What is Vermicompost?
Vermicompost refers to organic manure produced by earthworms. It is a mixture of worm castings (faecal excretions), organic material including humus, live earthworms, their cocoons and other organisms. Vermicomposting is an appropriate cost effective and efficient recycling technique for the disposal of non-toxic solid and liquid organic wastes.
What is Vermiculture?
Vermiculture can be defined as culture of earthworms. Earthworms are divided into two groups: humus formers and humus feeders. Earthworms feed on organic waste, consuming two to five times their body weight. They use a relatively small amount of their intake for their growth and excrete the mucus coated undigested matter as vermicasts. The nutrients present in the vermicasts are readily soluble in water for uptake by plants. Vermicast is a rich source of macro and micronutrients, vitamins, enzymes, antibiotics, growth hormones and microflora.
Can compost be made without earthworms?
Yes! But vermicompost is considered superior to other types of compost because of its quality. Moreover earthworms ingest litter, dung and other organic matter and grind it into fine particles, thereby increasing the surface area and promoting faster decomposition. The material passes through the body of the earthworm to produce vermicast. Soils with vermicasts have roughly 100 times more bacteria than soil without worms. Moreover plant growth promoting substances have been reported to be present in vermicasts.
Where can I obtain earthworms for my vermicompost unit
You may contact Mr. Amit Tyagi/Navjot Singh, Organic Farmers Sajag Organic International, Village Kinanagar, Garh Road, Meerut, email: [email protected], phone: mobile: 9837257775 for earthworms and for selling your produce.
