small-scale vermicomposting - p2pays
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Small-Scale
Vermicomposting
Rhonda Sherman
Biological & Agricultural Engineering
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What is Vermicomposting?
Vermicompostingis a processthat relies on earthworms andmicroorganisms to help
stabilize active organicmaterials and convert them to a
valuable soil amendment andsource of plant nutrients
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Why is Vermicompost a GoodSoil Amendment?
Teeming with beneficial microorganisms andenzymes
Improves soil structure
Reduces erosion
Increases soil porosity
Holds moisture
Improves pH of acidic soil
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Vermicompost Effects on Plant GrowthDisease & Pest Suppression
Increases in: Germination, Growth,
Flowering, Crop Yields
Earthworm castings contain plant growth hormones
Vermicompost can decrease attacks by insects, plant
pathogens, parasitic nematodes
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Turnips Grown at NCSU with0%, 10%, 20% Vermicompost
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Why Vermicompost Food Scraps?
Keep garbage from getting smelly andattracting pests
Reduce impacts of landfills Largest human-related source of methane in USA (34% of all
methane emissions) (http://www.epa.gov/methane/sources.html 2006)
Save water, electricity, and money by not using kitchensink garbage disposals
Produce a free, high-quality soil amendment
http://www.epa.gov/methane/sources.html%202006http://www.epa.gov/methane/sources.html%202006 -
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How Do I Vermicompost At Home?
Determine bin size
Build or buy a bin
Prepare bedding Add worms
Bury food scraps
Harvest and use compost
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What Type of Worm Bin?
Wooden or plastic bin with lid Buy one or make your own
Dark color, not clear!
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Drill Holes for Air and Drainage
Air : around uppersides of bin
Air optionsOne hole on each end (3-inch holes)
Use 3-inch hole saw
Insert soffet vents
Four holes on each wide side (1-inch holes) Glue hardware cloth inside bin to cover holes
Or leave holes open
A bunch of tiny holes all the way around
Drainage: six holes on bottom (1/4-inch)
Do not drill holes in lid
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Where Do I Put My Worm Bin?
At home:Garage or carport
Back porch or deck
Kitchen or basement
Closet
Bathroom
Apartment balcony
Where you work:Lunch or break room
In your office
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What Do I Put in the Bin?
Moist Bedding Shredded newspapers
Shredded leaves
Shredded cardboard
Handful of Soil
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How Do I Prepare the Bedding?
Moisten bedding:Soak in water 15 minutesWring out like spongeFluff up before placing in bin
Fill bin half way
Add more as it disappears
Keep bedding moist Spritz with plant mister
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Add Worms
Use Eisenia fetida (Red Wigglers) Do not get from your yard or bait shop
More than 4,000 species of wormsget the right one
Buy from a worm grower
Go to http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/people/faculty/sherman
Click on Vermicomposting
Click on Directory of Vermiculture Resources
Prices vary widely, so check around
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/people/faculty/shermanhttp://www.bae.ncsu.edu/people/faculty/sherman -
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How Many Worms Do I Need?
Worms consume ~half their weight daily
So, 1 pound of worms eats ~ lb food a day
~1,000 worms to a pound (Eisenia fetida)
Do not start with less than 1 pound of worms
Best to start with 2 pounds of worms
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What Do I Feed the Worms?
Vegetables
Fruit
Coffee grounds & filters
Tea bags & leaves
Leftovers
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Where Do I Store Food Scraps?
Kitchen Scrap Carrier
OR
http://www.composters.com/pbj/imageGallery.php?imageID=929 -
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What Should I NOT Feed Worms?
Meat Grease
Bones
Citrus Dairy products
Cat or dog feces
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How Do I Feed the Worms?
Dig hole in bedding
Use 3-prong tool
Put food in hole,
cover with bedding Cover well to prevent
fruit flies and odor
Rotate burial of foodscraps
Do not overfeed!
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What Do I Need to BeCareful About?
Temperature: 55-83 F (60-70 ideal)
Moisture: 60-85% (80% ideal)
Aeration: Keep bin aerobic pH: 7.0 best
What e lse?- Dont overfeed-Cover food
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How Do I Harvest the Castings?Method #1: Light Separation
Empty bin onto large plastic sheet
On sunny day or under strong light
Wait 10 minutes, scrape off top layer Remove more vermicompost every 10 minutes
Return worms to bin with fresh bedding
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How Else Can I Harvest Castings?Method #2: Sideways Separation
Feed worms on one side of bin for several weeks
Most worms will migrate to that side
Harvest the side you havent been feeding Add fresh bedding to empty side
Feed only that side for several weeks, then
harvest other side
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How Else Can I Harvest Castings?Method #3: Vertical Separation
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Interested in Worm Farming?
NCSUs 9th Annual Vermiculture Conference
June 4 5, 2009
Vermicomposting technologies
Benefits & uses of vermicompost
Vermicompost research studiesMarketing products
Testing vermicompost, soil and feedstocks
Brewing and using vermicompost tea
Class A stabilization of biosolids by vermicomposting
http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/workshops/worms09/index.htm
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Slide Set Prepared by:
Rhonda ShermanBiological & Agricultural Engineering
North Carolina State University
Box 7625, Raleigh, NC 27695-7625
Phone: 919.515.6770
Fax: 919.515.6772
E-mail: rhonda_sherman@ncsu.edu
www.bae.ncsu.edu/people/faculty/sherman
mailto:rhonda_sherman@ncsu.edumailto:rhonda_sherman@ncsu.edu -
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What Will Earthworms Eat?
Kitchen scraps & platescrapings
Animal manure
Agricultural crop residues
Yard trimmings
Scrap paper
Organic byproducts fromindustries
Sewage sludge
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Vermicompost Application Rates
Established plants: Add 2T per quart potting mixaround base of plant, water in. Repeat every 2-4 wk
Seedling establishment: Combine 1 part castingswith 4 parts potting media
Transplants small containers: add cup to holeprior to planting; larger plants, shrubs, trees:1-2cups prior to planting
Lawn and turf established:7 lbs/100 sq ft;new:10 lbs/100 sq ft
Source: RT Soluti
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E. fetidaReproductive Rate
Time to sexual maturity: ~85-150 days
2.8 months to 5 months
Average number of young per egg: ~3
Time to emerge from cocoon: ~3075 days
1 to 2.5 months
Reproductive rate: ~10 young per worm per week
What Type of Earthworms Are
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What Type of Earthworms AreUsed for Vermicomposting?
More than 4,000 species of earthworms Only six species used for vermicomposting worldwide
Eisenia fetida (Red Wigglers) are most commonly used
Epigeic species found in upper topsoil where feed on
decaying matter Anecic: vertical burrows
Endogeic: horizontal
Eff t f V i t M l B
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Effects of Vermicomposts on Mealy BugInfestations on Peppers
Pl P i i N d P l i
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Plant Parasitic Nematode Population
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