
content.
1.Moisture: 
• A strong relationship exists between the moisture content of organic wastes and the
growth rate of earthworms.
• For earthworm’s growth 65–75% moisture range is most suitable of vermicomposting
temperature. The bedding used for vermicomposting must be able to hold sufficient
moisture as earthworms respire through their skins and moisture content in the bedding
of less than of 45% can be fatal to the worms. Although certain species can survive
moisture ranges between 50% and 90%, but they grow more rapidly between 80% and
90%.
• The bacteria also plays vital role in vermicomposting. Its activity decreases in moisture
content lower than 40% and it almost stops in lower than 10%.
2. Temperature: 
• Earthworm’s activity, metabolism, growth, respiration and reproduction are
greatly influenced by temperature . The temperature for the stable
development of earthworm population should not exceed 25°C.
• It is generally considered necessary to keep the temperatures preferably 15°C
for vermicomposting efficiency and 20°C for effective reproductive
vermiculture operations.
• Temperatures above 35°C will cause the worms to leave the area or if they
cannot leave, they will quickly die. Bacterial activity is also greatly depended
on temperature as it multiplies by two per each 10°C increase in temperature
and is quite active around 15–30°C.
1.Aeration: Earthworms are oxygen breathers and cannot survive in anaerobic conditions. They operate best
when compost material is porous and well aerated. Earthworms also help themselves by aerating their
bedding by their movement through it. E. fetida have been reported to migrate in high numbers from oxygen
depleted water saturated substrate, or in which carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide has accumulated.
2.pH value: 
• The pH value is also one of the important factors affecting the vermicomposting process. Epigenic worms can survive in a pH
range of 5–9.
• The pH of worm beds tends to drop over time. If the food source/bedding is alkaline, than pH of bed drop to neutral or
slightly alkaline and if the food source is acidic than the pH of the beds can drop well below 7.
• The pH can be adjusted upwards by adding calcium carbonate or peat moss for adjusting pH downward can be introduced
into the mix. Although microorganisms which are active in vermicomposting which can maintain their activity even in lower
pH of around 4 but recommended pH range for compost is around 6.5–7.5.
3.Ammonia and salt content: Earthworms cannot survive in organic wastes containing high levels of ammonia.
Worms are also very sensitive to salts and they prefer salt contents less than 0.5% . However, many types of
manures have high salt contents and if they are to be used as bedding, they should be leached first to reduce
the salt content, it is done by simply running water through the material for a period of tim.