Vermicompost : The 'formula' for more yield and to replenish soil
Source: The Sangai Express / Ng Liklaileima Arambam

Imphal, November 10 2022: Farmers are increasingly adopting vermicompost in their fields and farms for more yield and to rehabilitate soil.

With increasing use and demand for vermicompost, there is a need to encourage agriculture entrepreneurs and farmers to produce it and also include vermicom-post as an integral part of the proposed Manipur Organic Policy.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Agronomy Specialist Nandini Chongtham said, preparing vermicompost requires very little money and time.

It enriches the soil and gives plants the required nutrients for enhanced growth and more yield.

Vermicompost made of Eisenia Fetida and Eudrilus eugeniae (both--species of earthworm) are of great benefit to the farmers, she said.

Vermicompost : The 'formula' for more yield and to replenish soil

100 kilograms of vermicompost contains 2.3 % Nitrogen, 1.85-2.25 % Potassium and 1.55-2.25 % Phosphorus.

The percentage of the NPK-Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus content depends on the organic matters the earthworms eat.

The NPK percentage in the vermicompost is high when the earthworms feed on legumes.

The use of vermicompost enhances production of growth hormones in the plants and it also helps the soil retain water longer and more efficiently.

Compared to Farmyard Manure (FYM), which is made of decomposed mixture of dung, urine, litter, and leftover materials and fodder, vermicompost contains more percentage of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) .

The NPK percentage in vermicompost exceeds that of the farmyard manure by 2-3 percent, Nandini said.

There are two methods for preparing vermi-compost.

One is the Pit Method and the other is the Bed Method.

The pit method costs a little more than the bed method as it requires farmers to buy a tank for vermicomposting.

While the pit method uses a tank, the bed method uses a brick bed and walls.

Both the structures should be placed under a roof/shed.

The size of the pit/tank depends on the farmer.

Both the structures must have drainage facilities.

Used sacks (coconut husk fibre) or papers should be used in both as bedding material for absorption of excess water/vapour.

The excessive liquid drained through the drainage system may also be collected and used in the fields as vermicompost, she said.

1 kilogram of earthworms requires 1 kilogram of organic matter.

Of the total organic matter, 1/2 or 1/3 should be manure of cattle.

The remaining content should be leftover foods and vegetables and paddy stalks.

Note that the feed (organic matter) of the earthworm should not contain pine leaves (Uchan Mana), marigold leaves (Sanarei mana) and paddy husks (Wai).

These harm and kill earthworms.

Fresh cattle manure should not be used.

It should be made to decompose for around 15 to 20 days before being used as feed for the earthworms.

Other vegetables and paddy stalks should also be cut and decomposed for about 15-20 days before adding into the pit/bed as feed for the earthworms.

Pre-decomposed organic matter is then added into the pit or bed layer by layer with earthworms sandwiched between.

The average thickness of a layer should be about 2 feet.

It is then covered with clothes and used sacks to retain moisture.

Water is then sprinkled when necessary to maintain the moisture.

After completion of a month, the content is then mixed.

Manure of earthworms resembling granules of tea will start to appear on the surface and after two months, the manures are collected and filtered to be used as vermicompost.

This vermicompost can be collected 4 times in a year, Nandini said.

The expert also informed that the earthworm species Eisenia Fetida feeds well and they produce offsprings in great numbers.

When fed 1 kg of organic matter, the species produce/convert 75 percent of the matter to vermicompost.

Vermicomposting is most beneficial as it not only gives vermicompost but also produces earthworms.

Farmers can sell both to earn income.

1 kg of earthworm is sold at Rs 1,000 while 1 kg of compost is sold at Rs 20 at the production site, she said.

One Gopal, who is running an agriculture organic outlet at Sanjenthong said more farmers are beginning to adopt organic ways of farming and they are turning to vermicompost to replace chemical fertilizers.

While the number of farmers using vermicompost has increased, it is very popular among those doing kitchen gardening, he said.

He opened the outlet in April 2019.In the beginning people did not buy much as it was not known or familiar to them.

Now the outlet sells more than 100 kilograms of vermicompost in a day.

He buys fifty 50 kilograms bags of vermicompost from five different firms every month, he said those willing to sell vermicompost may contact him at his outlet.

At the outlet, 1 kilogram of vermicompost is sold at Rs 30.Laishram Brojen, a farmer from Yumnam Khunou Makha Leikai, Imphal East district said he used only vermicompost in his farms and paddy fields.

He has more than 6 Sanggam of agricultural land. He has 2 pits that are 3 feet wide and 10 feet long for making vermicompost.

One pit produces about 1,000 kilograms of vermicompost at a time.

The demand for vermicompost is high and he produces them year round, he said, encouraging farmers to produce and use vermicompost and reduce dependence on imported chemical fertilizers.

Haobijam Agro Tech at Yumnam Khunou Awang Leikai produces around 20 MT of vermicompost in a year, said its owner Haobijam Nimai.

Haobijam Agro Tech has five pits that are 5 feet wide and about 82 to 42 feet long.

His firm has been producing since the last 7/8 years.

The Horticulture Department procures about 300 bags of the vermicompost from the firm every year.

At his firm, people can buy 1 kilogram of vermicompost at Rs 20, he said.

Urging farmers to adopt organic farming and use vermicompost, he said the firm is aiming to increase its production.

He said Government should devise projects and plans to encourage farmers to adopt vermicompost and help reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers.

The use of vermicompost also improves the quality of soil, he added.

*This news story is written under the Media Fellowship Programme of Public Relation and Media Management Cell, CAU on Scientific Journalism in Application of Science in Agriculture.

For further information, contact Dr Indira Thounaojam through [email protected] .