Vermicompost preparation, earthworms, bed, moisture, time to harvest.
How to make good vermicompost at home (kechua khaad)?
PPadma Hegde1yr ago · 423 views
6 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓1yr ago
Vermicompost is made by letting earthworms (commonly Eisenia fetida) convert cow dung and farm waste into a rich, crumbly manure in about 45 to 60 days. Build a shaded bed or tank, lay a base of partially decomposed cow dung mixed with chopped crop residue (avoid fresh dung, which heats up), add worms, and keep it moist like a wrung sponge (about 60 to 70% moisture) but not waterlogged. Turn gently, protect from direct sun, rain, ants, and birds. When the material turns dark, granular, and earthy-smelling, stop watering for a day so worms move down, then harvest the top layer. Use about 2 to 2.5 tonnes per acre, or as a basal and in nursery mixes. It improves soil structure and microbial life.
BBhaskar Naidu1yr ago
Half shade and right moisture are everything. My first batch failed because the bed dried out. Now I sell extra vermicompost to nearby nursery owners.
SSavitri Lambadi1yr ago
Never put fresh dung straight on the worms; it heats up and they die or flee. I let dung sit and cool for a couple of weeks first, which made a huge difference to worm survival.
AAbdul Rahman1yr ago
Ants were my biggest enemy. A shallow water channel around the bed legs stopped them, and a jute cover on top kept moisture in and birds out.
GGeetanjali Sahoo1yr ago
Chop the crop residue small before adding it. Big stalks take much longer to break down and the worms work the finer material first, so chopping sped up my harvest.
VVasanth Kumar1yr ago
Do not overwater thinking wetter is better; a soggy bed turns smelly and the worms come to the surface. Keep it just damp like a wrung cloth, and apply the finished compost at the rate that suits your crop and soil test.