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faster for the breakdown of organic waste and its decomposition, i.e., composting
(Edwards et al. 1989; Gaur and Sadasivam 1993).
Vermi-composting technology is employed using windrows for composting.
A windrow consists of layers rice straw, manure, and shredded banana trunks.
Water is added during windrow building to reach a moisture content of 60%,
which is a suitable condition for composting. A field trial of vermi-composting
was conducted in 2017–2018 at IRRI in the Philippines (IRRI 2019). The experiment was set up with a windrow height of 1 m, a width of 1.5 m. It was composed
of four layers of rice straw, cow manure, and shredded banana trunk (Fig. 3.2).
From the total amount produced in every windrow, it is expected to recover 50%
of the vermicast.
The vermi-compost consists of two composting stages, anaerobic and aerobic.
Anaerobic composting is implemented during the first 40 days by covering the compost heap with a plastic sheet that reduces the exchange of air between the atmosphere and the compost. The covers are then removed for the next 40–50 days. The
ANC, which is introduced during the aeration phase, is one the popular species of
earthworm used for this process. Watering of the windrows is also essential for ANC
to thrive, grow, and be efficient in producing vermicast. Water is applied for every
windrow, 100 L for 1000 kg of composting materials for every other day from day
40 to day 80, and daily from day 81 to day 93. To efficiently manage water use, dripirrigation technology is recommended. The vermicast recovery ratio is 1:2, which
means that, with a total input of 1000 kg of compost, 500 kg of vermicast are
recovered.
3.2.2 Mechanized Windrow Composting
The windrow-composting method consists of linear rows of compost materials
(rice straw and cow manure), which are placed layer by layer and mechanically
turned periodically. The air contained in the interspaces of the composting mass
Fig. 3.2 ANCs are incorporated in the windrows after the anaerobic stage of decomposition (left)
and harvested around 80–90 days (right)
N. T. Nghi et al.
faster for the breakdown of organic waste and its decomposition, i.e., composting
(Edwards et al. 1989; Gaur and Sadasivam 1993).
Vermi-composting technology is employed using windrows for composting.
A windrow consists of layers rice straw, manure, and shredded banana trunks.
Water is added during windrow building to reach a moisture content of 60%,
which is a suitable condition for composting. A field trial of vermi-composting
was conducted in 2017–2018 at IRRI in the Philippines (IRRI 2019). The experiment was set up with a windrow height of 1 m, a width of 1.5 m. It was composed
of four layers of rice straw, cow manure, and shredded banana trunk (Fig. 3.2).
From the total amount produced in every windrow, it is expected to recover 50%
of the vermicast.
The vermi-compost consists of two composting stages, anaerobic and aerobic.
Anaerobic composting is implemented during the first 40 days by covering the compost heap with a plastic sheet that reduces the exchange of air between the atmosphere and the compost. The covers are then removed for the next 40–50 days. The
ANC, which is introduced during the aeration phase, is one the popular species of
earthworm used for this process. Watering of the windrows is also essential for ANC
to thrive, grow, and be efficient in producing vermicast. Water is applied for every
windrow, 100 L for 1000 kg of composting materials for every other day from day
40 to day 80, and daily from day 81 to day 93. To efficiently manage water use, dripirrigation technology is recommended. The vermicast recovery ratio is 1:2, which
means that, with a total input of 1000 kg of compost, 500 kg of vermicast are
recovered.
3.2.2 Mechanized Windrow Composting
The windrow-composting method consists of linear rows of compost materials
(rice straw and cow manure), which are placed layer by layer and mechanically
turned periodically. The air contained in the interspaces of the composting mass
Fig. 3.2 ANCs are incorporated in the windrows after the anaerobic stage of decomposition (left)
and harvested around 80–90 days (right)
N. T. Nghi et al.