Recommended quantity and time of application of …

1 Finished compost is dark coloured, light and free fromany unpleasant odour. After ascertaining that the composting process iscomplete, watering has to be stopped. The heap beginsto dry out from the top and worms congregate at thebottom of the heap where there is still some that time , the material in the heap has to bearranged into a cone. Compost has to be slowlyremoved from the top of the cone, screened and filledinto bags. Material remaining on the screen, includingundecomposed organic material and earthworms, andworms remaining at the bottom of the heap can be usedfor another round of compost can be used for any crop. However, its useis most profitable in case of commercial crops like flowers,fruits and quantity and time ofapplication of vermicompostQuantityTime toCropto applyper acreapplyRice1 tonneAfter transplantingSugarcane11/2 tonnesLast ploughingCotton1 tonneLast ploughingChilli1 tonneLast ploughingGroundnut1/2 tonneLast ploughingSunflower11/2 tonnesLast ploughingMaize1 tonneLast ploughingTurmeric1 tonneLast ploughingGrape1 tonneJune-JulyCitrus,2 kg per treeAt planting timepomegranate,and before floweringber, guavain 1-2 year old treesMango.

2 Coconut2 kg per treeAt planting time5 kg per tree1-5 year old trees10 kg per tree6-9 year old trees20 kg per treeTrees older than10 yearsOnion, garlic,1-11/2 tonnesLast ploughingtomato, potato,bhendi, brinjal,cabbage, cauliflowerTeak, red sandal-3 kg per treeAt planting timewood, mangiumBiofertilizers ready to useFor further information contact:Central Research Institute for Dryland Saidabad, Hyderabad-500 059. Ph.: 040-24530161, 24530177 BAIF Institute for Rural Development - KZonal Office, 7-133/2, Santosh Colony,Near Saraswati Shishu Vihar, Jadcherla 509 302,Mahaboobnagar District, APA few precautions need to be followed in vermicompostpreparation Adequate moisture should be maintained in the compostheap.

3 Too little or too much moisture can harm theearthworms and slow down the composting process. Care should be taken to see that there are no plastic,rubber, glass or metal objects in the organic wastes usedfor composting. Earthworms should be protected from predatory animalssuch as frogs, rats, garden lizards, poultry birds, ants,etc. Earthworms have soft bodies and are easily care has to be taken while turning the objects should not be employed for turning theheap, and turning should be done n rural areas, agriculture , animal husbandry and related activities generate large quantities of organicwastes. Considerable quantities of tender twigs, dry leaves,grass, weeds, etc., are also available.

4 These organic wastescontain organic carbon and plant nutrients in appreciableamounts. Organic wastes are safer and more useful whencomposted and applied, rather than when they are directlyapplied. The process of composting organic wastes usingearthworms is called vermicomposting . Earthworms ingestorganic matter and excrete valuable vermicompost .Vermicompost has many good qualities and its applicationto soil has many benefits. Vermicompost is rich in organic carbon, which playsa key role in soil fertility, and contains all essential plantnutrients in appropriate proportions. Thus it is acomplete and balanced plant food. It also containsbiochemical substances that promote plant growth andfight plant value of vermicompostNutrientContentOrganic carbon20-25% ppm* ppm*ppm - parts per million The use of vermicompost not only increases the rateof water intake into soil but also improves the soil sability to hold water.

5 Its use enhances colour, smell, taste, flavour and keepingquality of flowers, fruits, vegetables and foodgrains andhelps the growers to sell their products at a higher pricein the market. The making of vermicompost provides livelihood supportto the unemployed in rural areas. Enterprising villagerscan take up commercial production of vermicompostand earn good profits by selling the compost in themarket, which is constantly growing. Earthworms convert waste materials, that would otherwisepose disposal problems, into valuable compost. Thusvermicomposting prevents environmental pollution andhelps in keeping the surroundings clean and free of , organic wastes and water are the three majorrequirements for : Non burrowing, organic debris consumingspecies of earthworms, such as Eisenia foetida, Eudriluseugeniae, Feretima elongata, Perionyx excavatus are idealfor vermicomposting.

6 These are available with manykrishi vigyan kendra s, agricultural research centres,non-government organizations and private can also be obtained from villages wherevermicomosting is already being Organic wastes: The following organic wastes can beutilized for vermicomposting. Crop based waste materials such as straw, stubble,chaff, husk, etc., tree leaves and twigs, weeds Animal based wastes such as cattle dung, sheep andgoat dung, poultry wastes Household wastes such as vegetable and fruit wastes,leftover and spoilt foods3. Water: Adequate water is essential for maintainingmoisture in the compost can be prepared in pits dug below theground, in raised heaps above ground, in cement rings orany such containers, and in walled enclosures calledvermicompost beds.

7 The bed method is more suitable forlarge-scale production of vermicompost and for preventingsoil from mixing with the compost. The procedure forvermicomposting in beds is described below. Since earthworms have to be protected from heat andexcess water, a place that is shielded from sun and rainhas to be chosen. Alternatively, a shed can be size of the shed will be determined by the scaleof vermicomposting. In the shed, walled enclosures of 2 feet height, 3 to4 feet width and required length are to be constructedusing brick and mortar. The floor of the bed also hasto be paved with bricks and mortar. For producingvermicompost round the year, two or more enclosuresshould be prepared, or one large enclosure should bepartitioned into compartments.

8 On the floor of the bed one layer of broken bricks areto be spread and on top of these a 2-3 inch layer ofsoil and sand has to be applied uniformly. To discourage ants and termites from entering the bed,a layer of neem or pongamia leaves has to be applied A 3-4 inch layer of bedding material such as dry bananaleaves, straw or weeds has to be applied. A 3-4 inch layer of dry cow dung has to be appliedon top of the bedding material. On the layer of cow dung, earthworms have to bereleased at the rate of 1 kg worms for square metre Finally, decomposable organic wastes mixed with cowdung have to be stacked to a height of one foot andthe beds have to be covered with gunny bags.

9 Water has to be sprinkled on the beds regularly to keepthe heap moist. Once every 15-20 days, the heap of organic wastes hasto be turned upside down and has to be covered withgunny bags again. In 2-3 months time all the organic waste material willbe converted into vermicompost. When worms arefound sticking to the under surface of the gunny bags,it is an indication that the composting process is complete.