Vermi-composting is very popular in the world of organic farming and sustainable gardening. This natural fertilizer not only supports plant growth but also enriches the soil in your garden. In this blog, we will try to understand how vermi-compost is produced, and the benefits it brings to your garden.
Understanding Vermi-Compost
Vermi-compost is essentially castings of earthworms and nutrient rich excrements of the worms that is decomposed over time. The process of making vermi-compost involves using the organic scraps such as kitchen waste, garden residues, and dry leaves and twigs and paper and the presence of specific species of earthworms. The later transforms the above waste materials into the valuable resource for the garden, i.e., natural manure.
The earthworms consume the waste organic materials and break them down – the excrements produced during the process are packed with essential nutrients, beneficial micro-organisms and bacteria that contribute to the health of the soil.
How to make Vermi-Compost / Vermi-composting Process
Making vermi-compost is a simple and straight forward - Vermi-composting for beginners - indicated below are the basic steps involved -
1. Choice of Container: This depend on the scale of production you wish to achieve. In case of kitchen gardens, you can use a vermi-composting bins
or wooden box. However, in case you work for a large nursery, you can create big pits in the ground or make large beds with concrete. Either ways, the contained must have good drainage and ventilation.
2. Bed Preparation: Make alternate layers of coconut coir, hay or even shredded newspaper and waste materials (fruit, vegetable, egg shells, coffee grounds in the container. Line it with neem leaves to prevent unwanted insects from entering – this creates the basic habitat for the worms.
Note: Avoid putting meat, dairy and oily food in the container / pit as these may attract unwanted pests.
3. Adding Worms: Add the earthworms into the bedding – they feed on the organic waste material and break down the organic matter.
4. Maintain the Environment: It is very important step to maintain a thriving environment for the earthworms – we have to keep the container / pit moist but not soggy all the time. The bedding must be turned from time to time to aerate it and thereby ensure effective decomposition of the organic waste.
5. Harvest compost: After a 2-3 months, the bedding turns into drark granular and crumbly vermi-compost and this can be harvested for use in your garden or nursery.
Benefits of Vermi-Compost for Your Garden
Regular use of vermi-compost in the garden or nursey can bring the following benefits –
1. Nutrient-Rich Organic Manure: Vermi-compost is a powerhouse of nutrients. It contains essential elements like phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, magneciumand calcium which are the mainstay for the growth of plants over time.
2. Enhanced Soil Structure: The presence of worm excrements helps improve soil aeration and drainage, which drastically improves the soil structure, leading to better root development and healthier plants.
3. Microbial Activity: Vermi-compost is full of beneficial micro-organisms that help improve soil health. These microbes ensure that the nutrients are available to plants by breaking down the organic waste.
4. Excellent Water Retention: The organic matter in vermi-compost increases the soil's moisture retention ability which is beneficial during the summer seasons.
5. Natural Pest Control: The vermi-compost houses micro-organisms thatsuppress pests and insects that cause soil-borne diseases. This natural pest control can reduce use of synthetic pesticides, thereby promoting organic farming.
6. pH Balance: Gardens using vermi-compost have soil with balances pH value making it conducive for plant growth.
7. Sustainable Gardening Practices: Use of vermi-compost promotes sustainability because the organic waste is being turned into manure which is as effective, if not better than chemical fertilizers.
8. Higher Yeild: Increased productivity and yields of the crop cycle is directly proportional to the use of vermi-compost because of the manure is rich in nutrients essential for plant growth.
Conclusion
Use of vermi-composting is very important for gardeners looking for efficient plant growth. This organic manure not only provides a nutrient rich environment for the garden / nursery, but also contributes towards environment benefit.
Every gardener must adopt this product and see how the might of the tiny earthworms impact the health of the soil and vitality of the plant, thereby making it an indispensable accessory for your garden.
