Not All Worms Are Equal!
Neither are all forms of compost
Differences between Deep Burrowing and Surface Earthworms
Vermicompost from deep burrowing earthworms retains food nutrients as it is produced by breaking down of food leftovers by micro-organisms in the soil, encouraged through aeration by the deep burrows caused by deep burrowing earthworms. The deep burrowing earthworms are soil eating. They grind minerals into soil in their digestive systems, thereby creating new soil. As desertification and climate change are eliminating areable soil, deep burrowing earthworms can be used to create it.
In the case of surface earthworms, they eat the waste and vermi-compost is the excreta that they leave behind. This occurs after absorbing the nutrients for their own life cycle and leaves a higher fungal and actinomyte count, which is not beneficial to plant growth, due to reduced oxygen and helpful microbial count.
Nutrients in deep-burrowing earthworm vermi-compost are considered to be of high value because of the existance of a higher total count of helpful micro-organisms and a larger number of nitrifying bacteria and phosphate solubilisers in them, which help plant growth. Smaller quantities of deep-burrowing earthworm vermi-compost are, therefore, required in comparison from surface earthworms, apart from the production process being less cumbersome.
Comparison Between Various Processes of Recycling Waste
| Vermiculture with Deep Burrowing Earthworms | Vermicomposting with Surface Earthworms | Composting with Bio-culture Method | |
| Inoculom (Starting Materials) |
Vermicastings in dry powder form contain eggs of Deep Burrowing Earthworms and cultures of micro-organisms which are self-produced for cellulose degraders, nitrogen fixers, phosphate solubilizers consisting of fungi, actino mycetes,etc. No outside microbial culture is introduced. Other sets of micro-organisms will be naturally produced in the system depending upon the profile of the garbage for vegetable or non-vegetable, due to the right underground environment created by aeration by the deep burrowing earthworms. | Live red / manure / surface worms Cowdung slurry, in equal quantities of garbage, is required daily | Bioculum is a mixture of culture of microorganisms specifically developed for accelerated aerobic composting of organic waste. It contains cultures of bacteria, fungi & actinomycetes along with enzymes which facilitate bio-conversion of organic waste in to a bio-stabilized compost speedily. Different cultures required for different types of waste. |
| Process | Process, carried out in plant beds, is essentially microbial breaking down of organics but the system is managed by the earthworms i.e. pH, water, temperature. Hence the process is aerobic and odourless due to deep burrows (up to 3m deep) created by deep burrowing earthworms which help in aeration of the system,allowing more oxygen to circulate. Hence acids are not formed and pH is controlled at 7 neutral. Water gets drained appropriately & air passages maintain medium temperature, around 40°C. Harmful pathogens do not survive as the anaerobic (oxygenless) conditions they need to exist, are absent. | Batch Process-done in enclosed bins/cement tanks covered with gunny cloth or wire mesh to prevent worms from moving out because of their horizontal movement & has to have shade to maintain temperature below 25°C as the worms are originally imported from colder climate. During summer months if temperature & moisture levels are not maintained, the worms become thin & die, affecting the rate of recycling & hence, are not cost effective. The surface earthworms thrive on the waste and cowdung and process is essentially anaerobic and hence may smell. | Batch Process done in heaps of mixed garbage of 3-4 m. width & 2 m.ht. Process is aerobic & bioculum is sprayed on garbage which is stacked in the form of windrows.These have to be turned once a week for proper aeration so that aerobic process continues uninterrupted and temperature of the heap is maintained between 65-70°C and the moisture at 40%. |
| Recycling Time | 3-4 months and the vermicastings can be retained in the vermiculture bed & may be harvested yearly or whenever required. This reduces storage space / manpower for excavation. Hence not labour intensive | 3-5 months depending on the health of the worms. The compost obtained has to be removed to make space for the next batch As more manpower required for turning over & periodical harvesting hence labour intensive. | Under normal circumstances, composting process will be complete in about 4-6 weeks. Skilled manpower reqd.at lab & recycling stage. |
| Routine Process | Daily routine continuous process i.e laying of waste & spreading evenly on previous day's waste and covering with rockdust. No turning over required as earthworms themselves create burrows. No chopping of waste required as deep burrowing earthworms don't eat waste. Micro-organisms, which are in plenty, break it down. Acceptable waste content-all non-toxic organic wastes eg. food, paper, wood, wood pulp, bones, nails, sanitary pads, eggshells, coconut shells, leaves/garden waste. If, accidentally, plastics are part of the waste,they do not hinder the process & can be taken out while harvesting. Work under neutral pH and low moisture (50% moisture) Earthworms don't feed on organics. They're soil-processing worms & hence consume & break down rock particles & soil. They feed on micro-organisms. Through the survival of the fittest process, the earthworms eat only weak and damaged microbes resulting in microbial farming. Healthy microbes remain in the system. Earthworms are light sensitive and so are found deep in the soil and hence have light colored skin and are not very big in size. Incubation period is 2-3 weeks, takes 2 months to be fully grown and has a life span of 14 years. They have vertical mobility. 12-15 deep burrowing earthworms to a square meter are naturally accomodating. They are available locally. Earthworms have a longer life cycle & can tolerate harsh field conditions. They instead regulate the soil environment. Hence are not labour intensive. They are never seen on ground surface, so widely acceptable by various users. |
Batch Process. Turning over is required regularly every day for temperature control, for oxygen circulation and to facilitate the decomposition of lower layers of garbage. Very specific in their organic needs and can not process organics such as nails, bones, coconut shells, etc., which the worms can not eat. Work under acidic conditions and high moisture (80-90% moisture). Red worms feed on organics & soft proteins like cow dung. Ideally they have a daily requirement of cow dung in slurry form making the process laborious. Red worms are red & large and are always found on top & hence are visible. They have horizontal mobility & waste decomposition is dependant on the number of worms. 300 worms/square meter is ideal.They have a life span of 3 months & if moisture & temp are not maintained, cocoons do not survive & reintroduction of red worms is required & thus not cost effective. They are imported and not available locally. Red worms have a very short life and due to their very specific demand of living condition need to be continuously monitored making the process labour intensive. They are visible,so are not preferred in house holds, ornamental gardening & lawns. |
Turning over is required every week for temperature control as temperature can go as high as 75-80°C and can lead to fire if not turned over. Because of fire hazard, skilled personnel are required. Very specific in their organic needs and can not process organics such as nails, bones, coconut shells, gelatin, etc. and for these organics, specific micro-organisms will have to be grown in a lab and introduced. Work under moisture (40% moisture) |
| INFRA Structure | Does not require separate land, can coexist with plants. One time innoculum i.e. vermicastings and cowdung. Water - 50% as waste has moisture |
Requires separate concrete pits/bins. For every batch, fresh induction of red worms and cowdung slurry. Water enough to maintain 80% moisture |
Requires separate land enough to make a 3 meter wide & 2 meter high heap For every new heap, fresh induction of bioculum |
| Machinery | No machinery required as the earthworms don't feed on organics. Microbial action of millions of micro-organisms does the breaking down of waste. Only knives required for slicing of large vegetables in the bed for bhopla, cauliflower. All vegetable waste is then bio-degradable in 2-3 days. Manual sieving machine, if required, for large quantities. | Chopping machines required to enable the process because the surface worms feed on organics. Sieving machines required to separate worms for re-use. Coming in touch with metal due to sieving leads to damage to the surface worms' soft bodies. |
Chopping machines will facilitate the process. Sieving machines definitely required as mixed garbage is used. Magnets required for metal removal. Conveyor belt required for entire process, for large quantities. |
| Maintenance Daily | Least labour intensive 1/3rd of unskilled manpower required only for spreading waste/rockdust & watering |
Labour intensive process. Daily maintenance to see that the temperature is under control. Shed is required to control the flooding during rains to prevent worms from running away. Checking of temp with thermometer is very critical. Any pathogens present in the organics continue to be present in the compost which may harm the plants. |
Labour intensive process. Daily maintenance to see that the temperature is under control. Shed is required to control flooding during rains. Checking of temperature with thermometer is very critical. |
| Maintenance Yearly | To ensure flat gradient so that water logging does not take place(at time of laying beds). Measurement of health of system coexisting with plants is indicated by healthy plants and the absence of smell & pests. Temp range - sub zero to 50 °C Lower temp ranges can be regulated by putting thicker layer of waste up to 6" |
This process can be done in boxes in controlled temperature conditions. Lower/higher temp will have to be controlled manually either in boxes or through turning over garbage. |
Temp range 65-70°C has to be maintained. |
| Recurring Expenses | One time innoculation-no further introduction of innoculum required even after harvesting of compost-least expensive. Laying of waste can continue on the same land/bed after harvesting. Only rockdust. Less manpower as no turning of waste or manual temperature control required. |
In case the worms run away due to water-logging/high temp, innoculation will have to be done at extra cost hence not cost effective The bin has to be emptied after harvesting to make space for the next batch. Daily cowdung slurry required hired manpower required for turning over. |
Each heap requires fresh lot of bioculum. The compost obtained has to be removed to make space for the next heap. |
| End Product | The product here is a rich vermiculture containing earthworm cocoons, beneficial micro-organisms and is quite stable for several applications i.e. agriculture, fruit & vegetable farms, large scale waste processing, general greening-lawns & gardening. Has more value because of presence of micro-organisms,earthworm cocoons. In-situ production of further manure will continue due to the presence of Nitrogen fixers, Phosphate solubilizers & such beneficial microorganisms. Further applications of compost are therefore not necessary after 3rd year. Nitrogen is present in organic & inorganic forms in different stages & can be made available on a need basis over a period of time & is not washed away by watering. Soil enrichment |
The product here is residual excreta of red worms called as compost and hence can be used as low quality organic manure only. Hence has less value. Micro-organisms in this compost are produced from anaerobic conditions & are therefore not very useful for making further nutrients available in years to come. Therefore repeated applications required. This compost is found to be hot. The final Nitrogen available is in organic form which is eaten by the worms because of use of cowdung & excess gets washed away by water therefore frequent applications required. |
The product can be used as organic manure for agriculture & horticulture crops. |
| End Product | Can be easily transported. No danger of earthworms dying and has shelf life of 5 yrs. Useful for hardy indian conditions. |
Coccons cannot be stored for more than 15 days. | Product is bio-stabilised organic manure free from pathogens, foul smell & seeds. |
| Extendibility | Process can co-exist with plants hence has appearance of a garden. No extra space required and can be done in flower beds/pots in residential buildings/compound/terraces. Can be done in residential & office buildings on balconies/in flower pots or window sills, flower beds as no earthworms are seen. Can be done in vertical tyre hanging baskets in slums Can be done in gardens, in public places, apart from pumping stations, within the city closest to source. Can be done in small or large quantities in a dispersed manner. Daily routine - simple spreading of waste, rockdust and watering. No smell & pests due to aerobic atmoshere |
Special concrete bins / boxes with cover & shade required for indoor use. Smell of cowdung masks the smell of waste in anaerobic process. Cannot co-exist with plants & requires separate space. Fine chopping of waste and daily turning over of waste is required. Supplementary red worms may be required from time to time. In large projects, daily induction of fresh cowdung slurry required. This is difficult as fresh cowdung slurry unavailable in urban areas. This process is good for farms as visibility of worms there, is not a problem. |
Extendibility limited as cannot be easily done in households in bins & small areas due to 3 meter heap limitation. Smell can be controlled by spraying an odour control agent. Cannot co-exist with plants & requires separate space & does not look like garden gives the appearance of a dump. This process is good for large projects such as dumping grounds. |
[Home] [About Us] [Concept] [Action] [Plan] [Participate] [Products] [Sponsors] [Presentations] [Media Coverage] [Site map]