What Is Vermicompost? Uses And Benefits? 

What is vermicompost?

Vermicompost is a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer (Warm Manure) and soil supplement made by employing worms most commonly red wigglers (Eisenia fetida) or other earthworm species—to decompose organic material. Feeding organic waste products to the worms includes kitchen scraps, paper waste, yard clippings, and manure. This technique is also referred to as vermicomposting.

A mixture of worm castings (worm dung) and decomposed organic material is produced when the worms devour the organic materials and break it down through their digestive tracts. The resulting vermicompost is a great soil conditioner and fertilizer because it has a high concentration of organic matter, plant-available nutrients, and beneficial bacteria.

Because it can enhance soil fertility, retain moisture, inhibit disease growth, and encourage healthy plant growth, worm manure is highly sought after. It’s a common natural and sustainable fertilizer substitute in gardening, farming, landscaping, and horticulture.

With the increase in the usage of chemical-laden fertilizers, soil texture and fertility has seen a huge inclination in recent years. Ironically, plants tend to absorb these chemicals and it is transported into the harvest. Ultimately, these chemicals make their way to our bodies causing us harm. 

Thankfully, we are changing our farming methods to maintain the quality of the soil. It is majorly done by including organic fertilizers that are quite a catch, and better for boosting fertility of the soil. One of the best natural fertilizer for improving soil fertility and boost the harvest is worm manure. We are going to learn about it more as we read further. 

How to make vermicompost

Following are the steps involved in the making of vermicompost:

• Choose a worm manure container that works well for you. This might be a covered bin made of plastic or wood, a tray system that stacks, or any other container that gives the worms enough room to move about and for appropriate drainage and aeration.
• For the worms to dwell in and to help regulate moisture levels, make a bedding material out of shredded newspaper, cardboard, peat moss, coconut coir, or a combination of these items. Till the bedding is moist but not waterlogged, mist it.
• Invest in composting worms from a reliable source, such as red wigglers (Eisenia fetida), and uniformly spread the worms throughout the bedding material.
• Gradually begin feeding the worms kitchen scraps, such as eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags, and vegetable and fruit peelings. Meat, dairy, fatty meals, and a lot of citrus or onions should be avoided because they can draw bugs and make the environment unfriendly for the worms.
• Make sure the bedding is damp but not soggy. To keep the bedding at the right moisture content, mist it with water as needed. 
• To survive, worms need oxygen. Using a hand rake or fork, occasionally fluff up the bedding to help aerate the worm manure mound. To help with airflow, some vermicompost containers include ventilation holes or aeration systems built right in.
• Keep a regular eye on the worm manure bin’s temperature, odor, and moisture content.

The bedding material will turn into worm manure, which is rich in nutrients, after a few months. Harvesting vermicompost entails carefully removing it from the bin, taking care not to disturb the worms excessively. Use the completed vermicompost to improve your potting mix or garden soil after straining it to remove any leftover material and worms.

How to use vermicompost

• Before planting, incorporate worm manure into garden or potting soil. Use it as a top treatment for container plants or as a component of seed starting mixes.
• Around the base of established plants, including trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables, use vermicompost as a side dressing.
• To create compost tea, a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer, steep vermicompost in water. Utilize the compost tea that is produced as a foliar spray or for watering plants.
• Spread a layer of worm manure mulch around your plants to help keep weeds at bay, retain soil moisture, control soil temperature, and release a continuous supply of nutrients as the mulch breaks down.
• Over time, add worm manure to planting holes, raised beds, and garden beds to enhance soil fertility and structure. Add it to sandy soils to improve water retention and nutrient holding capacity, or mix it into clay soils to improve aeration as well as drainage.
• Mix vermicompost with other materials like peat moss, perlite, or coconut coir to provide a nutrient-rich seed starting medium. As they grow, this will give the young plants a mild source of nourishment.

What are the benefits of vermicompost?

Read blog – Advantages of Vermicomposting

• A natural source of vital nutrients for plants is vermicompost. 
• By promoting aggregation, which improves soil porosity, drainage, and aeration, it aids in the improvement of soil structure.
• Similar to a sponge, the organic matter in worm manure helps soils hold onto moisture while lowering transpiration of water and runoff.
• Due to its almost neutral pH, vermicompost helps lower acidity and increase alkalinity in soil.
• The helpful microorganisms found in worm manure, including fungus, microbes, and actinomycetes, aid in the suppression of dangerous pathogens and diseases in the soil.
• It is a sustainable approach to managing organic matter that lessens the quantity of organic waste dumped in landfills, which lowers the release of greenhouse gases and lessens pollution in the environment.
• The use of worm manure can increase agricultural yields and enhance the nutritional value of crops.
• It is a cost-effective solution as compared to expensive chemical fertilizers. 

Faq on Vermicompost