Instructional Module in Vermiculture AND VERMICOMPOSTING Prepared by: Venus P. Maglunsod Instructional Module in Vermiculture

OBJECTIVES: To be able to know what is vermicomposting To determine the factors that affects vermicomposting To know the processes in vermicomposting

WHAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW? Let us determine how much you already know about vermiculture/vermicomposting. Pre-test 1.1 Identification: Write the correct answer in the blank provided. ______________ 1.) What do you call the earthworm used in vermicomposting? ______________2.) It is the science of breeding and raising earthworm. ______________3.) The use of worms for composting organic materials ______________4.) Excreta of worms ______________5.) He introduced vermiculture in the Philippines in 1982.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW? What is vermiculture and vermicomposting? Vermiculture is the science of breeding and raising earthworms Vermicomposting (also called worm compost, vermicasts, worm castings (poop), worm humus, worm manure) is the end product of the breakdown of organic matter by some species of earthworm. Vermicomposting is a nutrient rich, organic fertilizer and soil conditioner.

Terminologies 1. Vermi – worm/earthworm 2. Vermiculture – the science of breeding and raising earthworms 3. Vermiculturist – the person who farms, breeds and cares for vermi/worms

Terminologies 4. Vermicasts – excreta of worms Consists of organic matter Rich source of macro and micronutrients Has vitamins, enzymes, antibiotics, growth hormones and microflora

Terminologies 5. Vermicomposting - use of worms for composting organic materials 6. Vermicompost – the product of vermicomposting containing worm castings, bedding materials as well as organic matter in various stages of decompostion 7. Vermi Tea – a water extract of compost that is brewed

Advantages/Benefits Improves soil aeration, texture and structure, fertility and reduces soil compaction Enhances microbial activities that promotes plant growth and health Serves as natural food for fish, birds and mammals An eco-friendly natural fertilizers Turns trash into cash

Advantages/Benefits No adverse effect on soil, plant and environment Improves water retention capacity of soil because of its high organic matter content Promotes better root growth and nutrition absorption Increases population of beneficial microorganisms Highly profitable, both worms and castings are saleable

Anatomy of Vermi

Biology of Vermi Number of Earthworm Species Characteristic 5,500 in the world (New World Encyclopedia) Characteristic Free – living, beneficial, terrestrial, invertebrates Breathe through skin Hermaphroditic (have both sex organs) Feed on microorganism (fungi & bacteria) Active at night (nocturnal) Migratory

Biology of Vermi Origin Eudrilus eugeniae (African night crawler) come from west Africa Introduce in the Philippines in 1982 by Dr. Otto Graff Most extensively cultured species in the tropics

Biology of Vermi Life Cycle Cocoons (eggs) to Juveniles (young) 2 weeks Juveniles (young) to Adult (breeders) 2 weeks Breeding worms can lay 2 to 5 cocoons per week that will hatch 21 days and mature in 60 to 90 days

Biology of Vermi

Biology of Vermi Growth Rate The African night crawler can grow to more than 30 cm in length and 3 grams each Life Span 1 to 2 years in nature More than 10 years in captivity

STEPS IN VERMICULTURE AND VERMICOMPOSTING SITE SELECTION The area must be shady, near water source, accessible to transportation and have abundant source of compost materials.

STEPS IN VERMICULTURE AND VERMICOMPOSTING 2. WORMBED PREPARATION A. Clean and level the soil B. Construct wormbeds and “trilis” The kind of materials to be used and size of wormbeds to be contructed depends on choice of the owner C. Put empty sacks at the base of the wormbeds

STEPS IN VERMICULTURE AND VERMICOMPOSTING Vermi Beds Samples

STEPS IN VERMICULTURE AND VERMICOMPOSTING 3. Preparation of feeding materials a. Selection of feeding materials identify materials rich in nitrogen Kakawate Katuray Leaves Ipil – Ipil Monggo Peanut Animal Manure Other Leguminous Plants

STEPS IN VERMICULTURE AND VERMICOMPOSTING Identify materials rich in Carbon Grass Sawdust Rice straw Coconut Dust Corn Stalks Paper Wood

STEPS IN VERMICULTURE AND VERMICOMPOSTING Choose either of the following combinations: Cow manure + saw dust (3:1) Grasses + chicken manure (3:1) Shredded fresh grass + kakawate, ipil ipil (3:1) Sawdust + ipil ipil (3:1) Manure + kakawate, ipil ipil (2:1) Compost/rice straw + corn bran (2:1) Rice straw + manure (2:1)

STEPS IN VERMICULTURE AND VERMICOMPOSTING b. Filing of subtrates at the wormbeds Mixed filing Sandwhich filing c. Water the wormbeds

STEPS IN VERMICULTURE AND VERMICOMPOSTING d. Cover the vermibeds with plastic sheet, tarpaulin, laminated sacks to initiate anaerobic decomposition e. Remove plastic sheets/tarpaulin or laminated sacks after 15 days to lower the temperature of the substrate (aerobic decomposition) 4. Introduction of vermi to the substrate - scatter vermi at the vermibed at the rate of 1 kg per square meter

CARE AND MAINTENANCE Conduct regular monitoring Water wormbeds when necessary to maintain moisture requirement of feeding substrate and vermi Cover wormbeds with net or plant to protect vermi from direct sunlight and predator (duch, chicken, turkey, birds and or animals)

HARVESTING Harvest the vermi, vermicast, and vermicompost after 2 to 3 months Handpicking Pick the worms by hands, put the harvested worms in a container and transfer them to a new bed. Sift the vermicompost if finer compost is desired.

HARVESTING b. Pyramid piling of vermicompost Pile the vermicompost into pyramid, let it stay for 1 day so that worms will go down to the bottom pile to easily harvest the top part, when the bottom portion is reached, worm can be extracted manually.

HARVESTING c. Moving the contents to one side Move the contents of the whole bed to one side and fill the other half with new compost materials. The worms will move to the new food. Harvests the casts/compost left by the worms. d. Use of fresh food in an onion/garlic bag Fill an onion/garlic bag with fresh food then bury in the bed for the week. Worms will transfer in the bag for new food. Empty the bag in a new wormbed. Harvests the casts/compost.

HARVESTING e. Use of screen Put the screen on top of the bed then put fresh food on top of the screen. Worms will go up to the screen for fresh food. Remove the screen and put it on top of the new wormbed. The worms will go down the bed for a new food. Harvest the cast/compost in the bed left by the worms.

POST-HARVEST HANDLING Avoid vermi, vermicast and vermicompost from exposure to sunlight Air-dry newly harvested vermicast/vermicompost Packed air-dried vermicast/vermicompost in a cool and dry place or store in a concrete storage or box or ventilated building For longer storage, water the vermicast/vermicompost to maintain the nutrients and enzymes present

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU LEARNED? This is to test if you have learned something from the lesson. Enumeration: 1-5 List down 5 advantages/benefits of vermicomposting 6-8 Enumerate the 3 life stages of vermi (African night crawler) 9-10 Give at least 2 characteristics of vermi

HOW DO YOU APPLY WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED? Show that you learned something by doing this activity? FARM VISIT Visit a farm that has vermicomposting facility. Interview the owner about vermiculture/vermicomposting. Are they using vermicompost as fertilizer? Why? How is the growth of plants affected by vermicompost application? Observe how they are doing the process of vermicomposting. Write your observation in a 1 whole sheet of paper and submit your work after 3 days to your teacher for evaluation.

Key Answer Pre-Test Vermi or Eudrilus eugeniae (African night crawler) Vermiculture Vermicomposting Vermicasts Dr. Otto Graff Post Test 1-5 - Improves soil aeration, texture and structure, fertility and reduces soil compaction -Enhances microbial activities that promotes plant growth and health -Serves as natural food for fish, birds and mammals -An eco-friendly natural fertilizers -Turns trash into cash

Key Answer Post Test 6-8 Cocoon, Juvenile, Adult 9-10 Any of the following Free – living, beneficial, terrestrial, invertebrates Breathe through skin Hermaphroditic (have both sex organs) Feed on microorganism (fungi & bacteria) Active at night (nocturnal) Migratory

THANK YOU!!!