Vermicompost / Vermicasting Production under Bamboo Plantations

i) Background          

The use of compost can make a crucial contribution to the maintenance and improvement of soil fertility. Composting is an integral method of organic fertigation used in agriculture traditionally. Bamboo has been mixed with Indian rural economy having very long history of its usage by human kind. India is the second largest producer and exporter of bamboo and its product. Due to the advent of national Bamboo Mission, a greater area is brought under Bamboo cultivation. Bamboo is a naturally occurring composite material which grows abundantly in most of the tropical countries. It is considered a composite material because it consists of cellulose fibers imbedded in a lignin matrix. Cellulose fibers are aligned along the length of the bamboo providing maximum tensile flexural strength and rigidity in that direction). Over 1200 bamboo species have been identified globally . The ash content of bamboo is made up of inorganic minerals, primarily silica, calcium, and potassium. Besides, the leaf litter from bamboo plantation act as a very good manure on its decomposition. Vermicompost is a high-grade, nutrient-rich plant fertilizer helps to increase the physico-chemical properties of soil. Worm composting adds additional input by improving the soil health.

ii) Project rationale

The technology behind decomposition of bamboo leaves is ascribed to the nutrient pumping or mining action in bamboo plantations. Slow decomposition of leaf litter due to its silica-rich composition, which makes it extremely difficult to decompose at shorter duration. Studies focusing towards leaf litter decomposition and fastening the nutrient cycle under bamboo plantation is very much limited. It offers great scope to produce compost in view of the quantity of leaf litter being added to annually to the soil in  bamboo plantations. The present project is designed to suit the requirements for faster decomposition of leaf litter and to enhance faster nutrient cycling. This eventually helps in maintaining the soil fertility without depleting the excess nutrient in the soil. Besides a share of compost harvested through the present proposal can also be sold by farmers for sharing the economic benefits.

iii) Project Strategy / Methodology

Part –A

• Identification of  appropriate species of earthworms to develop vermicomposting technology in Bamboo leaf
•  Standardization of vermicomposting technology in bamboo for time taken for composting and output of compost per unit area
• Analysis of Physico-chemical characters of Matured vermicompost
• Quantification of the  Biochemical activities in the matured vermicompost

Part –B

•  Quantification of the microbial Biodiversity in the matured vermicompost
•  Characterization of quality parameters or Maturity index of the matured vermicompost
•  Working out the cost-benefit ratio of vermicompost production in Bamboo plantations

iv) Project Goals        :

• Identification  and standardization of Vermicomposting  technology for decomposition of Bamboo leaf
• Analysis of Physico-chemical and Microbial characters of Matured                       vermicompost
• Computation of  the cost-benefit ratio of vermicompost production in Bamboo     plantations

   v)  Project Components      

• Identification of  appropriate species of earthworms to develop vermicomposting technology in Bamboo
• Standardization of vermicomposting technology in bamboo
• Analysis of Physico-chemical characters of Matured vermicompost
• Quantification of the  Biochemical activities in the matured vermicompost
• Quantification of the microbial Biodiversity in the matured vermicompost
• Characterization of quality parameters or Maturity index  of the matured vermicompost                                            
• Working out the cost-benefit ratio of vermicompost production in Bamboo plantations

vi) Deliverables (Quantifiable)            
               
1. Standardization of Vermicomposting technology bamboo leaf Decomposition
2. Microbial and Physico – Chemico analysis of Bamboo Vermicompost

vii) Expected Outcome (Quantifiable)        
Vermicomposting technology bamboo leaf Decomposition (Amount of vermicompost produced / unit area, Number of worms required to compost / unit of leaf litter)

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Contact:

Dean, Forest College and Research Institute
Mettupalayam,
Coimbatore- 641301
Phone: 04254-222010,04254-222398
Fax: 04254-225064
Email : deanformtp@tnau.ac.in