Back to activities
11 Dec 2019 | Soil management

Pusa vermicomposting

1 min Read

70% Complete
Photo: Jitendra Raj Bajracharya/ICIMOD.

Vermicomposting, or worm composting is a simple technology for converting biodegradable waste into organic manure with the help of earthworms (the red worm Eisenia foetida) with no pile turning, no smell, and fast production of compost. The earthworms are bred in a mix of cow dung, soil, and agricultural residues or pre-decomposed leaf-litter. The whole mass is converted into casts or vermicompost, which can be used on all types of plants in vegetable beds, landscaping areas, or lawns.

A 3m long, 1.25m wide, and 1m high pit is constructed with bricks on a moist and/or shaded site. If brick is not available, box or bamboo bin can also be used. To facilitate drainage digging into the soil, the base of the pit is covered with an 8 cm thick layer of sand. This is covered with a 15 cm thick layer of dry cow dung crushed into small pieces, followed by a layer of pre-decomposed degradable dry biomass and another thick layer of crushed dry cow dung. Finally the heap is covered with a thin layer of soil and the worms are poured on top.

A thatched roof should be built over the pit to maintain 40-50% moisture and 20-30°C temperature. Regular watering is needed to maintain the optimum moisture level. After 5-6 weeks, the top layer is removed and piled in one corner of the pit. After a few days, the newly exposed earthworms have burrowed down and the next top layer can be harvested. About 600 to 1000 worms can convert 45 kg of wet biomass in a week yielding about 25 kg of vermicompost. The earthworms are removed when all the compost has been taken out, and can be stored in moist paddy straw or a jute bag for later use. Vermicompost can be applied to any crop at any stage.

18 Dec 2020 Vegetation management
Vegetable cultivation in green house

You might know what a #greenhouse is. But did you know that you can build a ...

Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb)

Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb) is a high value cash crop and a main source of cash income for farmers ...

Non-solar Technologies – briquetting, improved stoves

Beehive briquetting technology This technique is an adaptation of methods used to produce charcoal for ...

11 Dec 2019 Scientific research
Nursery

A plant nursery was established in the lower area of the site to ensure an adequate ...

11 Dec 2019 Biodiversity
Collection, Identification and Conservation of Orchids, and Wild Edible and Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Research and vegetation management on the site is not confined to trees and bushes. A focused effort is being made ...

11 Dec 2019 Income generation
Income Generation through High-Value Cash Crops, Horticulture, and Beekeeping

Developing realistic opportunities for income generation is one of the most challenging tasks of development in mountain areas ...

11 Dec 2019 Water management
Gravity sprinkler irrigation

Water from the reservoirs passes through high-density polythene pipes laid-out with hydrants in different experimental plots and nurseries covering approximately five ...

3D or Vertical Farming

Taking vegetables to a third dimension seems like the stuff of sci-fi movies, but in reality there are very effective ...