MBM-CARI-XIV

Vermicompost Production
Rationale What is Vermicompost? : Organic
manure in the form of vermicompost
Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands
obtained from the earthworm is one
is known for its natural resources and
way to overcome the problems of low
biodiversity. Paddy, coconut, arecanut, productivity. The production of com-
clove, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg post from any organic waste (agricul-
and vegetables are the major agricul- ture and homestead) using earth-
tural crops in these islands. Agricul- worms is called vermicomposting.
ture has always been a challenge for Earthworms feeds the organic waste
the people of the islands, both due to materials and passes it through their
availability of limited cultivable area digestive system (digested by mi-
and low productivity. It is further con- crobes present in the guts of worms)
strained due to reduction of paddy land and gives out in a granular form (co-
coons) which is known as
from 12000 ha to 7685 ha and planta-
vermicompost. Vermicompost made
tion area from 28000 ha to 24978 ha
from mix of dung, crop residues and
after tsunami 2004.
kitchen wastes along with earthworms
Initially, agriculture in these islands are rich in terms of nutrient availabil-
was promoted to attain self sufficiency ity compared to farm yard manure
and thus intensive farming technolo- (FYM) which is from mere decomposi-
gies, use of chemical fertilizers and tion of dung.

pesticides were promoted in the past Requirements for Vermicomposting

few decades. Subsequently, these is- The following are the four major re-
lands have been seen as potential area quirements for vermicomposting:
for organic farming. Considering the
z Suitable organic wastes
limited area under crops, these islands
z Multiplication of earth worms
can be brought under organic farming
with available plant residues, animal z Structure for composting

wastes and forest litters from buffer z Suitable method of composting

zone. Since both area and productiv- Suitable organic wastes: Crop resi-
ity are constrained, farmers income dues, plant litters, weeds, farm yard
can be enhanced through organic manure and kitchen wastes are the
farming based agricultural products common organic wastes available in a
that fetch higher prices. typical farm.

MBM CARI 69
Availability of organic waste from different sources
Source Type of wastes Residue
production
(kg/ha/year)

Paddy Straw, weed biomass 3000-4000

Vegetables Leaves, stalks, infected 2500-3250
fruits, plants
Homesteads Kitchen wastes, 500 / family
dried leaves, weeds
Coconut Coconut husk, 8100
coir pith, leaf litter
Arecanut, blackpepper Leaf litter, weed biomass 6900
Gliricidia in fence Green leaves 1250
Livestock Cowdung 5500 kg/cow/year
Poultry 65 kg /bird/year
Pig 750 kg/pig/year
Goat 290 kg/goat/year

Multiplication of Earthworms: z Spread 2 cm thick layer of fresh

About 2-3 kg of earthworms is required cowdung (2-3 days old) over the
for 1000 kg of biomass, whereas about organic wastes
1100 number earthworms are required z Fill organic wastes and cowdung
for 1 m2 area. Non burrowing species alternatively till the pot is filled
are mostly used for compost making.
z Introduce red earthworms (10 to
Red earthworm species like Eisenia
20 numbers) and cover the pot
foetida and Eudrillus enginae are most
with gunny bag
efficient in compost making. Following
steps should be taken for small scale z Sprinkle water once in a day on
multiplication of worms: the gunny bag to keep it
sufficiently moist
z Use flower pots or abandoned
bucket for small scale earth z Once decomposing process starts,
worms multiplication space will be available on the top.
Fill it with organic wastes and
z Make small holes on the side of
cowdung alternatively to give
pot or buckets
sufficient feed to earthworms
z Put 3-4 big size gravels on the
z Within 2 months, 4-5 kg of worms
bottom of bucket /pot to enable
can be produced from 10 to 20
aerobic condition
numbers which can be utilized for
z Fill pot with well chopped (4-5 cm farm scale vermicompost
length) organic wastes of about 2 production
cm thickness

70 MBM CARI
Structure for composting: For Method of preparation: Vermicompost
production of farm scale can be prepared in any one of the
vermicomposting in island conditions, above mentioned structures b y
different structures i.e. plastic tubs, adopting the following steps:
earthen pits, cement concrete tank and
z Collect the available organic
RCC rings can be used.
wastes from crops and Gliricidia
RCC ring
z Chop the wastes in to small pieces
RCC rings of 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 m of 5 cm using knife for hastening
diameter are commonly available in
the decomposition process
the islands. The number of rings
required will vary depending upon the z Heap the chopped materials under
availability of ring diameter and sun for about 7-10 days
quantity of organic wastes available. z Sprinkle cow dung slurry (5 kg of
z 2 m diameter rings will be the dung in 5 litres of water) on the
optimum size for production of heap
vermicompost z Place a thin layer of half
z 6 RCC rings are required to decomposed cow dung (3-5 cm)
produce vermicompost from one at the bottom
ha of each lowlying paddy areas z Place the chopped weed biomass
and hilly plantations. Two units of
and partially decomposed cow
3 RCC rings each should be made
dung layer wise (10-20 cm
in case of paddy land alone or hilly
thickness) in the rings up to the
lands alone so that height (0.9 M)
depth of 75 cm
of structure is manageable for
mixing and collection activities z Organic waste and cow dung ratio
z 8 rings are sufficient for producing should be mixed at 60: 40 on dry
vermicompost from 2 ha land weight basis
having 1 ha each of paddy- z Release about 2-3 kg of red
vegetable and coconut/Arecanut+ earthworms per 1000 kg of
Black pepper. Make two units of 4 biomass
RCC rings each, so that the height
z Place wire net / bamboo net over
is 1.2 m only
the tank to protect earthworm
z Make a thatched shed over the
from birds.
RCC ring at a height of 2.5 m using
coconut leaves, so that structure z Sprinkling of water should be done
can be protected from heavy rain to maintain 70-80 % moisture
z In the bottom of the ring, put content.
either gunny bag or boulders to z Provide a shed over the compost
protect earthworm moving inside to prevent entry of rainwater and
the soil exposure to direct sunshine.
z Approximate cost of one 2 m z Sprinkling of water should be
diameter RCC ring will be stopped when 90 % bio-wastes
Rs.1500/- are decomposed.

MBM CARI 71
z Maturity could be judged visually Don’ts
by observing the formation of
z Do not add raw green wastes as it
granular structure of the compost
will affect the survival of
at the surface of the tank.
earthworms
Normally after 60 days, compost
will be ready for collection. z Moisture level in the bed should
z Harvest the vermicompost by not exceed 40-50%. Water
scrapping layer wise from the top logging in the bed leads to
of the tank and heap under shed. anaerobic condition and change in
This will help in separation of pH of medium. This hampers
earthworms from the compost. normal activities of worms leading
Sieving may also be done to to weight loss and decline in worm
separate the earthworms and
population
cocoons.
z Do not mix non degradable
Do’s
materials such as polythene
z Always use chopped and wilted
papers etc
organic residues
z Do not mix any soil or stones with
z Bed temperature should be in
range of 20-30oC and protected residues of crops or cowdung
from predators like red or white Some composting tips
ants, centipedes and others like z Mixture of cattle dung with
rats, cats, poultry birds or even
vegetable wastes forms ideal feed
dogs
for worms
z Worms should not be injured
during handling z Addition of neem cake in small
quantity enhances growth of
z Frequent observation of culture
bed is essential as accumulation worms
of casts’ retards growth of worms z Biogas slurry aged aerobically for
z Optimum size of structure should 15 days enhances vermicomposting
be used for timely decomposition process
of materials z Mix Trichoderma or Pseudomonas
z Earth worms find it difficult to with the compost which will
adopt themselves in new increase the value of compost in
environments hence addition of controlling pathogens of crops
inoculums as a bait from earlier
habitat helps in early adaptation z The compost is very dark in colour
to new site of rearing and it is very similar to farmyard
z After removing the earthworms manure in uses and appearance
from compost, mix 5 packets of z Compost should be dark brown in
Trichoderma or Pseudomonas in colour and has a fine smell and
compost for value addition of should have 15-20 % moisture in
compost in controlling pathogens it.

72 MBM CARI
Application of Compost to Crops

Crop Quantity (kg/ha) Time of application

Paddy 2500 After transplanting

Vegetables (Chillies, 5000 Just before sowing
Brinjal, Okra,
Cowpea, Tomato)
Groundnut 1250 Just before sowing
Coconut 2500 2 kg/plant at the time of planting
(Jun-Jul)
5 kg/plant (1-5 year old plants)
10 kg / Tree (6-9 year old trees)
20 kg/Tree (>10 years old trees)
Arecanut + 2500 2 kg/plant at the time of planting
Black Pepper (Jun-Jul)
5 kg/plant (1-5 year old plants)
10 kg/tree (6-9 year old trees)
20 kg/tree (>10 years old trees)

Production of Vermicompost at
farm scale and large scale is essential
Farm Scale
for converting the agricultural lands in
Production of vermicompost both at to organic production units.
Summary for Production of Vermicompost at Farm Scale
Parameters Lowlying area Hilly area Low lying +
Hilly area
Area (ha) 1 1 1+1=2
(7.5 bigha) (7.5 bigha) (15 bigha)
Cropping Paddy- Coconut/ Paddy-vegetable
System vegetable arecanut/ (1 ha) +Coconut/
spices arecanut/
spices (1 ha)
Vermicompost 2500 + 5000 2500 7500 + 2500
requirement = 7500 =10000
(kg/year)
Crop residue 7750 Paddy 1750* from 3000 from paddy
requirement (kg) system + coconut or system + 6500
homestead waste arecanut from plantations
plantations
Gliricidia production 1250 1250 2500
from fence (kg)

MBM CARI 73
 Cow dung 6000 2000 kg 8000
required (kg)
Number of animals 1 cow + 4 goats+ 1 cow 2 cows
required 10 poultry birds
Total waste for 15000 5000 20000
composting (kg)
Earth worms 7.5 2.5 10
required (kg)
RCC rings required 6 rings 2 rings 8 rings
Number of units 2 (3 rings + 1 (2 rings) 2 (4 rings+
3 rings) 4 rings)
Expenditure/year
Capital Cost / year (A)
Cost of rings (Rs.) 9000 9000 12000
Cost of shed (Rs) 2500 2500 3500
Running cost /year (B)
Labour and 6000 6000 7500
Miscellaneous cost (Rs)
Packaging cost @ 3750 3750 5000
Rs 10 for 20 kg bag (Rs)
Total (A+B) 21250 21250 28000
Returns / year
Vermicompost 7500 7500 10000
production (kg/year)
Returns** 67500 67500 90000
(Rs/year) @ Rs 9/kg
Net returns (Rs) /year 46250 46250 62000

* Coconut and arecanut produces around 8100 and 6900 kg of wastes/year,

respectively. Hence, on an average, 7500 kg of wastes will be available per year
for composting. If all the available wastes are utilized for production, the
requirement of cowdung will be 5500 kg/year which can be met from one cow.
Including Gliricidia, the total waste availability will be 15000 kg/year which
requires 7.5 kg of earth worms and 2 units comprising 3 rings + 3 rings for
composting. The total production will be 7500 kg of vermicompost/year. The
additional quantity of 5000 kg/year available can be sold.
** Besides essential macro and micro nutrients, Vermicompost has potential to
improve the soil environment which will enhance crop growth.
Net returns / year : Rs 46250+ Rs 46250+ Rs 62000 = Rs. 154500/=
The cost includes cost of family labour and therefore, the total income to family
will be much higher.
Market linkage : Sale of compost to farmers and gardeners

74 MBM CARI