This was very popular in India. Jai Chaitanya Dasa at Iskcon Farm says it is 3-4 times better than compost – as it is used immediately by the soil. The compost material works in the long term – it keeps evolving and makes humus. Jai makes it in a special vermiwash container. It is a 1000 litre plastic drum, with an outlet tap at the bottom.
The idea is to build a living compost for the worms, and pour water through and collect the vermiwash. Lowest layer gravel, then biogas slurry, sand, red earth and then biomass –half decomposed compost and fresh green leaves. Leave for 2 weeks. To remove heat, add more compost. Then add worms and household garbage. Leave it for 3 months. Add 20 litres water per every second day and remove 20 litres of liquid from the bottom. Dilute 1:3 or 1:5 Gives 60 litres each time. Use as a foliar spray for extra nutrient, extra greenery, anti fungal, and for newly established plants and vegetables and paddy.
Addition in Vermi composting :
Usually vermi compost is prepared in cement tanks under an industrial shed. This is costly hence; they are preparing the vermi compost directly in the field, under shade with facility to provide the moisture, like micro sprinklers. The vermicompost heap is made of 8 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet high. The heap is made in layers of dry matter (including dry twigs), green matter and cow dung slurry from biogas tanks. After the heap cools, which takes about 20 days, the heap is charged again as it has lost height. Then wait for another 15 days and release the worms (only first time).
The heap is fully converted into worm casting within two months time. Before the heap is fully converted into casting, another similar heap is made parallel to the first one about 8 feet away. The heaps are kept moist by the micro sprinklers used for irrigating the existing horticultural crops. The worms would leave the heap, which is fully converted, into casting and occupy the newly made heap to start their activity. This process go on, the worms move back and forth from one old heap to another new one. The advantage here is that we need to separate the worms from the vermi compost, which sometimes is a back braking process and costs more.
Alternatively heavy mulching is used for covering the topsoil in about ¼ acre with banana leaves and bagasse. Biogas slurry is sprinkled on top of the mulch very month. The worms convert the whole mulch into rich compost within two months. The micro sprinklers keep the area moist.
Then they can either scoop the compost when it is ready by allowing the area to get dry which will force the worms to go about ½ foot below the compost layer. Or, keep the compost as your topsoil. This is a great way to use the help of the worms to build topsoil within three months, rather than to wait for decades for this to happen. A spray of CPP and 500 will further enrich it. |
