Earthworms, friends of the farmer, are a natural fertiliser factory. Rearing of earthworms in the farm to improve the soil quality is known as vermifarming. Vermifarming gains importance in the modern concept of sustainable agriculture. The natural activities and feeding habits of earthworms improve the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the soil.

They burrow into the subsoil up to 3 meters, thus ensuring infiltration of water and supply of air to the roots of crops and the beneficial soil micro-organism. Vermicasting, a black granular excreta, is rich in plant nutrients, vitamins, antibiotics and plant growth hormones and also has the capacity to absorb water, thus enhancing the water holding capacity of the soil. Farmers and environmentalists are keen to convert organic waste into vermicompost quickly. For this, it is important to select of suitable species from which maximum benefit can be derived. These selected species should have:

Methodology: A compost pit of any convenient size can be dug in the field. The most convenient pit would be 10 m X 1 m with a depth of about 0.7 m. As earthworms are highly sensitive to both direct sunlight and rain, the compost pit should be selected in a shady place, preferably in a temporary shed. The pit must by sprayed with chloropyr phos 20EC@2ml per litre of water to prevent termites and ants problem.

After one week of spraying the pit should be filled with different matter like:

• Coconut or any water holding material;
  
  
• Dung or biogas slurry; *Farm waster;
  
  
• Dung;
  
  
• Green leaves (weeds);
  
  
• Loamy soil;
  
  
• Paddy or jowar straw at the upper layer

All these are filled in a layer of 10-15m thickness. The vermibed should be moistened with water for 15 days. Then about 1000 to 2000 earth worms are introduced into the pit at a depth of 10 cm, and covered with straw. About 30-60 per cent moisture should be maintained. Earthworms feed on the wastes, and cow dung and produce the excreta in the form of vermicasting on the surface. Within 45-60 days, about 75 per cent compost can be obtained. The moistening of the pit should be stopped for 3 to 4 days to allow the worms to go to the deeper layer of the bed. Then compost in the above layer is dug out without disturbing the vermibed and replaced with a mixture of organic wastes and cowdung. This vermicompost consists of a wide range of beneficial micro-organisms and micro-nutrients which improve the soil health.

Courtesy: Deccan Herald

For vermicompost contact:

Desi, 27, Patalamma Temple Street,
Near Southend Circle, Basavanagudi,
Bangalore 560004.
Phone: 667 6669
Telefax: 652 4082

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