Composting is the process of converting biodegradable solid waste into organic matter. Basically various microbes and beneficial organism play a role in this process. Mostly the organism like earthworm play a vital role to enhance high valued compost. Earthworm acts physically an aerator, crusher and mixer, chemically a degrader and biologically a simulator in the process of decomposition. Vermi-composting is the process of converting biodegradable solid waste into nutrient rich organic matter using earthworm. The compost prepare by the process vermi-composting is known as vermi-compost. Vermicompost enhance good quality of soil by increasing biochemical and physiological properties.In modern organic farming system, vermi-compost is becoming popular because of it's high nutritive value in addition to organic soil.
Source: https://www.ecomena.org/vermicomposting/
Requirements for vermi-composting
1. Raw Matrerials - crop and weed residues, vegetable waste, leaf litter, home and hotel refuse, waste from agro-industries, biodegradable wastes etc.
2. Earthworm - surface dwelling earthworms
3. Starter: cow dung, biogas slurry, or urine of cattle
4. Site - having shades, high humidity and cool
5. Containers - wooden boxes, plastic buckets, silpaulin bag or in any containers with a hole at the bottom.
Size of containers - height of 2½ feet and a breadth of 3 feet
Suitable earthworm
Eisenia foetida, Eisenia foetida, Perionyx favatus, Eudrilus eugeniae, Perionyx excavatusis etc
Process of Vermicomposting
1. Pilling up method - In this method biodegradable waste are collected and decomposed to produce one ton of compost manure. During preparation, wastes are dehydraded and pilled up. after the heat reach to the bottom and get cool, 200 earthworm are kept in ratio per cubic square feet. After about two months later 600 earthworm are found in per cubic feet and manure will be ready to use.
2. Pit Method - In this method pit of 10*6*2 feet in length, breadth and depth respectively is dug. about half of pit is filled with dung and organic wastes loosely. then 200 earthworm are kept in the ratio of per cubic feet. After 1-2 months compost is ready to use.
3. Tank Method - A tank of 10*6*3 feet is made and filled with stone at the bottom. In the first layer, dung is placed and after that the degradable wastes are placed layer by layer. 200 earthworm are kept in ratio per cubic square feet.The water is sprinkled and layer is made wet time to time. when 90% waste get decayed, the act of sprinkled is stopped. After 2 months compost is ready to use and earthworms are separated from it.
Advantages of Vermi-compost
1. Vermi-compost is rich in nutrient than general and chemical compost.
2. It has high capacity to absorb water which can minimize the soil erosion.
3. It can help to make environment clean as waste materials is used during vermi-composting process.
4. It increases the production of crops.
5. It improves the quality of soil.
6. If earthworm are produced in high, they can use as food for chicken, ducks etc.
References:
1. Chanu L. J et. al.,2018, A Guide to vermicomposting-production process and socio economic aspect, Extension Bulletin No : 81.Tribal Sub Pla Division of Natural Resource managemenICAR Research Complex for NEH RegionUmroi Road, Umiam, Meghalaya, India-793103
2. Sapkota p., K.C. B. and Pokhrel D. Pd., Occupation, Business and Technology Education Book 8, 2018, Guinness Publication Pvt. Ltd. Kathmandu Nepal.
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