Vermiculture and Vermicomposting Biotechnology forOrganic Farming and Rural Economic Development

By P. Rajendran¹, E. Jayakumar¹, Sripathi Kandula² and P. Gunasekaran² ¨ ³February 2008

Department of Zoology, Vivekananda College, Tiruvedakam, WestSholavandan, Madurai 625 217, Tamil Nadu, India

1.

Centre for Advanced Studies In Functional Genomics, School of BiologicalSciences, Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai 625 021, TamilNadu, India

2.

Corresponding Author3.

Introduction

Under present day condition, it becomes very essential to protect environment from furtherdegradation, develop appropriate technologies for use in recycling various organic waste andto harness energy thus minimizing environmental stress. Vermitechnology is a promisingtechnique that has shown its potential in certain challenging areas like augmentation of foodproduction, waste recycling, management of solid wastes etc (Tripathi et al., 2005). The wordVermiculture biotechnology implies a modern technique of harnessing the ecosystem foreffective utilization of the organic waste with the help of earthworms, which results intogeneration of useful organic manure. It helps to avoid the environmental pollution andexpenditure of resources to treat the organic waste (Singh, 2004). A large volume of organicmatter generated from agriculture activities, dairy farm, industrial establishments, animalshelters and household activities are dumped to putrefy without proper utilization. Wastes arethe misplaced valuable resources, which can be utilized by proper composting. Thecomposted waste, the vermicast which has higher qualities of manure can be used to feed our“Nutrient-organic matter-hungry” soils (Ismail et al., 2003). Vermicompost is consideredsuperior to other types of compost because of its quality. Soils with vermicasts have roughly100 times more bacteria than soil without worms. Moreover plant growth promotingsubstances have been reported to be present in vermicasts.

Vermicompost for Organic Farming - an Eco-Friendly Approach

The increase in human population and urbanization has led to food scarcity. To increase foodproduction agriculturalists are tempted to use more amounts of chemical fertilizers andpesticides frequently, which cause several hazards to soil microflora, which in turn affectsfertility. For instance chemical fertilizers like Ammonium sulphate, Ammonium chloride andUrea reduce the soil pH. Chlorides are highly toxic to most of the crop plants. Theaccumulation of chemicals by biomagnification in plants and their products causes severaldiseases in human beings. Infant disease such as methanoglobinaemia is caused due tonitrogen containing fertilizers. The residues of chemical fertilizer cause concern over thesafety of food and sustainable production. Hence, it becomes imperative for the researchersand planners to develop an alternative viable strategy to counteract the problem.

Organic farming, usage of eco-friendly manures such as green manures, urban waste, ruralwastes, etc. can bring sustainability to agriculture. Vermicomposting is an eco-friendly,economical, efficient novel technology that can be applied to utilize agricultural and otherorganic wastes. This technology also provides opportunities for self-employment for ruralpeople, by utilizing the available agricultural resources. The technology had begun in Ontario,Canada in 1970 and now is practised in countries such as USA, Japan and Phillipines. InIndia, vermicomposting technology is getting familiarized in this decade. A number ofagro-industrial organic wastes discarded as unusable, which contain essential nutrients canbe exploited to improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. The digested

product of earthworm known as castings, which is rich in nutrients such as phosphorous,potassium, calcium and magnesium increases the soil fertility.

Advantages of Vermicompost

Potential environmental benefits of Vermitechnology include: reduction of noxious qualities oforganic wastes, elimination/reduction of harmful micro organisms; conversion of agro-wastesinto high value fertilizer and production of food and feed from food discards (Tripathi et al.,2005). Vermicompost envisages the soil fertility for years together with out affecting the foodquality. The NPK content of vermicompost is higher than the farmyard wastes (FYW).

Nutrients Vermicompost Farm yard wastes(FYW)

Nitrogen (N) 0.5 % 0.18 %Phosphorous(P) 0.57 % 0.2 %

Potassium (K) 3.14 % 0.5 %

Sujatha et al. (2003) reported earthworm castings in the home garden often contains 5 to 11times more Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium than the surrounding soil. Castings ofearthworm also contain abundant sources vitamins, antibiotics and enzymes such asproteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases and chitinases. Vermicompost technology canprovide employment to millions of youth, can eliminate dependence on chemicals; can convertwastes into fertilizer; can bring waste land under cultivation, can feed hungry citizen and canmake a country green and prosperous in a span of just a few years (Shewta et al., 2004). Thistechnique also helps to conserve the biodiversity, which is the need of the hour. Apart fromproviding self-employment opportunities for the weaker section and profitable agriculturalwaste utilization it will also help in maintaining the environmental/ecological balance.

Vermicomposting for Indian Conditions

Most towns and cities in India do not have proper waste management systems and untreatedsolid waste is generally dumped in landfills or on the roadsides and the liquid wastes aredischarged into water bodies. Domestic wastes are mostly organic and on average are about50% of the total wastes. It is estimated that each household produces not less than 200 kg oforganic solid wastes per year. This can be put to productive use rather than being thrown intothe bin from where it makes its way to over loaded landfills. These wastes can be consideredas a resource to produce manure for the soil using vermicomposting technology.

Vermicomposting for Rural Development

Large quantity of potential agro-industrial wastes and byproducts are thrown out aswastes/under utilized by the local population since they are not aware of its importance. Thematerials can be utilized profitably by vermicomposting, which is a low cost technology.Unemployed rural population can do this, as part time/ full time profession if they are aware ofthe technical know how to utilize the materials. Awareness about Vermiculture andvermicomposting will motivate the rural people to start Vermicomposting units, which can fetchregular income.

Revenue Generation through Vermiculture and Vermicomposting

Vermitechnology is popular because it is a simple methodology with low investment and doesnot need sophisticated infrastructure. To process one ton of organic matter daily, it wouldrequire about 1500 sq meters of space with 6 workers. It would produce about 70 tons ofearthworm casting annually (Gupta, 2003). Innovative, interested and talented rural peoplecan be successful entrepreneurs in vermicompost production and accruing profits will enhance

their life style and income. They will be able to spend time usefully by getting job opportunitieswith the help of self-employment schemes.

Vermiculture technology

i) Earthworm for composting

Earthworms constitute more than 80 percent of soil invertebrate biomass. They feed on avariety of organic waste materials and produce “Vermicastings”. It contains moremicroorganisms, organic matter and inorganic minerals in the form that can be used by plants.Nearly 10-15 percent primary production is channelized through earthworms. In absolutelyideal conditions of comfort and ground up, moist food, the herd will recycle their own weight inwastes every 24 hours (Gupta, 2003). Vermicomposting is an ideal and appropriate methodfor disposal of nontoxic solid and liquid organic wastes.

ii) Selection of worms

There are about 3000 species of earthworms in the world. At present, earthworm fauna in theIndian subcontinent comprises 509 species placed in 67 genera and 10 families. Earthwormsin ecological terms are classified into three groups depending on their ability to make burrowsand the intricacy of burrows:

Epigeic earthworms that cannot make burrows in the soil strata. They can only movethrough the crevices of the surfaceEndogeic are the subsoil dwellers found in deeper region of the soil andAnecic earthworms found in the soil, which are not frequently disturbed.

Epigeic earthworm species efficiently enhances the rate of organic manure production throughbiodegradation/mineralization compared to other species. The ideal epigeic category ofearthworm used for Vermicomposting are: Eudrillus eugeniae, Eisenia foetidae, Perionyxexcavatus, Lampito mauritii and Dravida willsil

iii) Culture maintenance

Epigeic earthworms remain active throughout the year under favourable conditions. Moisturelevels, temperature, food and space are essential for their survival and biomass production.Temperature below 35°C and moisture level between 40 and 60 percent is ideal condition forearthworm activity.

iv) Space for earthworm culture and size of pit

The convenient dimension such as 2m x 1m x 1 m has to be prepared.

v) Raw materials for Vermicomposting

Though earthworms can digest a diverse range of organic residues and yield richvermicompost, it is better to use pre-digested organic wastes for worms to act faster andproduce high quality compost. The pre-digested waste is an ideal medium for the worms to acton. The pre-digested material will be converted into quality vermi-compost with in 30 days.The composite organic wastes should be degraded using diluted fresh cow dung slurry, whichis to be sprinkled over the several layers of the heap. The heap has to be kept moist byregular irrigation, and it will have to be turned two to three times at an interval of ten days.

vi) Preparation of vermibed

5th Layer 5 cm Wet cow dung

4th Layer 25 cm Agriculture wastes, farm waste, animal droppings

3rd Layer 30 cm Agriculture wastes, farm waste, animal droppings (application of earthworm over this bed)

2nd Layer 5 cm Coarse sand

1st Layer 10 cm Broken bricks / pebbles* Spraying of water is done on each layer

vii) Collection of earthworms

Earthworms can be collected from the fields by applying a simple technology. In a well-shadedpatch of the land where the earthworm castings are found, a small area of 1 m x 1 m shouldbe embarked. About 500 g jaggery and an equal quantity of fresh cow dung should be mixedin 15 to 20 l of water and this diluted slurry should be sprinkled over the area. Wet pats of cowdung is scattered over the area and a layer of moistened rice straw should be laid over it. Thewhole area is covered with a jute sack. Regular watering should continue for a period of 20-25days and care should be taken to avoid water stagnation. When the cover is removed onecan see 600-700 small worms that can be used for composting.

viii) Introduction of worms in to beds

The optimum number of worms to be introduced is 100/m length of the bed. Raw materials willbe spread again over the earthworms gently up to the level of 25 cm. In continuation, wet cowdung with moisture will be covered over the level of 5 cm. Leaf dust of neem, Acorus calamusrhizome dust and neem cake can be used in the management of enemies. After a period of 10days the organic layering is mixed well gently without injuring the earthworm.

ix) Vermicomposting mechanism

Earthworm’s gut is an effective tubular bioreactor with raw materials (feed) entering from oneend and the product (castings) coming out through the other end. The temperature ismaintained by a novel temperature regulatory mechanism, accelerating the rates ofbioprocess and preventing enzyme inactivation caused by high temperature. Gizzard iscolloidal mill in which the feed is ground into particles smaller than 2m, giving thereby, anincreased surface area for microbial processing. Earthworm gut has nearly 73 percent ofgram-ve, facultative anerobic, Vibrio sp (an autochthonous micro flora) that are responsible forthe degradation of ingested food. Mucous produced by the glands in the anterior region of theearthworm gut provides a favorable substrate for symbiotic microorganisms that decomposecomplex organic compounds.

x) Harvesting of Vermicompost and storage

Watering has to be stopped 7 days prior to harvest so that worms settle at the bottom layer.The layer will be obtained as black color. It is the indication that the conversion of the rawmaterials and castings into compost. Matured compost, a fine loose granular mass will beremoved from pit, sieved, dried for 12 hours in shade and packed in fertilizer bags for storage.This matured compost has rich nutrient value.

xi) Harvest of worm biomass

The worms and its cocoon are to be collected by sieving and used for subsequentVermicomposting.

Conclusion

Sphere: Related Content

Vermiculture and vermicomposting technology is easy to practice, ecologically safe,economically sound and can create more employment opportunities for the rural people toupgrade their standard of living. At present Vermiculture technology is all set to emerge as abig business of the next century. The organic manure obtained from different waste materialsusing this versatile technique will avoid pollution problems to a greater extent. India beingagriculture based country, it could easily produce millions of tones of Vermicompost, andconsiderably reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.

References

Gupta P.K. 2003 Why vermicomposting? In: Vermicomposting for sustainable agriculture, Agrobios(India), Agro House, Jodhpur, pp.14-25.Ismail S.H, Joshi P and Grace A. 2003. The waste in your dustbin is scarring the environment – Thetechnology of composting, Advanced Biotech (II) 5: 30-34.Shewta, Singh Y.P and Kumar U.P. 2004. Vermicomposting a profitable alternative for developingcountry, Agrobios (II) 3: 1516. Singh D.P. 2004 Vermiculture biotechnology and biocomposting In: Environmental microbiology andbiotechnology (Eds. Singh, D.P. and Dwivedi, S.K.). New Age International (P) Limited Publishers, NewDelhi, pp. 97-112.Sujatha K, Mahalakshmi A and Shenbagarathai R. 2003 Effect of indigenous earthworms on solid wasteIn: Biotechnology in Agriculture Industry and Environment (Eds. Deshmukh A.M) Microbiology society,Karad, pp. 348-353.Tripathi Y.C, Hazaria P, Kaushik P.K and Kumar A. 2005 Vermitechnology and waste management In:Verms and vermitechnology, (edi:A.Kumar) A.P.H.Publishing corporation, New Delhi, pp. 9-21.

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