Parthenium weed can be transferred to the vermibeds slowly in a period of 2–3 days
(Rampal and Sharma 2007).
12.6.2 Collection of Earthworms
Locally available epigeic earthworm species can be collected from 3 to 10 cm depth
of the soil and transferred to the vermibeds. Epigeics species like Eisenia fetida
(Hartenstein et al. 1979a) and Eudrilus eugeniae (Kale and Bano 1988) are also used
for converting Parthenium weed into vermicompost.
12.6.3 Preparation of Vermibeds and Production
of Vermicompost
Culturing of earthworms can be done indoors in humid places with proper shelter to
avoid direct sunlight or heavy downpour. The culturing can be done in kitchen
garden, cattle shed or any other congenial place. Cement tanks, wooden boxes or
plastic trays of approximately 1 m  1 m  0.3 m size, which accommodate 1000
worms, may be used as containers. These containers should be covered with gunny
bags to prevent the escape of worms. Water is to be sprinkled on the bed to get a
moisture level of 40–50%. For bedding materials, saw dust or husk, fine sand or
layer of garden soil is used. Then week old cattle dung is spread over the surface of
the soil as a bait for the acclimatization of earthworms. The holes are made at the
base of the vermipit to release the extra water from the vermibed, since earthworms
cannot survive in waterlogged conditions. The locally available epigeic earthworms
can be collected from the loose soils rich in organic matter at a depth of 3–10 cm of
soil surface and introduced in the pit, and processed Parthenium weed is added to the
vermipit which is converted into vermicasts and vermicompost by the earthworms.
After weeks of time when earthworms get acclimatized to the vermibeds, the
processed Parthenium weed is added slowly to the vermibeds and again covered
with the moist gunny bags. Now the vermibeds are kept in the shady place, water is
sprinkled regularly depending upon the season and temperature is also monitored in
the vermibeds as the optimum temperature for worm function is 20–25
C although
earthworms can tolerate temperature from 5 to 25
C. Also care should be taken to
protect the earthworms from pests and predators.
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D. Sharma and A. B. Chowdhary
(Rampal and Sharma 2007).
12.6.2 Collection of Earthworms
Locally available epigeic earthworm species can be collected from 3 to 10 cm depth
of the soil and transferred to the vermibeds. Epigeics species like Eisenia fetida
(Hartenstein et al. 1979a) and Eudrilus eugeniae (Kale and Bano 1988) are also used
for converting Parthenium weed into vermicompost.
12.6.3 Preparation of Vermibeds and Production
of Vermicompost
Culturing of earthworms can be done indoors in humid places with proper shelter to
avoid direct sunlight or heavy downpour. The culturing can be done in kitchen
garden, cattle shed or any other congenial place. Cement tanks, wooden boxes or
plastic trays of approximately 1 m  1 m  0.3 m size, which accommodate 1000
worms, may be used as containers. These containers should be covered with gunny
bags to prevent the escape of worms. Water is to be sprinkled on the bed to get a
moisture level of 40–50%. For bedding materials, saw dust or husk, fine sand or
layer of garden soil is used. Then week old cattle dung is spread over the surface of
the soil as a bait for the acclimatization of earthworms. The holes are made at the
base of the vermipit to release the extra water from the vermibed, since earthworms
cannot survive in waterlogged conditions. The locally available epigeic earthworms
can be collected from the loose soils rich in organic matter at a depth of 3–10 cm of
soil surface and introduced in the pit, and processed Parthenium weed is added to the
vermipit which is converted into vermicasts and vermicompost by the earthworms.
After weeks of time when earthworms get acclimatized to the vermibeds, the
processed Parthenium weed is added slowly to the vermibeds and again covered
with the moist gunny bags. Now the vermibeds are kept in the shady place, water is
sprinkled regularly depending upon the season and temperature is also monitored in
the vermibeds as the optimum temperature for worm function is 20–25
C although
earthworms can tolerate temperature from 5 to 25
C. Also care should be taken to
protect the earthworms from pests and predators.
204
D. Sharma and A. B. Chowdhary