COMPOST & VERMICOMPOST

En Mohd Fauzie JusohLecturer

Agrotechnology ProgrammeFaculty of Agro-Based Industry

Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (Jeli Campus) Locked Bag No.100, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan.

014-2903025/fauzie.j@umk.edu.my/

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Composting

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Why composting?

• about 70 % of municipal waste is normally organic

• organic waste can cause problems of smell, leachate, gas, and stray animals in landfills

• recycling at source is most economic and environment friendly method of waste management

• simple methods available

• compost is valuable resource for farmers

• composting at source keeps inorganic waste clean and makes it easier for recycling

4Source: adapted from ENPHO

• process of decomposition of organic waste by micro-organism

• natural process (be made faster and more effective by mixing various types of waste and adjusting moisture, temperature and aeration)

• contains NPK and other plant nutrients including micro-organisms

steps of composting:

• prepaeration (converting waste into raw material)

• production of compost

• marketing

Concept

5 Source: adapted from ENPHO

• waste collection

• sorting into organic and inorganic

• reduce size if necessary

• adjust moisture content

• starters/additives

• adjust C:N ratio

Preparation

6 Source: adapted from ENPHO

C/N-ratio in various substrates

7 Source: adapted from ENPHO

Compost preparation

• place prepared waste in piles, windrows, chamber or bins

• turn the compost regularly or arrange other ways to aerate the waste

• regularly monitor temperature & moisture

8 Source: adapted from ENPHO

Finishing & Marketing

• screening & packaging

• marketing strategy

◦ product

- quality

- packaging

◦ price

- main distributor

- Consumer

◦ place

- distribution network

◦ promotion

- mass communication

- interpersonal communication

9 Source: adapted from ENPHO

• separate waste at source. Glass in the waste can result in injuries

• ensure proper C/N-ratio & chop waste in small pieces

• ensure proper amount of water and air to avoid smell

• prepare and implement proper marketing strategy (most compost projects fail because of poor marketing)

• regularly monitor composting process

Important points to remember

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Vermicomposting

• Utilizing earth worms and microorganisms to convert organic waste into a nutrient-rich humus like material known as vermicompost(worm castings)

• Eisenia fetida, commonly called ‘Red Wiggler’, ‘Manure Worm’, ‘Tiger Worm’

VermicompostingCharacteristics of the Red Wiggler

(Eisenia fetida)

~ Can consume half it’s weight of food per day

~ Requires 70% moisture – to breath

~ Temperature – 60 - 85 Degree F

~ Acidity – pH 6 – pH 8

~ Aeration – Good ventilation and drainage

~ Bedding and Food

~ Darkness

Worms, worms

• Worms become mature at 10 weeks

• Will produce 2 to 3 cocoons a week

– Each cocoon holds 2-5 babies

– Cocoons take 3 weeks to hatch

And more worms

• In 6 months, 8 worms will multiply into 1500 if conditions are right

• They will stop breeding if there is not enough food or space.

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Concept

Source: http://www.yelmworms.com/_images/vermicomposting.gif

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How to do at home

Source: adapted from ENPHO

• prepare vessel or bin

• add 2 inches (5 cm) of bedding materials

• add worms

• cut waste into small pieces and put in the bin

• keep bin covered with a moist cloth

• put bin away from direct sunlight

• regularly check moisture

• harvest vermicompost every 3 to 4 months

• store harvested compost for 2-3 weeks and then remove the young worms

Bedding

– Cardboard

– Newspaper

– Coconut fiber

– Old leaves

– Wood chips

What makes worms THRIVE?

T temperature

H H2O

R recycle organics

I invertebrates

V ventilation

E environment and pH

What makes worms CRAWL?

C change of habitat

R rain

A absence of air

W water

L lack of food

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Composting

Disadvantages:

•waste segregation required

Vermicomposting

Advantages:

•see above

•selling of worms

Disadvantages:

•maintain proper environmental

conditions for worms

Advantages:

•recycling at source

•economic and environment friendly

waste management

•simple methods available

•compost is valuable resource for

gardeners/farmers

So what’s the difference between conventional composting (also called “hot composting”) and vermicomposting?

Hot composting Vermicomposting

Differences between vermicomposting and (hot) composting

Process variable Vermicomposting Hot composting

Conditions Aerobic

Process

temperature

15 - 25ºC 50-70ºC

Method of

operation

Apply waste frequently in

thin layers (continuous

operation rather than batch)

Stack waste material in

large piles so that heat

produced is retained in

pile (usually batch

operation)

Differences between vermicomposting and (hot) composting

Process variable Vermicomposting Hot composting

Earthworms Present in large

quantities

Only present at beginning

(die off at temperature in

pile > 35°C)

Pathogen

destruction

mechanism

Passage through worm

gut (biochemical

digestion)

Elevated temperature over

extended period (> 1

week) and action of

microorganisms

Final product Vermicompost or

vermicast;

microbiologically active

(this is good for the soil)

Compost; relatively little

microbial activity

Course 2 Unit 6

Vermicomposting: pros and cons compared to hot composting

Pros1) Tends to be somewhat less labor-

intensive - no turning/aerating necessary (worm activity helps to mix, fragment and aerate materials)

2) Cooler temperatures help to conserve nitrogen

3) Higher moisture contents not an issue (and actually preferred)

4) Materials can be constantly added (no need to stock pile in preparation for next ‘batch’)

5) Size of system unimportant - ideally suited for both indoors and outdoors

6) Considerable evidence to indicate that vermicomposts have beneficial properties not found in hot composts

7) Under ideal conditions, wastes can be processed very quickly

Cons1) Won’t kill seeds (and although there is

a fair amount of evidence to indicate pathogen destruction, more research is required)

2) More space required to process similar amounts as hot composting - need to be careful with amount added (since excess heat will kill worms)

3) Outdoor systems much more limited by cold weather

4) Worms need to be separated from compost

5) Worms (although quite resilient) do require some attention and proper care.

Hot composting: pros and cons compared to vermicomposting

Pros1) Enables processing of larger

quantities of materials in a smaller area

2) Can proceed relatively quickly under ideal conditions

3) Can kill weed seeds and pathogens

4) On a large scale can proceed easily in cold weather

Cons1) Can be labor-intensive (piling

wastes, turning pile etc) and require more attention

2) Heat can kill off many beneficial microbes

3) May require some stock-piling until sufficient materials available for ‘batch’

4) Heating can lead to considerable nitrogen loss

Vermicomposting can speed up the process of composting

Questions & Thank You