Vermicomposting

Dear farmers,

                         Vermicomposting is a simple biotechnology process of composting, in which certain species of earthworms are used to enhance the process of waste conversion and produce a better end product. Vermicomposting is the process of recycling organic matter into nutrient rich compost using worms. It is carried out generally under aerobic condition.

Vermicompost is a stable organic manure produced as vermicast by earthworm feeding on biological waste materials. It is an efficient recycling process of animal, agricultural and industrial wastes. Vermicompost is a mixture of worm cast, humus, live earthworms and their cocoons. The major constituents are essential micro and macro nutrients enzymes vitamins antibiotics humic acid and growth hormones.

    Vermicompost is an important source of organic manure. It helps in recycling any organic waste into a useful organic fertilizer and use no chance of environmental pollution. It is an eco friendly, non toxic product consumes low energy input while processing. It reduces incidence of pests and diseases in crop production. It improves quality of agricultural produce.

Steps in vermicomposting

Mixing of waste mixture with cow dung

• In preparation of waste mixture, animal and plant based organic wastes are mixed together.
• Before mixing,the plant wastes generally undergoes size reduction by cutting or crushing.
• After size reduction the plant based organic wastes are mixed with animal based organic waste like cow dung
• The preparation of cow dung in waste mixture must be minimum 30%. Under unlimited supply of cow dung, the share may go up to 70%.

Layout of vermicompost bed

Shape: Rectangular

Length: 10-15ft

Width: 3.5-4.0ft

Depth: 1.0-1.5ft

A vermicompost bed can be made of bamboo, cement and plastic.

Loading of wastes mixture and earthworms in bed

• The waste materials immediately after mixing or after pre-demposition, are dead in the bed in a heap with the maximum height of 1.5 feet.
• Thereafter, a thin layer of cow dung is placed on the surface of waste materials as starter food for earthworms.

In the bed, after checking inside temperature (should not exceed 35°C) of the heaped material, the earth was are released on the bed surface (minimum of 2 kg per bed or 2000-2500 in number). However, if available if, the quantity can be increased upto 10 kg per bed.

Vermicompost accelerators

The microorganisms multiplied in the laboratory are mixed with organic wastes truly before putting in the bed some important fungal species are Paeciliomyces fusisporus, Phaenerocete crysosporium, Trichoderma viride and Bacillus polymixa.

Maintenance of moisture

Regular supply of water in the bed should be done to maintain 80% percent moisture content. Watering can be done manually or by installation of automated micro sprinkler system.

      However, the tolerance limit of temperature difference with type of earthworm species (generally 20-35°C). For stability of optimum temperature and moisture in the bed, both under extreme arid and temperate climate, the bed can be covered with an insulating materials like gunny bag, coconut coir mat etc. with moisturing at regular interval. Vermicomposting takes 2 to 3 months to complete.

Harvesting

The harvesting is generally done manually by using a shovel and loaded on hand trolley.

Earthworm separation

The separation of earthworm from vermicompost is generally manually or by mechanical process.

Manual process

The heap method is used for manual separation of vermicompost.

• Vermicompost after harvest is heaped in a dome shape in open space on cement floor under bright sunlight with height a about 2 to 3 feet.
• worms move to the lower layers as they are light sensitive, thus facilitating harvest of compost from a upper surface. This process is repeated 3-4 Times.
• All adult worms migrate to the base of heap and can be separated.
• This process is time consuming.

Mechanical process

• The earthworms are separated by sieving using a wire net of 2-3 mm in size.
• in separation process the earthworms remain above the net and the vermicompost first below on the floor and are collected.
• The sieving unit may vary in size and its operational processes.
• The sieving frame including stand and net can be placed on a simple platform or a spring loaded platform run by motorized shaker.

Also read Tomato cultivation

Cluster bean cultivation (forage purpose)

Cluster bean is a very important, drought resistant kharif and summer legume of the arid and semi-arid regions. It is hardy, quick growing and can tolerate high moisture, low fertility and soil salinity to some extent. The pods are used for vegetable purpose. The grains are used for high protein concentrate feed for animals or for extraction of gal actomannan gum as a binding agent in many textile industries and foodstuff uses. The seed contains 31 to 43% monogalectan  gum which is cheaper and higher than other sources. It is used for green manuring. Because of its vigorous growth it quickly cover the land and reduces soil erosion. It is also used for making silage with sorghum, maize etc.

Climate and soil

Climate

Cluster bean tolerates high moisture stress. It is well adapted to arid and semi-arid regions. A well distributed rainfall of about 150 to 200 mm during growing season can meet the water requirement of crop. It cannot with stand water logging and excessive moisture.

Soil

It does not well on sandy loams to deep clay loam soils. The soil should be well drained. It tolerates moderate salinity and soil pH upto 8.5. the soil should be rich in Phosphorus potassium and calcium.

Land preparation

Minimum land preparation is required for cluster bean. Cultivation to a depth of 10 to 12 cm deep is sufficient in dry farming areas. One to two harrowings are enough.

Seed rate and spacing

The seed rate varies with the method of sowing. Broadcasting requires 45 to 50 kg and drilling 35 to 40 kg/ha. The crop is sown in mixture with sorghum, pearl millet, hybrid napier, spear grass as forage crop. When it is sown in mixture, the normal seed rate is reduced to half. The sowing should be done at a row spacing of 30 to 40 cm.

Method of sowing

The seeds are either broadcast and mixed with plough or harrow. In dry farming areas the seeds are sown in open furrows to facilitate quicker germination as there is better retention of moisture in the furrows.

Nutrient management

The land should be manured with 10 ton farmyard manure or compost before sowing. Besides 15kg N, 40kg P2O5, 20kg K2O should be applied as basal.

Water management

Kharif crop in fact does not require irrigation unless there is long dry spell. Summer crop needs frequent irrigation depending upon soil type, climate etc. The crop requires 20 to 25 cm per hectare in 4 to 5 irrigations.

Weed management

A crop under better management grows quickly and suppresses the weeds. However, one to two hoeings and weeding depending upon weed intensity ensures good growth. Chemical weed control in pure stand consists pre-emergence application of Atrazine @ 0.5 kg a.i./ha under irrigated condition. Broad leaved weed in the standing crop can be controlled by spring 2,4-D @ 1.0 kg/ha after 5 to 6 weeks of sowing.

Harvesting

The crop should be harvested at boot leaf stage or immediately after few plants of flowered for fodder. The harvesting should not be delayed beyond 50% flowering as crude protein decreases and crude fibre increases. In multi cut management, first cut is taken at boot leaf stage and subsequently at the interval of 35 to 40 days.

Yield

Good crop yields 350 to 400 quintals of green fodder per hectare. However, under multicut management, the yield goes as high as 700 quintals per hectare.

Also read about Pearl millet cultivation (forage purpose), Sorghum cultivation, Soybean cultivation, Pigeon pea cultivation

Pearl millet cultivation (forage purpose)

Pearl millet is also known as bulrush millet, spikal millet, African millet or cattail millet. It is quick growing short duration crop. It is outstanding summer growing fodder crop for dry farming areas due to high tillering, drought tolerance, heat tolerance, high photosynthetic efficiency, versatile adaptation to soil types, high dry matter production. The crude protein content at flowering is as high as 15%. The herbage cut at early flowering stage contains 6.8 - 12.8% CP, 0.9 - 1.8% EF, 29 - 34% CF, 41 - 52% NFE, 0.29 - 0.69% Ca and 0.47 - 0.84% P.

Climate and soil

Climate

Pearl millet requires warm and dry weather. High temperature is required for rapid growth especially at latter stages of growth. It can grow in areas receiving 250 to 800 mm rainfall . Due to extensive and deep root system, crop can with stand considerable moisture stress. Heavy rain, prolonged cloudiness, high humidity and colder conditions are detrimental to its growth.

Soil

It can grow on alluvial sandy soils to red and medium black soils. The soil should be well drained. Acid, alkali and low-lying areas should be avoided.

Land Preparation

Pearl millet requires firm and fine seed bed. It does not require intensive or deep cultivation.  One ploughing and a harrowing is sufficient to obtain good seed bed.

Seed rate and spacing

Pearl millet is sown at a spacing of 25 to 30 cm within the rows using seed rate of 20 kg per hectare.

Sowing method

It is sown by drilling the seeds in line with the help of seed drill. It is grown either as pure crop or mixture with cow pea, velvet bean and moth. Two rows of Bajra are alternated with two rows of legume. The seed rate should be reduced to half to their normal rates.

Seed treatment

The seeds should be treated with 30% common salt solution(Brine solution) to remove the diseased seeds and to avoid incidence of ergot. The seeds are also treated with thiram or captan @ 3 g per kg of seeds to control downy mildew disease.

Nutrient management

The crop should be manured with 10-12 t/ha FYM before sowing. For high yields and better herbage 60:30:20 kg NPK per hectare at the time of sowing and 30 kg nitrogen per hectare one month after sowing should be applied.

Water management

Kharif crop generally does not require any irrigation. In summer, irrigation may be given every fortnight depending upon growth stage, soil type and climate.

Weed management

A crop under better management grows quickly and suppresses the weeds. However, one to two hoeing and weddings depending upon weed intensity and ensures good growth.

Chemical weed control in pure stand consists pre-emergence application of Atrazine @ 0.5 kg a.i./ha under irrigated condition. Broad leaved weed in the standing crop can be controlled by spraying 2,4-D @ 1 kg per hectare after 5 to 6 weeks of sowing.

Harvesting

The crop should be harvested at boot leaf stage or immediately after few plants have flowered. The harvesting should not be delayed beyond 50% flowering as crude protein decreases and crude fibre increases. In multi cut management, first cut is taken at boot leaf stage and subsequently at the interval of 35 to 40 days.

Yield

Good crop yields 350 to 400 quintal green fodder per hectare. However, under multicut management, the yield goes as high as 700 q/ha.

Read about Sorghum cultivation, 

Pigeonpea cultivation, 

Soybean cultivation,

Tomato cultivation,

Brinjal cultivation,

Niger cultivation