LPM 121: Fodder Production and Grassland Management (1+1)

PROCESS OF VERMICOMPOSTING

• The bedding and feeding materials are mixed, watered and allowed to ferment for about two to three weeks in the cement tanks. During this period the material is overturned 3 or 4 times to bring down the temperature and to assist in uniform decomposition.
• When the material becomes quite soft, it is transferred to the culture containers and worms ranging from a few days to a few weeks old are introduced into them.
• A container of 1 metre by 1 metre by 0.3 metres, holds about 30-40 kgs of the bedding and feeding materials. In such a container, 1000 - 1500 worms are required for processing the materials. The material should have 40 to 50 percent moisture, a pH of 6.3 to 7.5, and a temperature range of 20 to 30 degree celsius.
• The earthworms live in the deeper layers of the material. They actively feed and deposit granular castings on the surface of the material. The worms should be allowed to feed on the material until it is converted into a highly granular mass.
• The earthworms take 7 weeks to reach adulthood. From the 8th week onwards they deposit cocoons. One mature worm can produce two cocoons per week.
• Each cocoon produces 3-7 young after an incubation period of 5-10 days depending on the species of worms, quality of feed, and general conditions. The resulting increase is about 1200-1500 worms per year. The population doubles in about a months time.