वर्मीकम्पोस्टिंग के माध्यम से कार्बनिक अपशिष्ट का सर्वश्रेष्ठ उपयोग

Agriculture, animal husbandry and related activities generate large quantities of organic wastes in rural areas. Large quantities of tender twigs, dry leaves, grasses and weeds are also available. These organic wastes contain organic carbon and other plant nutrients in considerable amounts.

Now the farmers became aware of the detrimental effects of pesticides and chemical fertilizers used in recent agricultural activities. Vermicompost appeared as a realistic alternative to the concerns related to increasing contamination in food.

Vermicompost compliments nature and its viability. It is a comprehensive approach that aims to create sustainable eco-system, safe food, animal welfare and better livelihood opportunities for farmers.

Organic wastes are safer and more useful when composted and applied, rather than they are directly applied. The process of taking organic waste and turning it into high quality compost using earth worms the well decomposed organic substances are converted into a useful casting (excreta) by earth worms and provides a nutrient rich end product called vermin compost.

Why prefer vermicompost:

We have observed that, the energy required in chemical fertilizers and pesticides is non renewable and costly. Small farmers cannot have enough money to purchase these chemical fertilizers. Further, the soil needs more of these chemicals and again they have adverse residual effects on soil quality.

Under such conditions vermicompost will prove environmental friendly, economically feasible and socially acceptable technology for sustainable agriculture. Vermicompost is found much better and valuable than general farm yard manure because of its nutrients rich nature.

Nutritive value of vermicompost:

The nutrient content in the vermicompost vary depending on the waste material that is being used to compost preparation. If the waste materials are heterogeneous one, there will be wide range of nutrient available in the vermicompost.

If the waste materials are homogeneous one, there will be only certain nutrients are available (Table 1).

Table 1: Common available nutrients in vermicompost

Important components for vermicomposting:

Earthworms, organic wastes and water are the three major components required for vermicomposting.

Earthworms:

Non burrowing, organic debris consuming species of earthworms such as Eisenia foetida, Eudrilus eugeniae, Feretima elongate, Perionyx excavatus are ideal for vermi composting. These are available with many KVK’s, agricultural research stations, non-governmental organizations and private companies. They can also be obtained from villages where   vermicomposting is already being done.

Organic wastes:

The following organic wastes can be utilized for vermicomposting:

• Crop based waste materials such as straw, stubbles, chuff, husk, tree leaves, twigs, weeds etc.
• Animal based wastes such as cattle dung, sheep and goat dung, poultry wastes etc.
• House hold wastes such as vegetable and fruit wastes and spoilt foods etc.

Water:

Adequate water is essential for maintaining moisture in the compost heap.

Process of vermicompost preparation:

Vermicompost can be prepared in pits dug bellow the ground, in raised heaps above ground, in cement rings or any such containers and walled enclosures called vermi compost beds.

The bed method is more suitable for large-scale production of vermicompost and for preventing soil from mixing with the compost. The procedure for vermicomposting in beds is described below:

• Since earthworms have to be protected from heat and excess water, a place that is shielded from sun and rain has to be chosen. Alternatively, a shed can be erected. The size of the shed will be determined by the scale of vermicomposting as per requirement.
• In the shed, walled enclosures of 2 feet height, 3 -4 feet width and required length are to be constructed using bricks and mortar. The floor of the bed also has to be paved with bricks and mortar. For producing vermicompost round the year, two or more enclosures should be partitioned into compartments.
• On the floor of the bed one layer of the broken bricks are to be spread and on top of these a 2-3 inches layer of soil and sand has to be applied uniformly.
• To discourage ants and termites to entering the bed, a layer of neem has to be applied.
• A 3-4 inch layer of bedding material such as dry crop residues, leaves, straw or weds has to be applied
• After that 3-4 inch layer of cow dung slurry has to be applied on top of the bedding materials.
• On the layer of cow dung earthworms have to be released at the rate of 1 kg worms per square metre.
• Finally, decomposable organic wastes mixed with cow dung have to be stacked to a height of on foot and the beds have to be covered with gunny bags.
• Water has to be sprinkled on the bed regularly to keep the heap moist.
• Once every 15-20 days, the heap of organic wastes has to be turned upside down and has to be covered with gunny bags again.
• In 2-3 months all the organic waste materials will be converted into vermicompost. When worms are found sticking to the under surface of the gunny bags, it is an indication that the composting process is complete.
• Finished compost is dark coloured, light and free from any unpleasant odor.
• After ascertaining that the composting process is complete, watering has to be stopped. The heap begins to dry out from the top and worms congregate at the bottom of the heap where there is still some moisture. At that time, the material in the heap has to be arranged into a cone.
• Compost has to be slowly removed from the top of the cone, screened and filled into bags. Material remaining on the screen, including under composed organic materials and earth worms remaining at the bottom of the heap can be used for another round of compost preparation.

 Precautions for vermicompost preparation:

• Adequate moisture should be maintained in the compost heap. Too much moisture can harm the earthworms and slow down the composting process.
• Care should be taken to see that there are no plastic, rubber, glass or metal objects in the organic wastes used for composting.
• Earthworms should be protected from the predatory animals such as frogs, rats, garden lizards, poultry birds and ants etc.
• Due to soft bodies of earthworms sharp objects should not be employed for turning the heap and turning should be done gently. Vermicompost can be used for any crop. Howevere, its use is most profitable in case of commercial crops like flowers, fruits and vegetanles.

 Table 2. Recommended quantity and time of application for different crops

Storing and packing of vermicompost:

The harvested vermicompost should be stored in dark and cool place; it should have minimum 40 % moisture. Sunlight should not fall over the compost material. It will lead to loss of moisture and nutrient content. It is advocated that the harvested compost materials is openly stored rather than packed in over sac. Packing can be done at time of selling.

If it is stored in open place, periodically sprinkling of water may be done to maintain moisture level and also to maintain beneficial microbial population. If the necessity comes to store the material, laminate over sac is use for packing.

This will minimize the moisture loss. Vermicompost can be store for one year without loss in its quality, if the moisture is maintained at 40 % level.

 Advantages of vermicompost:

• Vermicompost is rich in all essential plant nutrients.
• It provides excellent effect on overall plant growth and encourages the growth of new shoots/ leaves and improves the quality and shelf life of the produce.
• Vermicompost is free flowing, easy to apply, handle and store and does not have bad odour.
• It improves soil structure, texture, aeration and water holding capacity and prevents soil erosion.
• Vermicompost is rich in beneficial microflora such as fixers, p- solubilizers, cellulose decomposing microflora etc. in addition to improve soil environment.
• Vermicompost contain earthworm cocoon and increases the population and activity of earthworms in the soil.
• It neutralizes the soil pollution.
• It prevents nutrient losses and increases the use efficiency of chemical fertilizers.
• Vermicompost is free from pathogens toxic elements, weed seeds etc.
• Vermicompost minimize the incidence of pest and diseases.
• It enhances the decomposition of organic matter in soil.

Authors

Dr. K.K. Yadav and B.R. Jalgaonkar

Department of Soil & Water Engineering,

College of Technology & Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur (Rajasthan) - 313001

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