Organic waste is put down either on the surface of the ground
or shallowly buried. Micro-organisms use it as 'food' and rot it down, and
the earthworms (composting worms - e.g. eisenia fetida) process it into
useable earthworm biohumus (clay-humus complex). This substance holds water
and nutrients, crumbles consistently, contains a great biodiversity of micro-organisms,
humic acids, silicic acids, proteins and messenger substances, etc. Worm
biohumus does not damage plants (does not scorch the roots), and it is impossible
to over-fertilise with it. Worms go about their business at temperatures
of between 15 and 25 degrees centigrade. There must be 60-80% (relative)
moisture, and the heap has to be aerobic. A population of compost worms
doubles approximately every three months.
The worm composting process is a completely naturally occurring
one which has been going on for millions of years. It was commercialised
mainly in the United States, not for the purpose of processing organic waste,
but to produce bait worms for sports fishermen. There was a lull during
the eighties, but now vermicomposting is really back and booming. Not only
in the United States either, but in Australia, Cuba and India, among other
places. Work with compost worms is definitely on the way in, not only in
schools and private households, but also in the industrial waste sector.
Research into the uses of worm biohumus has produced some very exciting
results which point to an interesting future for this process.
3.1 Industrial waste
Worm composting is particularly suitable for processing continually produced
industrial waste such as fibrous silt, slurry and refuse from the food industry
(vegetable peelings etc), and turning it into useable worm biohumus. This
can then be used in crop cultivation (the biohumus of worms fed on potato
peeling compost is ideal for potato production) or landscaping (the worm
biohumus resulting from a diet of fibrous silt or slurry can help plants
along busy roads to survive).
3.2 Agricultural waste
In the agricultural sector, dung or other organic waste can be processed
by the worms to produce high quality plant nutrients for the cultivation
of specific crops. This is a cheap solution which also helps to improve
groundwater quality. Worm biohumus can also be prepared into a liquid
'activated compost tea' ideal for environmentally conscious farming as
it reduces the amount of pesticides and other chemical plant protection
methods needed.
3.3 Household and kitchen waste
The worm composting system that 'My little farm' offers provides committed
private households with the opportunity to contribute to environmental
protection within their own four walls. This system was invented by the
VermiGrand earthwormfarm especially for indoor use. Since years, for example,
worm composting has been going on in the building of the Lower Austrian
Parliament, in the corridor outside Mr. Josef Plank, the office of the
Councillor for the Environment. Worm composting is possible indoors all
year round, as it is odourless and takes place in a sealed container.
3.4 Eco-pedagogy: worm composting and school children
Because worm composting can take place indoors, and because
it provides an entire ecosystem in a very small space, the 'My little farm'
worm box is ideal for use in schools and nursery school. It is hard to think
of a simpler way to illustrate the relationships between different elements
in natural cycles. From throwing in the remains of a break-time snack to
fertilising the classroom plants, the children can easily see and understand
the interdependent processes going on in nature. Lively learning is guaranteed,
the children are visibly enthusiastic.
The province of Lower Austria supports this form of learning. In a joint
project with the region's waste associations, whose training officers distribute
and explain the worm boxes to schools, Mr Plank, the Councillor for Environment,
sponsors the Lower Austria worm composting system. This includes, as well
as the worm box, a teaching package with overhead transparencies, photocopyable
sheets, directions for use and other tools.
The Lower Austria worm composting system is available to every school and
nursery school in Lower Austria for (€ 26,-) . Eighty percent of the
total cost is subsidised by the province of Lower Austria.
The VermiGrand eartworm farm developed the 'My little farm' system for
eco-pedagogical and household use. It is a closed system particularly
suitable for use indoors. It has an area of 0.25 square metres and can
process up to two litres of organic waste per day. The start population
is half a litre of worm mass. The system has been successfully in use
for six years already. It is drainable and does not let any liquid out,
but is still ventilated and guarantees odourless worm composting.
4.2 Continuous flow worm composting
Doubtless the most progressive way of working with worms is continuous
worm composting. The principle behind it is that the heap is fed on one
side and harvested on the other. This can take place every day, as the
worms always go to the side being fed and are not disturbed by the harvesting.
The continuous system can work on both a horizontal and a vertical basis.
An extremely successful example can be seen where a raised heap is automatically
fed from above and the ready worm biohumus removed from underneath. This
particular system can process up to 1000 tons of input material per 100
square metre of worm 'patch' per year! This system will ensure the development
of worm composting in the industrial and waste management sectors in the
future. Problem substances such as slurry, paper slurry or refuse from
the food industry can be automatically put onto the heap, after first
being mixed. In forty to fifty days this 'food' will be useable worm biohumus.
The end product is totally safe for use on plants and does not burn the
roots.
Worm composting and the characteristics
of worm biohumus
5.1 Characteristics of worm biohumus
Worm biohumus is a crumbly, odourless clay-humus complex made particularly
attractive by its consistency in crumbling easily. Its water holding capacity
(it still crumbles with a water content of 75%) comes from the fact that
it is a product of digestion. The excretions of the micro-organisms and
the micro-organisms themselves act as a type of glue which is capable of
swelling, and which binds the mineral and organic elements together. The
mineral components broken down by the digestion process of the earthworms
are turned into large amounts of silica acid. Silica acid is useful to plants
as it hardens the upper surface of the leaf (epidermis), and leads to higher
resistance against wind, stinging or bloodsucking insects and leaf disease.
The high number and variety of micro-organisms (up to four times as many
as in hot rotting compost) inject the soil with soil organisms. The micro-organisms
process the plant nutrients in a way that ensures better nutrient absorption.
There are various humic acids, proteins and messenger substances in worm
biohumus which are particularly good for plant growth.
5.2 Difference from hot rotting compost
Because there is a more drastic reduction in the volume of the source
material, a higher concentration of nutrients results
Worm biohumus is immediately safe for plants (it does not scorch them
and it is impossible to overdose them)
Higher number and variety of micro-organisms, great biodiversity
Higher amount of silicic acid in a form absorbable by plants
Odourless production (it can also be produced in urban areas and because
it does not need to be turned fewer germs are released into the air)
More stable crumbling characteristics
Lower quantities in the application
Is registered as an organic fertiliser in Austria (approved for organic
farming)
Activated compost tea production from earthworm biohumus
The most interesting benefit in worm biohumus is the biology, which has
a greater biodiversity and more quantity, than normal compost. Therefore
it is the ideal inoculum for making high quality activated compost tea.
The research and practice, which brought great results in the last five
years in the USA and Australia, is now brought to Europe by the VermiGrand
Earthwormfarm. Increasing interests by winemakers, greenkeepers, farmers,
scientists and also politicians confirm the decision to this sustainable
technique.
Activated compost tea is brewed under strictly aerobe conditions to show
the whole benefits to soil and plants. After 24 hours of brewing, the
finished tea can be applicated to soil or plant. Several scientific research
shows suppressive effects against plant disease in vineyards, orchards,
fruit and turf.
The benefits from using activated compost tea are:
More life and better biodiversity in soil
Deeper root growing and more stress tolerance against dry periods
Better usage of soluble nutrients before reaching groundwater
Higher water holding capacity of the soil because of life building
soil structure
A better teamwork between plant and soil life
Decomposition of dead plant material is increased
Soil structure is improved
Disease causing organisms have to fight for food, space, water etc.
with the benefical organisms
Worm composting is booming at the moment for several reasons.
One is the development of extensively automated continuous systems, and
another is the fact that with the most basic and primitive means the same
end product can be arrived at. Developing countries such as India and Cuba,
just like highly developed industrial countries such as the United States
and Australia, are using worm composting extensively. Industrial countries
tend to implement it for the treatment of problem substances (slurry), using
large operations (e.g. processing 400 cubic metres of sludge a week in Australia),
and in the production of special fertilisers and substitutes for chemical
plant protecting substances. Worm biohumus is also the most interesting
inoculum for activated compost tea, which will be the most important technic
in organic agriculture in the future. The opportunity to produce two useful
products from refuse (worm biohumus and surplus worms) is unique in waste
management.
Originally active in agriculture, Alfred Grand decided in
the spring of 1999 to set up a company solely for worm composting. Its main
activity at present is the sale of compost worms, worm composting systems,
worm biohumus and activated compost tea production. In addition to products
surrounding earthworms, the VermiGrand earthwormfarm also offers project
development. The cooperation with university research is done at the moment
especially in developing different activated compost teas for special applications
like vineyard, golfcourses, parks and agriculture. Future projects, like
a soil protection trial in a community area is scheduled.
More infos:
Mr. Alfred Grand, VermiGrand Earthwormfarm
Tel.: 0043 2278 7028, Fax: 0043 2278 7041
Cel.: 0043 664 1326904, vermi@grand.at
