1. Vermiwash As a component of INM

2. Introduction Vermiwash, a liquid bio-fertilizer can be collected through the column of activated earthworm. It contains plant growth hormones like auxins and cytokinin apart from nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and other micronutrients. Vermiwash: As a component of INM

3. Phosphate solublizing bacteria(PSB). Agriculturally Important Microbes in Vermiwash Vermiwash: As a component of INM Nitrogen fixing bacteria Azotobacter sp Rhizobium sp.

4. Benefits of Vermiwash A mixture of vermiwash (1litre) with cow urine (1litre) in 10 litres of water acts as bio-pesticides and liquid manure. Vermiwash: As a component of INM Vermiwash acts as a plant tonic and helps to reduce many plant diseases

5. Principle of Vermiwash production  The trickling of water takes away all the body secretions of the earthworm along with it and also other nutrients from the decomposed materials.  The collected water contains many nutrients readily available to the crop plants. Vermiwash: As a component of INM

6. Composition of Vermiwash The composition of vermiwash is as follow: pH 7.48 ± 0.03 Organic carbon% 0.008 ± 0.001 Nitrogen% 0.01 ± 0.005 Available phosphorous% 1.69 ± 0.05 Potassium (ppm) 25 ± 2 Vermiwash: As a component of INM

7. Micro-nutrients in Vermiwash Sl. No.NutrientQuantity (ppm) 1.Sodium8 ± 1 2.Calcium3 ± 1 3.Copper0.01 ± 0.001 4.Ferrous0.06 ± 0.001 5.Magnesium158.44 ± 23.42 6.Manganese0.58 ± 0.040 7.Zinc0.02 ± 0.001 Vermiwash: As a component of INM

8. Microbial composition of vermi-wash Sl. No.MicrobesMicrobial count (CFU/ml) 1.Total heterotrophs1.79x10 3 2.Nitrosomonas sp.1.01 x10 3 3.Nitrobacter sp.1.12 x 10 3 4.Total fungi1.46 x 10 3 Vermiwash: As a component of INM

9. Requirements for the production of Vermiwash Bucket with tap Earthworms Cow dung Vermiwash: As a component of INM

10. Method of preparation of vermiwash Drill a hole at the base of the container to fix a tap to it. Vermiwash: As a component of INM Select one sufficiently large container made of concrete or plastic bucket.

11. Method of preparation of Vermiwash Introduce about 2000 earthworms into the container. Vermiwash: As a component of INM A base layer of gravel or broken small pieces of bricks are placed upto height of 10-15 cm. On the coarse sand layer place 40- 45 cm pre-decomposed organic wastes and moisten the different layers by using water.

12. Integrated Vermiwash Unit Vermiwash unit may be established with vermicomposting beds for large scale production. Vermiwash: As a component of INM

13. Precautions Water should be poured slowly. Do not mix un-decomposed material while, watering. Do not add any green material. Do not allow to compact the contents. Vermiwash: As a component of INM

14. Let Us Sum Up Vermiwash, a liquid fertilizer collected after the passage of water through a column of worm activation is very useful as a foliar spray. It contains plant growth hormones like auxins and cytokinin apart from nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and other micro nutrients. It contains nitrogen fixing bacteria like Azotobacter sp., Arobactericum sp. and Rhizobium sp. and some phosphate solublizing bacteria. It acts as a plant tonic and helps to reduce many plant diseases. Vermiwash: As a component of INM