Vermicompost

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• A large system usually uses a windrow .
Often windrows are used on a concrete
surface to prevent predators from killing
the worm population.
• Another property of large scale windrows
is that when fed on one side consistently a
wave motion is generated over time.
• The bedding should be moist (often similar
to the consistency of a wrung-out sponge)
and loose to enable the earthworms to
breathe and to facilitate aerobic
decomposition.
• Worms used in composting systems prefer
temperatures of 55 to 70 degrees
Fahrenheit (12-21 degrees Celsius). The
temperature of the bedding should not
drop below freezing or above 85 °F (29
°C).
• Vermicompost is beneficial for soil in three ways:
• It improves the physical structure of the soil.
• It improves the biological properties of the soil
(enrichment of micro-organisms, addition of
growth hormones such as auxins and
gibberellic acid, and addition of enzymes, such
as phosphates, cellulase, etc.).
• It attracts deep-burrowing earthworms already
present in the soil.
• Vermicompost can be used to make
compost tea, by mixing some vermicompost in
water and steeping for a number of hours or
days. The resulting liquid is used as a fertilizer
Eisenia fetida
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Annelida

Class: Clitellata

Order: Haplotaxida

Family: Lumbricidae

Genus: Eisenia

Species: E. fetida
• Eisenia fetida, known under various
common names, including redworms, brandling
worms and red wiggler worms, is a species of
earthworm adapted to the environment of
decaying organic material. It thrives in rotting
vegetation, compost, and manure. It is rarely
found in soil, and instead, like
Lumbricus rubellus, prefers conditions where
other worms cannot survive
• When introduced into soils where they are not
endemic, they will damage ecosystems by
changing soil composition. These areas include
soils of sandy loam, pine barrens, and possibly
others
Lumbricus rubellus Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Annelida

Class: Clitellata

Subclass: Oligochaeta

Order: Haplotaxida

Family: Lumbricidae

Genus: Lumbricus

Species: L. rubellus
• Lumbricus rubellus is usually reddish brown or
reddish violet, iridescent dorsally, and pale
yellow ventrally.
• They are usually about 25 to 105 mm in length,
and have around 95-120 segments.
• has smooth, reddish, semi transparent, flexible
skin segmented into circular sections. Each
segment contains four sets of setae, or bristles,
and the total number of segments per matured
organism ranges from 95-105.
• The habitat Lumbricus rubellus naturally lives in
consists of soils high in organic matter,
preferably dung and feces. The worms require
loose soil to burrow in and soil moist enough for
gas exchange.
• pH is of particular importance, and that a range
of 5.5 to 8.7 is acceptable with a preference for
neutral soils.
• an ideal temperature of 10.6 degrees Celsius.
• most earthworm species are photonegative to
strong sources of light and photopositive to weak
sources of light. This is attributable to the effects
of intense light, such as drying and a lack of food
sources found above ground for earthworms.
• The presence of such earthworms as Lumbricus
rubellus increases concentrations of vitamin B12
producing microorganisms and vitamin B12 in
the soil. The result in an increased barley yield
and an increased volume of organic material for
the earthworms. In this way a positive feedback
relationship exists between the barley,
microorganisms and Lumbricus rubellus
• Local species of earthworms that are generally
used in India are Perionyx excavatus and
Lampito mauritii.

• The pit may then be covered with coconut or

Palmyra leaves or an old jute (gunny) bag to
discourage birds. Plastic sheets on the bed are
to be avoided as they trap heat.
• Turning over can be done on every fifth or
seventh day with the help of a forked spade.
FOUR-TANK SYSTEM
• To simplify the loading procedure for composting
in rural sectors where the availability of organic
material is not in bulk, a four-tank system can be
set up based on a combination of biodung
composting method and vermitech technique
that enables continuous compost production
• A tank 4m x 4m x 1m (l x b x h) is preferably
made under shade of tree.
• This is then divided into four equal parts with
22.5cm brick walls that have vents to facilitate
aeration as well as migration of earthworms from
one tank to another.
• This unit is designed especially for the small
farmer who approximately collects 20 to 30 kg of
cattle or farm waste per day.
Period Tank Process
000 - 01 Collection of biomass and cattle dung
030
030 - 01 Soaking of biomass with water, cattle dung slurry, and
060 covering it with black polythene sheet. This could be called
as Biodung preparation.

02 Collection of biomass
060 - 01 Inoculation of earthworms
090
02 Biodung preparation
03 Biomass collection
090 - 01 Vermicompost ready and migration of earthworms from pit
120 1 to pit 2.
02 Vermicomposting
03 Biodung preparation
04 Biomass collection
120 - 01 Harvesting of compost and collection of biomass
140
02 Vermicompost ready and migration of earthworms from pit
2 to pit 3.
03 Vermicomposting
04 Biodung preparation
TWO-TANK SYSTEM
• This is a smaller tank 1m x 1m x 1m made
above ground under shade.
• The tank is divided into two equal halved
units vertically by a wall containing vents.
• An average family produces 250 to 500
gm of garbage that is added daily into one
of the tanks.
• After a few days when a layer is formed 15
to 20 cm dry/green leaves and a thin layer
of soil are made to cover it.
• Another layering of waste over a period of
time follows this and it takes about two
months for the tank to be filled.
• This is then covered with a black
polythene sheet.
• The waste is now added to the second
tank.
• The polythene sheet is removed after 15
to 20 days, allowed to cool for a day and
about 150 to 200 locally collected
earthworms are released into the biomass.
• It takes approximately 45 to 60 days for
the biomass to be now converted into
vermicompost.
• In the mean time the second tank gets
filled and starts decomposing.
• The earthworms from the first tank by now
start migrating into the second tank
through the vents.
• The vermicompost is harvested from the
first tank, which is now again ready for
being filled.
• The tank may be kept closed with a steel
mesh cover to keep other animals away
from damaging the set up.
• Out door plan requires about 10-20%
more worms than the indoor method, as
there are more predators and other
climatic variables in open cage system.
 EXOTIC SPECIES OF EARTHWORMS
• Internationally three species of earthworms have
received acclaim for vermicomposting, they
being Eisenia foetida and Eudrilus eugeniae,
which are exotic, and Perionyx excavatus, which
is endemic.
• Since 1982, E. eugeniae has been promoted for
waste degradation. Eudrilus eugeniae is
reported to have surpassed both in feeding and
reproductive rates compared to other species of
earthworms.
• Frequent harvesting of Eudrilus eugeniae is
necessary to reduce population pressure and
enables continuous growth of earthworm
population.
• Eisenia foetida however is used in certain
areas in India for domestic waste
composting.
• these earthworms do not feed on the soil.
 VERMIWASH
Design ERF, Chennai
• Worm worked soils have burrows formed by the
earthworms.
• Bacteria richly inhabit these burrows, also called as the
drilospheres.
• Water passing through these passages washes the
nutrients from these burrows to the roots to be absorbed
by the plants.
• This principle is applied in the preparation of vermiwash.
• Vermiwash is a very good foliar spray.

• Two barrels of 250 litres each can produce minimum of

Five litres of vermiwash every day after the 20th day of
commissioning.
• Vermiwash is diluted with water (10%) before spraying.
• If need be vermiwash may be mixed with cow's urine
and diluted (1 litre of vermiwash, 1 litre of cow's urine
and 8 litres of water) and sprayed on plants to function
as an effecting foliar spray and pesticide.
 SETTING UP OF A VERMIWASH UNIT
• An empty barrel with one side open is
taken.
• On the other side, a hole is made to
accommodate the vertical limb of a 'T'
jointed tube in a way that about half to one
inch of the tube projects into the barrel.
• To one end of the horizontal limb is
attached a tap.
• The other end is kept closed. This serves
as an emergency opening to clean the 'T'
jointed tube if it gets clogged.
• The entire unit is set up on a short pedestal made of few
bricks to facilitate easy collection of vermiwash.
• Keeping the tap open, a 25 cm layer of broken bricks or
pebbles is placed.
• A 25 cm layer of coarse sand then follows the layer of
bricks.
• Water is then made to flow through these layers to
enable the setting up of the basic filter unit.
• On top of this layer is placed a 30 to 45 cm layer of
loamy soil.
• It is moistened and into this are introduced about 50
numbers each of the surface (epigeic) and sub-surface
(anecic) earthworms.
• Cattle dung pats and hay is placed on top of the
soil layer and gently moistened.
• The tap is kept open for the next 15 days. Water
is added every day to keep the unit moist.
• On the 16th day, the tap is closed and on top of
the unit a metal container or mud pot perforated
at the base as a sprinkler is suspended.
• 5 litres of water (the volume of water taken in
this container is one fiftieth of the size of the
main container) is poured into this container and
allowed to gradually sprinkle on the barrel
overnight .
• This water percolates through the compost, the
burrows of the earthworms and gets collected at
the base.
• The tap of the unit is opened the next day
morning and the vermiwash is collected.
• The tap is then closed and the suspended pot is
refilled with 5 litres of water that evening to be
collected again the following morning.
• Dung pats and hay may be replaced periodically
based on need.
• The entire set up may be emptied and reset
between 10 and 12 months of use.
VERMIWASH ANALYSIS REPORT
pH 7.48 ± 0.03
Electro conductivity 0.25 ± 0.03
dS/m
Organic Carbon % 0.008 ± 0.001
Total Kjeldhal Nitrogen 0.01±0.005
%
Available Phosphate % 1.69 ± 0.05
Potassium (ppm) 25 ± 2
Sodium (ppm) 8±1
Calcium (ppm) 3±1
Copper (ppm) 0.01 ± 0.001
Ferrous (ppm) 0.06 ± 0.001
Magnesium (ppm) 158.44 ± 23.42
Manganese (ppm) 0.58 ± 0.040
Zinc (ppm) 0.02 ± 0.001
Total Heterotrophs 1.79 x 10^3
(CFU/ml)

Nitrosomonas (CFU/ml) 1.01 x 10^3

Nitrobacter (CFU/ml) 1.12 x 10^3
Total Fungi (CFU/ml) 1.46 x 10^3
 Nutrient Profile of Vermicompost and Farm Yard
Manure
Nutrient Vermicompost Farm Yard Manure
N(%) 1.6 0.5
PO(%) 0.7 0.2
KO(%) 0.8 0.5
Ca(%) 0.5 0.9
Mg(%) 0.2 0.2
Fe(ppm) 175.0 146.5
Mn(ppm) 96.5 69.0
Zn(ppm) 24.5 14.5
Cu(ppm) 5.0 2.8
C:N ratio 15.5 31.3
These values are subject to variation depending upon the type of organic
waste. Source: Punjab State Council for Science and Technology,
Chandigarh
 Earthworms
• Worms are food for animals and birds
such as this kingfisher.
• Their soft bodies can be brown, pink or even red. In the
Philippines there are blue earthworms and one kind in
the United Kingdom is green!
• There are about 2 700 species of earthworms around
the world.
• Earthworms are invertebrates.
• The earthworm's body is covered with chemoreceptors
(say kee-mow-ree-sep-tuz) which is how the worm
tastes things. Chemoreceptors are tiny sense organs
which detect chemicals in the soil.
• The smallest earthworms
are about 1 centimetre long
and the largest can be 4
metres long.

• One of the largest earthworms is the

Giant Gippsland Earthworm, found in one
part of Australia. There are large
earthworms in South Africa too.
 Earthworm Life Cycle
• Earthworms are hermaphrodites (say her-
maff-row-die-ts). This means that each
earthworm has male parts that produce
sperm and female parts that produce
eggs. All earthworms lay eggs.
• When two earthworms mate, they lie
together, and cover themselves in sticky
mucus, and pass sperm into each other's
body. The sperm makes the eggs inside
each earthworm's body grow.
• A thick ring of slime forms
around each worm's body and
as the earthworm wriggles
forward, the ring with eggs
inside it slips off and is left on the ground.
• The ring closes at both ends and becomes
a hard cocoon that protects the eggs.
• The eggs hatch after two weeks if the
weather is warm, but they can take up to
three months to hatch when it is cold.
Usually one or two earthworms hatch out
of each egg.
• The young worms are about 12
millimetres long and light pink in
colour.
• Earthworms are able to mate when they
are twelve months old.
• How earthworms help soil and plants :
• Earthworms dig large burrows which let
water and air into the soil.
• This helps stop erosion and lets the water
and air get down to the roots of plants.
• The burrows also helps plant roots to
move more easily through the soil and into
new spaces.
• Worms drag leaves and plant bits down
into the earth.
• As they burrow, the worms swallow soil
and eat the plant matter that is in it.
• The soil they swallow passes though the
worm's body and is left in little piles on top
of the ground. This is called castings and
is excellent fertiliser
 Vermi-Composting Unit
1. Objective :
2. Location and area of operation :
3. Project components :
4. Project Cost :
5. Margin (20%) :
6. Bank loan :
7. Rate of interest :
8. Repayment period :
9. Income
10. Economics of the Project :
 1. Objective :

• To provide cultural material of the desired

species and train farmers and
entrepreneurs.
• To demonstrate practically the production
methodology on the unit that will be set
up.
2. Location and area of operation
• Suburbs of cities and villages around
urban centres can be ideal locations for
practice of vermicomposting on a large
scale, from the point of view of availability
of raw material and marketing of the
produce. Unit may also be located in
areas with concentration of fruits and
vegetables and floriculture units.
 3. Project components :
i) Sheds : For a vermi-composting unit, whether small or big, could be of thatched
roof supported by bamboo rafters and purlins, wooden trusses and stone
pillars.
ii) Vermi-beds : Normally the beds are 75 cm - 90 cm thick depending on the
provision of filter for drainage of excess water. The entire bed area could be
above the ground.
iii) Land : About 0.5-1 acre of land will be needed to set up a vermiculture
production cum extension centre. Even sub marginal land also will serve the
purpose.
iv) Buildings & Furniture : In the activity on a large scale on commercial lines,
considerable amount may have to be spent on buildings to house the office,
store the raw material and finished product, provide minimum accommodation
to the personnel. A reasonable amount could also be considered for furnishing
the office-cum-stores including the storage racks and other office equipment.
v) Seed Stock : Worms @ 350 worms per m3 of bed space should be adequate to
start with and to build up the required population in about two to three cycles.
vi) Fencing, Roads/Paths and Water Supply System : The site area needs
development for construction of structures and development of roads and
pathways for easy movement of hand-drawn trolleys/ wheel barrows for
conveying the raw material and the finished products to and from the vermi-
sheds. There is also need to plan for a water source, lifting mechanism and a
system of conveying and applying the water to the vermi-beds.
vii) Machinery : Farm machinery and implements are required for cutting
(shredding) the raw material in small pieces, conveying shredded raw material
to the vermi-sheds, loading, unloading, collection of compost and such related
activities.
viii) Transport : For any vermi-composting unit transport arrangement is a must. A
large sized unit with about 1000 tonnes per annum capacity may require a tonne
capacity mini-truck.
 4. Project Cost :
A. Capital Cost
Item Cost (Rs.)

1. Construction of a temporary shed 72,000

for setting up 200tpa vermi-compost
unit
2. Implement and Machinery for a 80,000
200tpa unit
3.Office cum store 60,000
4. Water source 60,000
5. Two NADEP tanks 5,000
6. Total 277,000
 B. Recurring Cost

Item Cost (Rs.)

1. Feed stock & handling cost @ Rs. 360,000

72,000 per cycle for 5 cycle in a year
2. Rent on lease @ Rs. 8,000 per 8,000
year
Total 368,000

• (Operational cost of two cycles is capatalised)

• Total Project Cost : Capital cost - Rs. 2,77,000
• Recurring cost - Rs. 1,44,000 capitalised
• Total Rs. 4,21,000
5. Margin (20%) : Rs. 0.85 lakhs

6. Bank loan : Rs. 3.36 lakhs

7. Rate of interest : 15% p.a.

8. Repayment period : 8 years including

grace period of one year
 9. Income
Item Rs. Rs.
(I year) (II year)
1. Sale of vermi-compost @ 300,000 450,000
Rs. 2500 per ton
2. Sale of worms @ 5 kg per 45,000
tonne of compost and Rs. 50
per kg
3. Consultancy and extension 10,000
services
Total 300,000 505000
Net Benefit 79,200 137,000
10. Economics of the Project :
a. NPW : Rs. 2.35 lakhs
b. BCR : 1.12 : 1
c. IRR : 36%
• note :
• Margin of 20% is assumed, but the actual margin
will be as per the discretion of the banks.
• Interest rate of 15% is assumed, however, the actual
rate will be as per banks' discretion.
• Similarly, the other economic / financial parameters
such as the repayment period, DSCR, IRR, etc., may
also vary depending upon the margin, interest rate,
etc., taken into account by the bank.
 References

• www.wikipedia.org.

• http://www.erfindia.org/exotic.asp

• http://agri.and.nic.in/default.htm

• www.kidcyber.com.au