Vermicompost is a product of red wriggler worms which create a heterogeneous mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and vermicast. Vermicast, (also called worm castings, worm humus or worm manure) is the end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by an earthworm. Containing water-soluble nutrients, vermicompost is an excellent, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner.

How to use as fertilizer?

Vermicompost can be mixed directly into the soil, or steeped in water and made into a worm tea by mixing some vermicompost in water, bubbling in oxygen with a small air pump. Apply 500kg/acre or 1300kg/hectare or in combination with other organic or inorganic fertilizers, apply 300kg/acre or 800kg/hectare.

BENEFITS:

Soil

•    Improves soil aeration

•    Enriches soil with micro-organisms (adding enzymes such as phosphatase and  cellulase)

•    Microbial activity in worm castings is 10 to 20 times higher than in the soil and organic matter that the worm ingests

•    Attracts deep-burrowing earthworms already present in the soil

•    Improves water holding capacity

Plant growth

•    Enhances germination, plant growth, and crop yield

•    Improves root growth and structure

•    Enriches soil with micro-organisms (adding plant hormones such as auxins and gibberellic acid)

Advantages of using Bio-fertilizer

• Can replace 20 to 50 % of chemical fertilizer ‘N’ and 15 – 25 % of phosphatic fertilizers.

• Bio-fertilizers being cheap, provide highly cost effective supplement of chemical fertilizers.

• Increase farm productivity, generally 10-40 % in grain yield and 15 – 30 % in vegetable growth.

• Activates soil biologically thereby increasing natural fertility of soil, which causes sustainable agriculture.

• Help in stimulating plant growth in general and roots in particular as they serve various growth promoting hormones like auxin, gibberellins etc and vitamins. They help in better nutrient uptake and increase tolerance towards drought and moisture stress.