Earthworm: Vermi Culture and Vermi Composting

by R.K. Bhatnagar and R.K. Palta

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General awareness, appreciations and perceptions of life of earthworms and how we can utilize to our economic interests in multiple ways, are lacking. We all have heard various scientific terms widely used now, viz., biotechnology and sustainability of soil, productivity, environmental sustainability, problems of organic waste disposal causing pollution etc. Hardly, a few even amongst educated masses know that perhaps amongst first creature to be utilized in bio-technology and use of bio-diversity for all above stated aspects, is the earthworm.

Reasons of lack of awareness and appreciations in general public are, as well perhaps in others, is in totality for want of a basic literature an Vermi-culture and Vermi-composting.

Endeavour, therefore has been to cover all relevant aspects in simple style but to deal all scientific aspects, including aspects variously connected to the subject, ranging from introduction on earthworms to commercial utilization of the technology in recycling of decomposable organic wastes.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Origin and Evolution
• Distribution
• Food and Feeding Habits
• General Body Structure
  1. External Characters
  2. Digestive System
  3. Body Cavity or Coelom
  4. Body Wall
  5. Locomotion
  6. Respiration
  7. Excretion
  8. Circulatory System
  9. Nervous System
  10. Reproductive System
  11. Reproduction and Cocoon Formation
• Role of Earthworms
  1. In Sustainable Agriculture
  2. Organic Farming
  3. Earthworm Activities
  4. Soil Fertility and Texture
  5. Soil Aeration
  6. Water Impercolation
  7. Decomposition and Moisture
• Organicwastes
  1. Municipal Wastes
  2. Animal Dung
  3. Agricultural Wastes
• Vermitehnology
  1. Definition
  2. History
  3. In Other Countries
  4. In India
• Advantages of Vermiculture
  1. Production of Cheap Animal Protein
  2. Vermi-Cast
  3. Soil and Vermi-Cast
  4. Earthworm Inoculation in Soil
  5. Decomposition of Bio-Degradable Wastes and Vermi composting
  6. Vermi culture in Pollution Abatement
  7. Miscellaneous Usages of Vermi culture
• Harmful or Negative Roles of Earthworms
  1. Negative Roles
  2. Control of Earthworms in Problematic Situation
• Vermiculture
  1. General and Planning
  2. Selection of Suitable Species
  3. Basic Characteristics of Suitable Species
  4. Description of Suitable Species
  5. Maintenance of Base Culture
• Vermicomposting
  1. General
  2. Advantages of Vermi composting
  3. Vermi composting Materials
  4. Preliminary Treatment of Composting Material
  5. Small Scale or Indoor Vermicomposting
  6. Large Scale or Outdoor Vermi composting
  7. Types of Vermi composting
  8. Requirements for Vermi composting
  9. Feed for Earthworms
  10. Vermi composting Schemes
  11. Maintenance of Vermi composting Beds
  12. Vermi composting Efficiency
  13. Collection of Vermi compost
  14. Transportation of Live Worms
  15. Marketing Outlets
• Application of Vermi Compost
  1. Flower or Garden Pots
  2. In Horticulture
  3. In Agriculture
  4. Conclusion
• Explainatory Notes to Some Used Technical Terms
  1. Flow sheet of Earthworm Activities
  2. Flow sheet for Vermitechnology
  3. Plates and Figures
  4. Schemes for Vermic composting.

About the Author:

Dr. R.K. Bhatnagar, is presently serving as Principal Scientist, Entomology Division, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He is currently involved in researches for development of Vermicultural Technology in simpler adaptable forms.

Dr. Bhatnagar has 37 years of research experience in country's two premier Institutions-Zoological Survey of India (1959-1971) and Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 1971-presently continuing. He has number of research publications to his credit ranging from Vertebrate Ecology, Applied Ornithology-Agriculture and Aviation Safety Hazards, Wildlife and Vermiculture. He is a I.A.R.I. Faculty Member and has been on panels of several professional bodies in the country.

R.K. Palta, is presently serving as Technical Officer, Entomology Division, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He has been associated with Dr. Bhatnagar since beginning of his research career and has published numerous articles with Dr. Bhatnagar.