Vermicomposter

Technical articles

Soil regeneration Compost

Worm compost, also called vermicompost, is a high-quality organic amendment obtained by transforming organic matter through earthworms. This technique for recycling organic waste is gaining popularity in the agricultural sector due to its numerous agronomic and environmental benefits.

Production and composition

Worm compost mainly consists of the castings of earthworms, called worm casts. These casts are extremely rich in essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. The production process involves the use of compost worms that consume and digest the organic matter, transforming it into a stable and nutrient-rich amendment.

Agronomic benefits

Improvement of soil structure

Worm compost significantly contributes to improving soil structure. It increases organic matter content, which promotes better aeration, improved drainage, and reduced erosion. The unique structure of worm compost allows better oxygen penetration to the plant root system.

Nutrient enrichment

Worm compost is a concentrated source of essential nutrients for plants. It slowly releases these nutrients, allowing balanced and sustainable nutrition for crops. This characteristic reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers, thus contributing to more sustainable agriculture.

Stimulation of biological activity

Incorporating worm compost into the soil promotes intense biological activity. Beneficial microorganisms present in worm compost, such as bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, contribute to overall soil health and plant growth.

Disease suppression

Worm compost has suppressive properties against various soil diseases. The microorganisms and secretions from worms present in worm compost have a beneficial effect in preventing diseases such as root rot.

Application in agriculture

Dosage and application

The dosage of worm compost varies depending on the specific needs of the crops and soil characteristics. Generally, recommendations for field crops are 1.5 to 3 tons per hectare. It can be spread on the surface or incorporated into the soil before planting.

Crops concerned

Worm compost can be used for a wide range of crops, including field crops, vegetable crops, and perennial crops. Its use is particularly beneficial for high-value crops and organic production systems.

Economic and environmental aspects

Cost reduction

Using worm compost allows farmers to reduce their dependence on chemical fertilizers, which can lead to significant input cost savings.

Waste management

Vermicomposting offers an effective solution for recycling organic waste produced on the farm, thus contributing to more sustainable resource management.

Environmental impact

By reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and promoting more sustainable agriculture, vermicomposting helps minimize the environmental impact of farming, notably in terms of water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Implementation of continuous-flow vermicomposting

To implement large-scale worm composting in a professional agricultural setting, the “continuous-flow” vermicomposting method is particularly effective. Here are the main steps of this method:

System installation

1. Set up a bin about one meter high containing the earthworms.
2. Install a trolley above the bin for spreading organic waste.
3. Equip the system with a blade connected to chains on each side of the line to scrape the worm compost.
4. Add a conveyor belt to transport the harvested worm compost to the conditioning area.

Feeding and management

1. Carefully select the organic waste to be composted (horse manure, coffee grounds, brewery spent grains, etc.).
2. Evenly spread the organic waste on top of the bin using the trolley.
3. Maintain optimal conditions for the worms (humidity, temperature, aeration).

Harvesting and processing

1. Use the blade to continuously scrape the lower part of the bin, where the worm compost is located.
2. Transport the harvested worm compost via the conveyor belt to the conditioning area.
3. If necessary, dry the worm compost by spreading it in a thin layer on a concrete slab to obtain a crumbly texture.

Advantages of this method

• Continuous production without interruption of activity.
• High processing capacity (up to 500 kg of biowaste per day).
• High yield (up to 15 tons of worm compost per month).
• Efficient recycling of agricultural and industrial biowaste.

This continuous-flow vermicomposting method allows industrial production of worm compost, adapted to the needs of farmers, market gardeners, and agro-industries with large volumes of biowaste to recycle.

References

• Sucuri WebSite Firewall - Access Denied
• https://veragrow.fr/la-valorisation-du-fumier-equin-par-lombricompostage/
• https://mediatheque.ifce.fr/doc_num.php?explnum_id=25675
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