Charles Darwin

“It may be doubted

whether there are many
other animals which have
played so important a part
in the history of the world,
as have these lowly
organized creatures.”
(The Formation of Vegetable Mould
Through The Action of Worms With
Observations on their Habits, 1881).
September 2006
 HELLO!
I am
Eugene
aka Eudrilus
eugeniae
aka ANC, the
African Night
Crawler
I am here to help
you with your
garbage , water
and soil fertility
problems.
 CONTENT
Objectives
Definition of Terms
Characteristics of the
Worm
The Vermicomposting
Process
Characteristics of the
Vermicompost
Benefits from
Vermicomposting
 OBJECTIVES

To discuss the principles

of vermicomposting;
To discuss the aspects of
the vermicomposting
process;
To discuss the benefits of
vermicomposting.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Vermicomposting
is the process of producing compost through
the action of the earthworm. The main
product is vermicompost.

Vermiculture
is the process of propagating earthworms or
simply worm-farming. The main product is
earthworm biomass.

Vermicast
is worm excreta. It is granular, in aggregates,
which are mineral granules bonded in such a
way that they are resistant to erosion and
soil compaction.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Vermicompost
is the mixture of the vermicast and the
compost not eaten by the worms in the
worm bed.

Substrate
is the mixture fed to the worms.

Humus
is the end product of decomposed
organic matter where the elements are
no longer distinguishable. It is mature
compost.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Carbon to Nitrogen ratio
(C:N)
is an estimate of the relative amounts of
these two elements in the substrate. The
desired C:N is 25-35:1. If this ratio is not
achieved, the castings will at best be soil
amendment, not fertilizer.
ph
is a measure of the alkalinity or acidity of a
solution on a scale of 14 with 7 as neutral.
The lower the number, the more acidic and
the higher, the more alkaline. Alkaline soil
increases CEC.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Cation Exchange Capacity
(CEC)
is the maximum quantity of total cations,
of any class, that a soil is capable of
holding, at a given pH value, for exchange
with the soil solution. It is used as a
measure of fertility, nutrient retention
capacity, and the capacity to protect
groundwater from cation contamination.

“(earthworms)….the intestines of
the soil“ Aristotle
(about 330 B.C.)
Pamela T. Henares 12
7/9/2011 Pamela T. Henares 13
 Classification of Earthworms:
(behaviour in natural environment)

Anecic - vertical burrows as deep as 4 to 6 feet

in the soil, feed on organic debris on the soil
surface (common nightcrawler Lumbricus
terrestris) The Miners, sub-soil species
Endogeic - mainly horizontal burrows , the only
species of earthworms that actually feed on
large quantities of soil (Aporrectodea calignosa)
The Plowers, top soil species
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

Epigeic - do not build permanent burrows,

prefer rich organic matter, adapt to vermiculture
(Eisenia foetida, Eudrilus eugeniae) The
Composters, litter dwellers
 Ecology of Earthworms
Dew worms move vertically in the soil,
eat soil.
Manure worms eat compost & move
horizontally.
Only about 6 species can be cultured
because of densities required.
Require fairly moist environments.
Can not survive in anaerobic conditions.
Most earthworms are susceptible to
toxic chemicals.

07/22/24
 Structure of Earthworms:
Externally segmented,
no skeleton, ” tube within a tube”
Setae
Blood-like fluid between the 2 tubes
5 hearts
No nose, ears, arms, legs

07/22/24
Physiology of Earthworms

Sexual maturity 3 weeks to 1 year

Species are adapted to different
climates (temperature & moisture),
soil types
Respire through their body surface
Temperature affects metabolic rates
Perfectly evolved
Eat their weight daily
 Reproduction of Earthworms
Method of reproduction is
characteristic of the species,
biparentally or uniparentally
Hermaphroditic
Cocoons (capsules)
produces 1-2 worms
No hybridization
Sexually mature worms
mate and produce
cocoons weekly

07/22/24
 Compost

www.themegallery.com
www.vermiphil.com Graphic courtesy of University of Missouri Extension Service
 WHY COMPOST?
RETURN TO MOTHER
EARTH WHAT CAME
FROM HER.
FEED THE SOIL TO
FEED THE PLANTS

TAKE CARE OF
MOTHER EARTH,
SO SHE CAN TAKE
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CARE OF US.
www.vermiphil.com
 WHY WE DO VERMICOMPOSTING

PURPOSE C:N RESULT

FERTILIZER
PRODUCTION 30:1 FERTILIZER

BIOMASS
PRODUCTION >100:1 SOIL
(vermiculture) AMENDMENT

SOLID WASTE SOIL

MANAGEMENT VARIABLE AMENDMENT

www.vermiphil.com
www.themegallery.com
 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

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www.vermiphil.com
 STEPS IN VERMICOMPOSTING
SELECTION OF SITE

SELECTION OF HOUSING TYPE

PREPARATION OF RAW MATERIALS

DECOMPOSITION PROCESS
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

MAINTENANCE OF WORM BEDS

HARVESTING

VERMICOMPOST WORM BIOMASS

DRYING & STORAGE RECYCLE

Source: Department of Science &Technology Phil. Council for Aquatic & Marine Research & Devt.
 BuroBuro Vermicomposting Process

Site Selection

Worm Housing

Substrate

Maintenance

www.vermiphil.com
www.themegallery.com
 Site Selection

Protected from direct

sunlight
Protected from floods
Cool

Water Source
Raw Materials
Airy
Worm Housing
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

Worm Housing

27
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

Worm Housing
Worm Housing
Worm Housing
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

Worm Housing
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

Worm Housing
 Worm Housing
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

BATCH SYSTEM AUTOMATED CONTINUOUS

FLOW REACTORS
Substrate
 Substrate

NITROGEN SOURCE
CARBON
SOURCE Animal
Plant Source
Manure

Kakawate leaves
Grass
Ipil-ipil leaves
Rice straw All
Mongo
Corn stover animal
Kudzu
Wood manures
“Baging ilog”
Saw dust except
Wild Sunflower dog, cat
Cocopeat
Katuray leaves and
Cococoir
Azolla human
Paper
Peanut
Cane Trash
Hagonoy
 Substrate
i a n dra
c al l

Caballero
Ac
ac ia
a dr e de ri a
M C r ot ol a
Agua
Indigofe
rra
Arachis
pintoi Cal
opo
gon
ium
Re n
soni
i
Kad
Flamengia io s

Other Plant Sources

Centrosema
of Nitrogen
 Substrate

Gather the raw

materials
Substrate

Mix
Shred (not
necessary but
desireable
70% moisture
Substrate
 Substrate

precompost substrate in
the shade until cool
load worm beds depth of
4-8 inches
seed with worms
 maintain at 70 % Maintenance
moisture
5 -7 drops

protect from
sunlight and
predators
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

gently loosen
substrate
periodically
 MANUAL
EXTRACTION
PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT
MIGRATION
Store at 35% moisture
Store in the shade
 VERMICOMPOST ANALYSIS
USING DIFFERENT SUBSTRATE COMBINATIONS OF GRASSES (75%), COMBINED EITHER WITH 25% MANURE
(RAT/CHICKEN), PLANT (AZOLLA) AND LEAVES (IPIL-IPIL/ KAKAWATE/ PEANUT NEEM) AND COCODUST (75%) +
IPIL-IPIL LEAVES (25%)

VERMICOMPOST COMPOSITION
PROPA-
Animal Manure Plant/Leaves GATION
Determination (%)
COCODUST
RAT CHICKEN PEANUT NEEM AZOLLA IPIL-IPIL KAKAWATE + IPIL-IPIL
LEAVES

Total Nitrogen (N) 1.40 1.52 1.33 1.06 2.26 2.33 2.74 0.15

Total Phosphorous
2.53 0.49 0.47 0.73 0.69 0.69 1.33 0.23
(P2O5)

Total Potassium (K2O) 0.37 1.28 0.37 0.38 1.52 1.10 3.54 0.04

Total Calcium (Ca) 3.10 0.43 1.09 0.63 0.05 0.15 0.29 0.08

Total Magnesium (Mg) 0.40 0.24 0.51 0.30 0.31 0.33 0.52 0.0
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

Total Iron (Fe) 1.50 1.47 0.62 0.33 0.49 0.17 0.43 0.16

Total Manganese (Mn) 0.16 0.06 0.04 0.02 0.06 0.02 0.03 0.00

Total Copper (Cu) 0.02 0.02 0.003 0.003 0.008 0.004 0.005 0.01

Total Zinc (Zn) 0.11 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.06 0.04 0.01 0.02

Ph (%) 6.70 7.20 7.20 6.80 6.80 5.70 7.20 4.40

Source: Vermicomposting: A Key to Organic Farming by Lina Villegas, Los Baños National Crop and Development Center, Los Baños, Laguna
 Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio

Too high C:N ratio

Carbon to Nitrogen (excess carbon),
ratio (C:N) is an decomposition
estimate of the process slows
relative amounts of down
these two elements in
the substrate. Too low C:N ratio
The desired C:N is (excess of Nitrogen),
produces stinky pile
25-35:1 for fertilizer
(more ammonia gas
production.
is released
Compiled Partially by: Salvador C. Ballano, Jr.
www.themegallery.com
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 Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio

Carbon (C) Nitrogen (N)

is the building is a component of
block of life & protein, genetic
source of energy material and cell
structure

C:N ration of 30:1

a balanced diet for microorganisms
promotes rapid composting
produces sweet smelling compost

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 Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio
Materials C:N Materials C:N
Rice Straw 75 Coffee grounds 20
Cattle Manure 19 Garbage (raw) 15-25
Hog Manure 14 Dry leaves 60
Saw Dust 350 seaweeds 19

Rice Hull 121 Grass clippings 20

(fresh)
News Paper 400
Corn stalks 75
Scrap Vegetables 19
Cocopeat 104
Green Source 23
Fruit wastes 35
(Legumes)
Food waste 20
Trichantera 23
Hagonoy 23 Vege wastes 25

Kakawate 23 Centrosema 23

www.themegallery.com
www.vermiphil.com Compiled Partially by: Salvador C. Ballano, Jr.
 SOME PHILIPPINE C:N RATIOS

Compiled by: Salvador C. Ballano, Jr. PAE, MS

Asso. Prof. 2 ISCOF San Enrique Campus Iloilo Province

Item C N Item C N
Rice Straw 75 1 Scrap Vegetables 19 1
Cattle Manure 19 1 Green Source (Legumes) 23 1
Hog Manure 14 1 Trichantera 23 1
Sawdust 350 1 Hagonoy 23 1
Pamela T. Henares September 13-14, 2011

Rice Hull 121 1 Kakawate 23 1

Chicken Dung 10 1 centrosima 23 1
News paper 400 1

To calculate C:N ratio, divide OM (value derived by

combustion) by 1.72. The result equals carbon. Then divide
the amount of N into the amount of C and that will be C:N
where N = 1.
www.norganics.com/applications/cnratio.pdf
 Calculate C:N Ratio

For example:
grass clippings (C:N = 15)
chicken manure (C:N = 15)
dry leaves (C:N = 70)
Now calculate :
2 parts of grass clippings x 15 = 30
1 part chicken manure x 15 = 15
1 part dry leaf x 70 = 70
115

115 ÷ 4 = 28.75 C:N ratio

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 Vermiculture

50% 50%
sawdust manure
cocopeat

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 Calculate C:N Ratio

For example:
cocopeat (C:N = 350:1)
cattle manure (C:N = 19:1)

Now calculate :
1 part cocopeat x 350 350
1 part cattle manure x 19 19
369

369 ÷ 2 = 183 C:N ratio

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www.vermiphil.com
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VERMICOMPOST
 Granular with high porosity,
aeration, drainage, water holding
capacity;
 Humus-like;
 Contains mineral elements in forms
readily taken up by plants;
 Outstanding biological properties;
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

rich in bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi

and cellulose-degrading bacteria;
 Adequate amounts of macronutrients
and trace elements.

Source: THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF VERMICULTURE

Norman Q. Arancon, Soil Ecology Laboratory, The Ohio State University,
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VERMICOMPOST

 It is cool to the touch;

 Does not burn;
 Will not leach;
 It does not pass on
pathogens;
 Contains naturally occurring
growth hormones : auxin,
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

giberellic acid, humic acid,

cytonkenins;
 Stimulates plant growth
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VERMICOMPOST

 Living soil;
 Activate soil
microorganisms
 Can suppress
disease
 Can repel pests
 The Effectiveness of Vermiculture in Human Pathogen Reduction
for USEPA Biosolids Stabilization
Bruce R. Eastman, Philip N. Kane, Clive A. Edwards, Linda Trytek, et al.
1. Orange County Environmental Protection Division, Orlando, Florida
2. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Orlando, Florida
3. Soil Ecology Laboratory, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
4. Tri-Tech Laboratories, Inc., Orlando, Florid

 The research demonstrated that all pathogen levels in the

test rows were reduced to a significantly lower level than in
the control rows and met the EPA goal within 144 hours.
 Fecal coliforms achieved the EPA required three to four fold
reduction in 24 hours, salmonella and enteric virus
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

reductions were achieved in 72 hours and helminth ova

levels met the EPA goal in 144 hours.
 The test successfully demonstrates pathogen reduction
meeting EPA requirements using nothing more than a basic
vermicomposting process.
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011
CARBON CYCLE
Nitrogen Cycle
 PLANTS
feed the animals

ANIMALS
Manure the soil

SOIL
feed the
plants

PESTS
PREDATORS

MANURE
MAN feed the soil
nature’s
caretaker
Adapted from: Maricar Tombocon
 Benefits from Vermicomposting
Sustainable Agriculture
Faster & Safer Composting
Job Generation
Healthier & More Nutritious Food
Food Safety & Security
Clean Water
Fertile Soil
Stewardship
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

Carbon Sequestration
Better Farm Yield
 Benefits from Vermicomposting
Poverty Alleviation
Solid Waste Management
Self-Sufficiency
Preserve our unique heritage and
biodiversity
Heritage seeds
Marine & Wildlife
Trees & plants
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

Decrease Importations
Psychic/Spiritual Rewards
Agri-Ecotourism
 Why not
give it your
best shot?
 You have
nothing to
lose but your
garbage!!
Pamela T. Henares July 13, 2011

THANK YOU
HAPPY WORMING