Modern vermicelli farms are engaged in the cultivation of manure or compost worm for the production of vermicompost. But vermicompost can be produced by any gardener on his site. As a result of the intensive work of worms from 10 tons of manure or other waste, 4-6 tons of vermicompost is formed - pure complex fertilizer, which is ten times (!) More efficiently replacing 40-60 tons of manure required by the application rate for each hectare of arable land. Biohumus is a natural natural organic fertilizer. This is one of the safest fertilizers we use. This is the end product of the decay of organic matter, which provides one of the types of earthworms. This is compost or dung of various breeds (Prospector, California worm, Dendroben, etc.).
Features of the existence of a dung or compost worm
Studying this amazing live pharmacy holds a great future! Of the wide variety of earthworms (more than 6000 species) that live in soil around the world, so far only one (!) Species is widely used for composting manure and other organic waste. This is a dung or compost worm - Risenia foetida. It was he who was introduced into vermiculture in many countries for the production of biohumus.
This is a relatively small worm (6-10 cm) of dark red or red-brown color. The translation of its Latin specific name means "smelly," because when they are anxious, they emit droplets of a bright yellow liquid with a pungent odor from the tail end. "Stinky" has high fecundity, is hardy to changing environmental conditions, is very widespread. It lives most often in rotted manure, in compost pits.
Two subspecies of this worm are described:
- hairless - in the north of the Mediterranean;
- striped in the north of Europe and in Russia.
Their local populations - local clusters - also vary greatly in growth and reproduction rates, i.e. by productivity, which is associated with genetic differences.
The first of them was used to breed "commercial" crops. Grown under the name "California Red Hybrid." He was brought to Russia via Ivanovo-Frankivsk from Poland and Hungary.
At Moscow University, on the basis of a genetic collection from different worm populations, breeding of new industrial lines is carried out. Based on genetic methods, their genetics and properties of the biohumus obtained are studied.
How do they breed? All worms, including rainworms, are hermaphrodites, i.e. each individual has male and female reproductive systems. After mutual exchange of seeds, each pair in the front of the body for several days forms a “belt” - a mucous thickening 4–5 segments wide with a large supply of nutrients. When it is thrown through the head end of the body, the ovum and seed enter the girdle, and fertilization occurs. In the external environment, a “belt” with several fertilized eggs is formed into a capsule with a dense shell, the so-called cocoon with embryos, similar to buckwheat. Embryos develop there, and then a worm 1-5 cm long hatch.
Under optimal conditions, a mature worm produces 1-4 cocoons weekly. And from each cocoon after about three weeks, 2 to 10 larvae hatch (about four survive). Three months later, the hatched worms become sexually mature. On average, one individual produces offspring - 300-400 individuals per year. The life expectancy of compost (dung) worms, according to various sources, ranges from 3 to 15 years.
The body of the worm is divided into segments that carry 4 pairs of bristles. They are used for movement. Thanks to contractions of the ring and longitudinal muscles, the worms “ram” the soil in search of better living conditions. Where the soil is very dense, they simply eat their own passages.
Worms breathe the entire surface of the body, which they have constantly covered with mucus. When the mucus dries, the individual dies.
Worms are very susceptible to the slightest vibration of the soil and very well find food by smell. They eat at night. Their menu includes semi-decomposed organic remains of plants and animals found in the soil and on its surface. Cow dung is good food for them. In the soils under the forest cover, worms feed on leaf litter. Fresh leaves of cabbage, onions, horseradish, carrots can also eat.
Earthworms prefer moist and well-aerated soils. They do not tolerate drought and frost and are very sensitive to soil acidity. Acidic soils contain little calcium, which is necessary for their normal functioning. In soils where the pH is below 4.5, worms do not live. They are most active in spring and autumn, when the soil is warm and they have enough moisture.
How a compost (dung) worm produces vermicompost
Aristotle called earthworms the intestines of the whole earth. The ancient Chinese called them the angels of the soil. How do worms produce vermicompost? What is going on? The fact is that, passing through the digestive tract of a worm, organic waste undergoes not only physical, but also chemical transformations. They are crushed, grinding with grains of sand, as in a bird's goiter. Calcined by the secretion of a special gland, processed by digestive juices, enzymes. They mix with metabolic products coming from the excretory organs of the worms themselves and the special microflora of their intestines (uric acid, urea, etc.). Many complex compounds decompose to simpler minerals and turn into a form accessible to the plant.
And in the intestines of the worms, cellulose decomposition, partial mineralization of plant tissues occurs, the concentration of nutrients (including potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium) increases. The neutralization of the organic and inorganic acids contained in the processed substrate takes place. At the exit, hygroscopic granules are obtained - caprolites.
Their mass can reach several hundred tons per 1 ha. In their composition, they differ from the chemical composition of the soil. In addition to calcium, they contain in large quantities compounds of nitrogen and other mineral substances in a form accessible to plants. Therefore, caprolites are an excellent soil supplement for growing plants. Thanks to their presence, the soil acquires a good structure, its water-holding ability increases, and its air regime improves. In addition, caprolites are an excellent substrate for soil microorganisms, increasing their number many times over.
This is how biohumus turns out.
The biohumus obtained after processing by drying and sieving, due to the abundance of nutrients, enzymes, growth accelerators, beneficial microflora, and other valuable properties, is a good environmentally friendly fertilizer. In addition, vermicompost contains biologically active substances that increase the resistance of plants to diseases and pests. The km-long (dung) worms themselves do not get sick (!) And they don’t transmit diseases to other various animals for which they serve as food. With great crowding in such an aggressive pathogenic environment, their habitat is possible only thanks to the powerful protective system developed by earthworms in the process of evolution.
How to breed worms in a compost heap
The first farms for the artificial cultivation of worms on waste for the production of vermicompost were created in the late 40s of the last century in the United States. Vermiculture (worms) is kept in sheds, greenhouses, basements. They are placed either on ridges or on racks, in containers, crates, trays, pallets. The optimum temperature is + 20 ° C, humidity - 75%. To save the worms in the winter, it is necessary to ensure their content at temperatures above 0 ° C.
As one of the possible options for keeping compost worms on a garden plot for biohumus, use old 200 liter barrels.
The bottom of the barrel is cut down, below the bottom at an equal distance, three windows 10 × 15 cm are made to create an air flow through the processed substrate, as well as to sample the finished biohumus. The rotted manure is placed at the bottom of the barrel (as options are peat, overgrown foliage or grass, land from cesspools), it is plentifully moistened with warm water, a sample of 10-15 earthworms is placed on the surface of the substrate - their behavior is monitored. If the worms quickly deepen, then this means that the substrate is quite habitable, the main batch can be transferred.
Where to get worms from? Crawling earthworms, which many appear on asphalt or on the surface of the earth after rain, are arable or meadow individuals. They cannot be used for the processing of manure or compost - they will not survive there. For composting or obtaining vermicompost, dung worms are taken, which can be collected from waste from existing or abandoned farms.
But you should know that the “wild” populations of the compost worm, with all their diversity, are usually unproductive. Therefore, if funds permit, it is better to buy a small batch of worms in specialized vermitonomy.
Two breeds of worms are used in vermicomposting for biohumus:Eisenia foetida orLumbricus rubellas.
For a day, a compost worm eats as much feed as it weighs. At an initial planting density of 1000 specimens per barrel, up to 500 g of vermicompost daily is formed at first.
What do compost worms eat?
What can be added to the compost heap where dung worms live:
- food waste (for example, melon or watermelon peels, roots, stems, leaves, nut kernels, rice, sunflower, onion husks, seeds, skins);
- eggshell (but not egg white), algae or washed seashells (oyster shells, but not shrimp);
- old clothes made from natural fibers (old t-shirts, socks, etc.)
- natural yarn, paper twine, cotton thread);
- non-glossy paper products (cardboard boxes, newspapers, insert magazines, unmarked envelopes, etc.)
- tea leaves, tea bags, coffee grounds;
- plants, mowed grass, needles, leaves, small branches;
- sawdust, wood shavings, but not coal ash;
- feathers, hair, hair (cats, dogs, etc.);
- missing food but no mold.
What should not be added to the compost heap (this can kill dung worms or ruin your soil:
- fatty meat, fatty soups, various lubricants;
- plastic, plastic coated paper, such as glossy magazines;
- various stickers, even paper, stamps from postal envelopes;
- bread or yeast products;
- salt, pepper, other spices (or only a very limited amount);
- milk, dairy products;
- cat or dog droppings;
- lemon, lime, orange or other citrus peels, juice (in excess they can acidify your soil);
- onion and garlic;
- diseased or infected plants
- waste from processed wood products.
Try to get your own mini-vermicellomy farm for high-quality biohumus using compost (manure) worms. We think that you will not have to regret it.