Manual De Vermicultura

Manual of On-Farm Vermicomposting and Vermiculture
By Glenn Munroe

Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada

Acknowledgements EcoAction Program of Environment Canada
and New Ground Vermicomposting, Halifax, Nova Scotia Jennifer Scott, Centre Burlington, Nova Scotia Kipawo Holsteins, Grand Pre, Nova Scotia Holdanca Farms Ltd., Wallace, Nova Scotia

Table of Contents
1 Introduction:Vermiculture and Vermicomposting..................................................1 1.1 The Difference between Vermiculture and Vermicomposting ..........................1 1.2 The Compost Worm ....................................................................................1 1.3 Why Bother? An Overview of Potential Benefits and Constraints.....................2 1.4 What this Manual Can Do forYou.................................................................3 Working with Worms: The Basics .........................................................................5 2.1 What Worms Need ......................................................................................5 2.1.1 The Five Essentials ..................................................................................5 2.1.2 Bedding..................................................................................................5 2.1.3 Worm Food .............................................................................................7 2.1.4 Moisture ............................................................................................... 10 2.1.5Aeration................................................................................................ 10 2.1.6 Temperature Control ............................................................................. 10 2.2 Other Important Parameters ...................................................................... 11 2.3 Calculating Rates of Reproduction .............................................................. 12 2.4 Projecting Vermicompost Outputs.............................................................. 14 2.5 Pests and Diseases.................................................................................... 15 An Overview of Vermicomposting Systems.......................................................... 17 3.1 Basic Types of Systems ............................................................................. 17 3.2 Windrows................................................................................................. 17 3.2.1 Static pile windrows (batch) ................................................................... 17 3.2.2 Top-fed windrows (continuous flow) ....................................................... 20 3.2.3 Wedges (continuous flow)...................................................................... 213.3 Beds or Bins ............................................................................................. 22 3.3.1 Top-fed beds (continuous flow) .............................................................. 22 3.3.2 Stacked bins (batch or continuous flow).................................................. 23 3.4 Flow-ThroughReactors.............................................................................. 24 On-Farm Vermiculture ....................................................................................... 26 4.1 Vermiculture Systems ................................................................................ 26 4.2 Methods of Harvesting Worms ................................................................... 26 4.2.1General................................................................................................. 26 4.2.2 Manual Methods .................................................................................... 26 4.2.3 Self-Harvesting (Migration) Methods ....................................................... 27 4.2.4 Mechanical Methods .............................................................................. 28 4.3 Use of Worms...