Department of Agriculture AGRICULTURAL TRAINING INSTITUTE

Regional Training Center XII San Felipe, Tantangan, South Cotabato

Tel. No. (083)229-1024 Fax: (083)229-1024 Email: ati_tantangan@yahoo.com.ph

Printed by:

Banana Trashes

References

Guerrero, Rafael D. III 2004. Hanbook of Vermicompost & Ver-mimeal Production and Utilization. Aquatic Biosystems,. Bay, La-guna, Philippines. Sugar Regulatory Administration-LGAREC.2008. Vermicomposting Sugarcane Trashes. La Granja, La Carlota City, Philippines EntrePinoys Atbp.2006. Backyard Production of Earthworms (Vermiculture)

b. Pick out any wigglers or worm eggs (small, opaque cocoons and return them to the bin.

c. Sieve the harvested vermicompost to have a finer finish product. For commercial pro-duction, air dry the vermicompost be-fore packing and storing. Vermimeal Production

Harvested “vermi” from the culture beds may either be used for the next production cycle or made into vermimeal through the following process:

1. Wash the worms thoroughly with clean flowing water to remove dirt.

2. Kill the “vermin” by putting them in a basin with warm water (40-60°C).

3. Dry under the sun until brittle. 4. Grind dried worms manually or through a grinder

into meal form. 5. Store in sealed polyethylene bags with proper

label and store in cool dry place.

INTRODUCTION

Vermicomposting is the process of

producing organic fertilizer (vermicompost) from

biodegradable materials

through the action of

earthworms. It is an

e n v i r o nmen t - f r i e nd l y

method of recycling

organic materials in the

farm and household such as plant residues and

animal manures.

Vermicompost improves soil texture and

enhances water-holding capacity of the soil. It may be

low in NPK but contains

essential nutrient (e.g.

calcium, magnesium,

manganese, copper, iron

and zinc) not found in

inorganic fert i l izers.

Moreover, it has microbial

activities that promote plant health

and pest/disease resistance.

With the abundant source

o f m a t e r i a l i n f a r m s ,

vermicomposting can help protect

the environment, promote and

sustain soil productivity and

generate livelihood opportunities

for rural families.

Vermicomposting S t e p s i n V e r m i c o m p o s t i n g

1. P r e p a r a t i o n o f s u b s t r a t e .

a. Collect banana leaves and stalks trashes and animal manures i.e. chicken dung, carabao/cow manure.

b. Chop leaves and stalks finely. Chopping help speed up decomposition by increasing the surface area available for microbial action and providing better

aeration.

c. Mix chopped materials with chicken dung or carabao/cow manure at a ratio of 7:3 or 70% trashes and 30% animal manure as source o f n it rogen.

2. Pre-composting activities

Pile the substrate in a bed measuring 1 x 5 meters or larger with wooden or concrete sidings. Compost pile is 2 ft. high. Water is added to increase moisture to at least 50-70%. Place the compost bed in a shady area with access to water supply. A canopy is recommended to protect the

beds from direct sunlight and heavy rains.

Wooden Bed Concrete Bed

The substrate usually heats up in 24-48 hours which marks the working of the composting process. In four weeks time, the temperature drops and it is now ready

for the stocking of earthworms. 3. Stocking of earthworms

The “African Nightcrawlers” (Eudrilus eugeniae), redworms or red wigglers (Lumbricus rubellus) and brandling worms (Eisenia Fetida) are the earthworm species for the production of vermicompost and

vermimeal. Stock about 2-3 kilos of African night crawler earthworms per ton of substrate. The earthworms placed on the top of the pile easily go down into the substrate.

4. Care and Maintenance of

Beds

a. Water the bed regularly to maintain the moisture content of the pile (at least 60%)

b. Clean the surrounding area regularly and check the

presence of natural enemies of earthworms like chicken, birds, lizards, toads, ants, beetles, centipedes, etc. Nets maybe used to enclose the area.

5. Harvesting

a. Harvest the castings at 30-40 days after stocking of earthworms. At th is t ime castings have been produced from decomposed substrate and worms at about 30% or less. Lay new substrate beside the bed ready for harvest so that worms will just move to the new pile. Gathering castings would be easier.