An Alternative Farming Component-Vermicompost

 

An Alternative Farming Component- Vermicompost

Farming practices have evolved over the years globally and nationally. Ventures to food fight security have been the main issue of moving into wide-ranging alternative farming systems. Modern agriculture with the intensification of input uses to boost cereal crop production to a level when we can say that the world is self-sufficient in food. That is, our bowls invariably are filled with carbohydrate rich diet. But are we really taking all the minerals, vitamins, amino acids, micronutrients and naturally nutriceuticals from food that keep us healthy? Are we free from the many non-associated with non-communicable diseases or of maintaining an immune system that protects us from communicable diseases? Have we been able to give our children, the old and the young with balanced food?

1. Agriculture the best way

As times are moving, we have practiced agriculture to suit to our needs. We have increased production of food by using the best seed (high-yielding, hybrid, GM), the more than optimum dose of fertilizer (N, P K, micronutrients, hormones) and the most effective pesticides along with an over  utilization  of our natural water table.  The inventions have been great, but the applications had definitely not been followed to conserve nature and preserve the environment. Therefore, confusion and myths have developed both against and for modern agriculture. But, it appears that method of the use of technology i.e. and overdose, unbalanced, unnecessary use of chemicals has become a threat to human life, living organisms and the environment.  The disruption of the natural ecosystem has led intuitive scholars on proposing alternative farming methods.

Many approaches are suggested in bits and pieces, but we have not been able to give a sound prove holistic method that would suffice the global food and nutritional requirement from a complete eco-environment. To be more precise, how much of our natural soil amenders, herbal pesticides, natural water sources and diversified species of plant will bear our population is yet to be calculated and resources sought. Therefore, today, I want our readers to familiarize with one of the components of alternative farming, that of a soil fertilizer—the vermicompost.

2. What is vermicompost?

Vermicompost is the creation of a product by composting various worms with decomposing vegetables, cow dung, straw, shrubs and food waste.  Generally live red wigglers and other earthworms are used to create a heterogeneous blend of ultimately black colored organic fertilizer. Also known as vermin cast or worm manure, the resultant substance occurs due to the breakdown of organic matter by the earthworm. The earthworms and other microorganisms are able to leave on organic kitchen waste or waste contained in cow dung, break them into nutrients that can be easily taken up by plants.

Vermicompost – an organic fertilizer is used in alternative farming practices as a source of soil fertility and soil amender. It is adopted as a replacement or substitute of other fertilizers.  As it not only avails nutrients in the available form, vermicast increases the cation exchange capacity and airiness of the soil.

 

3. How to make vermicompost

Two best breeds Eisenia foetida or Lumbricus rubellas at the right condition are fast growing species. About 1000 worms or half a Kg is enough to start with. For each kg, an equal amount of waste is needed. With 1 kg earthworm and 50 kg of waste plus cow dung, 30 Kg of fertilizer can be produced.

Here are the steps to follow to make vermicompost for application in alternative farming

1. Cow dung is collected and allowed to dry naturally for 7 to 10 days
2. Rows of beds with dimensions of 1m width, 75 cm height and a distance of 75 cm between rows are made.
3. Alternate layers of cow dung and plant waste are placed in the beds or rows to a height of 75 cm for 4-5 days.
4. A shady roof is placed on top of the bed to prevent direct sunlight with the occasional sprinkling of water.
5. Live earthworms are placed on top of the manure beds. About 1 kg of an earthworm is required per meter.
6. The bed is then covered with banana leaves for 2-3 days.
7. With a tool, the upper 10 cm of compost and worm is loosened and covered again.
8. After 7-10 days, the upper 10 cm becomes vermin manure. This portion is removed and covered again.
9. Another layer of 10 cm is loosened again. This is again covered and allowed to decompose with the growth of the worms.
10. The vermicompost is collected 3-4 times from the above 60 cm layer. This manure is produced in 40 days.

4. A few tips in composting:

The compost needs to be loosened for aeration and growth of worms and Actinomycetes bacteria. The excreta of the worms contains P, K, Mg, Ca and nitrate which promotes the growth of the bacteria adding nutrition to the manure.

5. Nutrient content of Vermicompost

Vermicompost is an organic fertilizer, in fact, a waste of earthworm. The compost is rich in nutrients along with higher soil improving properties of other organic fertilizer. There are a number of reasons why vermicompost will be widely used in alternative farming.

12 Benefits of Vermicompost:

1. Vermicompost can be made in home gardens, easy to apply.
2. It contains nutrients essential to plants.
3. With a pH of 8 it enriches the soil with micronutrients.
4. It amends the soil structure, soil texture, helps aeration, prevents soil erosion and improves the water holding capacity
5. Improves the exchange of ions for better uptake of inorganic nutrients.
6. Encourages healthy growth of plants and yield.
7. Improves the soil microflora and encourages a harmonious environment for other organisms.
8. Minimizes attack of pests and diseases.
9. The cost of production is low.
10. Does not cause toxic pollution to the environment.
11. Good method of recycling of waste
12. Vermicomposting is practical due to the low cost of investment and simple technology.

6. Alternative Farming

International policies for increased food and nutritional security propose higher production with lesser and fewer resources.  Alternative farming emphasizes the best use of land resources, local, indigenous organic and recyclable plant and animal waste materials available within an ecosystem. It encompasses retention and maintenance of natural soil fertility,  conservation of  biodiversity, biopesticide and natural water management with a replacement of industrial or chemical input use.  The practice of using such innovative environment-friendly product as the vermicompost is expected to fulfill the concern of highly claim organic food lovers’ growing around the world. Although bio-villages are growing, surely, the vermicompost and the like bio inventions has to scale up to a great degree to meet the nutrition of food crops.