Municipal Solid Waste Management

Prof. Ajay Kalamdhad

Lecture - 29
Vermicomposting

So hello students, today we are in the last lecture of biological treatment-I, which is on
composting. And in this lecture, we will talk about vermicomposting. So, this is also another
method of composting. Normally, we believe that is vermicomposting is especially for the
degradation process by the earthworms. But also there will be a role of micro-organisms like
bacteria and other micro-organisms like in the conventional composting process that also is very
required for the degradation process.

So, any time when you talk about the type of composting, normally people will say that agitated
pile or agitated pile in-vessel composting, we will finish that and vermicomposting normally
discuss in the separately but also you can consider vermicomposting also is one type of
composting process, but as the name suggests, is a vermicomposting. So, it completely depends
on the earthworms.
(Refer Slide Time: 01:44)

So, the vermicompost is a product of decomposition of the process using various species of the
worm. Usually, I think the major one is Eisenia fetida that is normally we call it is a red worm.
And another white worm, that creates a mixture of decomposition of the vegetable food waste or
a different kind of organic waste is possible to degrade here need to be understood that all kinds
of earthworms can be able to degrade the organic waste as you see in the rainy season.

You will see most of the earthworms or you will find in the soil, those soil earthworms can
degrade the organic waste because the organic waste is producing water also, leachate the excess
water that this kind of earthworm like soil earthworms can be possible to live into those
conditions. Under normally this word also will come up normally when we talk about vermicast
that this is the final product, we are getting it from the vermicomposting process.

This is normally is a vermicast means is a worm casting or worm humus are manure or feces that
is called is a vermicast that is the end product is coming out from the vermicomposting process.
So many times people will say is a vermicomposting process and the product rather than calling
as a simple composed we will call it is either vermicompost are many times or many books or
literature you will say vermicast both are similar one and these vermicompost content water-
soluble nutrients and is an excellent nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner.

See this is somewhat different from the normal compost. So, here is water-soluble nutrients are
available. So means I think most of the nutrients, also the amount will be high and also it will be
very easily water-soluble. So, you see that the major earthworms researched the
vermicomposting process i.e., Eisenia fetida. So, this is the Eisenia fetida. And here you can see
the intestine is one of the best intestines u can find.

Where not only the organic waste is getting degraded very easily but also the mini the suppose
the organic waste is having high metal content like sewage sludge water hyacinth different weeds
these metal also will be in the intestine. So in the final cost of the vermicast, the metal would not
come up so normally in the composting process the metal content is increasing, but in the
vermicomposting process, the metal concentration will decrease because of the intestine of the
earthworm.

This is the what is the exact photograph of earthworm is enough data this is a red one and
another the white worm this is the white one but I think we do not find a lot of research for white
earthworm but we will find lots of literature for degradation of various kinds of organic waste
which is including agriculture waste municipal waste industrial waste also a lot of studies are
available.
(Refer Slide Time: 05:52)

On this is a few different technologies or rather than technology different ways the
vermicomposting is possible like the first is a cow pit, so, these the cow pit where the cow dung
along with the earthworms put it into these with under this earthworm will degrade the cow dung
similar this a vermiwash the similar way in the degradation process because a lot of water will
get produced. So, whatever the water will come out that we called is a vermiwash under this is
the very well-known process in the 90s.

In India, we find this Nadep composting method/composting system, so, is very simple for
construction also here and in this one, the waste is getting disposed along with the earthworms.
And within 45 days within 60 days, the entire degradation will be possible. So, the one major
benefit of the vermicomposting process not only the degradation but also their population also
will increase.

So, means, I think once here having supposed 500 or 1000 number of earthworms, you need not
purchase afterworld because the same the 500 or 1000 earthworms will increase in the maybe
10,000 maybe it goes to 50,000 again I think we can continue the similar process also we can sell
the compost and also we can sell the earthworms also. So, it is a highly beneficial method.
(Refer Slide Time: 07:38)

So, what is the mechanism of the vermicomposting process is a similar kind of composting
process like biodegradable material here also we required a homogeneous mixing especially the
brown waste and green waste should be properly homogenized mixed is required. So, during the
vermicomposting process will put worm biomass and will be required obviously, will be required
oxygen also the water will be also required, but if again the same discussion in the previous class
if you have more water content like 95% 100%.

So, the earthworms would not get oxygen very properly. So, in the voids, you will be required
moisture, but the complete moisture the entire voids will be filled by moisture. Again, the
condition will be anaerobic, under these earthworms cannot be live in anaerobic conditions. And
finally, we will get few gases. And as a product, we will get earthworm cocoons harvesting
under this we have to segregate first and finally, we will get very good quality vermicompost.

So, which I was telling that will get the population of earthworms also will get increase and their
cocoons also will increase. So, first, we have to harvest those earthworms are cocoons and then
whatever is remaining that will be vermicompost.
(Refer Slide Time: 09:23)
Now worms in vermicomposting, so normally there are 3 different types of earthworms normally
getting used in the vermicomposting process first is the ANACIEC and this is not very well
known one and still, not many studies are available for these kinds of earthworm, so here is the
clitellum, from where the cocoons will get produce. So, these kinds of earthworms build a
permanent burrow in the deep soil drag down their food from the soil surface to their burrow,
and finally, it will come with a finished product.

So, now this is the important one, ENDOGIEC earthworm. This is also the lot of studies are
available on these earthworms also. So, there this will build a burrow on the upper layer of the
soil and feed on organic matter and most visible in the rainy season. So, here see idea is that it
will be a burrow in the upper layer of the soil. So, suppose once you prepared any bed for
degradation process, obviously, we will put the waste here and here suppose these are the
earthworms.

So, they will burrow onto the top, they will degrade the upper location and again they will go to
the bottom. So, we can collect we can harvest the compost and again we can put the fresh waste
that is what the benefit of these kinds of earthworms. So, continuously we can work for the
vermicomposting process and this is the well-known EPIGIEC that is the Eisenia fetida which
we saw in the previous slide. This will feed on the decaying organic matter that does not form a
burrow and useful for the vermicomposting process. So, I think most of the studies are available
on the EPIGIEC earthworms and the major on Eisenia fetida.
(Refer Slide Time: 11:52)

This is now the 3 different kinds of EPIGIEC earthworms were based on the parameter we can
compare like duration of life cycles. So, this is the local earthworm like we can say is an Indian
one we can find very easily Perionyx the growth rate also you will see the maximum is available
here maximum growth rate and incubation period also 23 days and cocoon production is also a
very high here and a number of hatchlings per cocoon here I think is almost same in both the
one. So, when you compare that the different earthworm species I think Eisenia fetida is well
known and more popular.
(Refer Slide Time: 12:52)

This is also another one more table where the suitability of earthworms for various kinds of
waste like for Eisenia fetida you will see here for Eisenia fetida the fly ash sewage sludge waste
activated sludge various kind of cattle dunks and the even the kitchen waste the MSW the biogas
slurry, this all could be possible even I think this is one the Indian one I was talking Perionyx
which is specially for the cow dung.

And there are other earthworms also which are possible to use for the MSW like this is these
earthworms this is also for MSW and because see, when you say the organic waste is not only
the MSW, organic waste or municipal solid waste, organic waste, there are organic waste is
coming from the agriculture area sewage treatment facility the organic waste will come from the
industrial area. So, the different earthworms will be useful for the different kinds of organic
waste.
(Refer Slide Time: 14:13)

Now, there are some salient requirement of the vermicomposting process like there are basic
requirements or you can say that there are a number of factors are affecting, the
vermicomposting process like suitable bedding, which I am going to talk again I think it required
the special kind of bedding if they do not like to eat the material eat the organic matter. So you
will be required suitable bedding food source, the proper kind of subject is required. Adequate
moisture is required for the degradation process.

Adequate aeration is required. Suitable temperature this is also very important one because see
the earthworms also are live conditions obviously, in the colder condition like when the ambient
temperature is 5 degree 10 degree difficult to have the growth into the into their population there
is no growth, the even the decomposition or degradation also would not be that fast and suitable
pH. This is also a very important one. So, all for the vermicompost process neutral pH is now is a
very basic requirement for the degradation process.

Now, we will go one by one. So, the bedding, bedding is a material that provides a relatively
stable habitat to the worms. So, normally in a reactor or any anywhere, if you are going for a
vermicomposting process, you need to put the first bedding. So, the idea of the bedding to
provide relatively stable habitats to the worms means, because you see earthworm also required
the acclimatization for that particular kind of organic material and acclimatization at least that 7
days or 15 days will be required for the acclimatization.

In that particular organic material or maybe from time to time you can change the organic matter
also are suppose if you are starting with the one particular kind of organic matter, acclimatization
will be always required. So, during the acclimatization period, how they can be in the live
condition because they have to particularly acclimatize that condition. So, they will be required
the special kind of bed, so that in that bed, they will be in the live condition and once they will be
acclimatized they can go and they can degrade the organic matter.

Whatever the organic matter was supplying for their degradation process. So, what kind of
bedding you will be required first is the high absorbency as earthworms breathe through the skin
the bedding must be able to absorb and retain adequate water see as worm breathes through their
skin. So, the bedding must be able to absorb and retain adequate water. So obviously water will
be required. Good bulking potential the bulking potential of the material should be such that
worms get oxygen properly.

So, now is also a very important point that so you cannot have the much depth of the reactor
because your oxygen is required either if you are increasing the depth means, you have to have
some kind of opening in the bottom so that the air can be entered into the bedding material. Low
nitrogen content and high carbon. High carbon to nitrogen ratio, high protein nitrogen level can
result in rapid degradation and associate heating may be fatal to the worms.
See, whatever the bedding material you are using this bedding material should have low nitrogen
content, why? Because if suppose there is a large or very high nitrogen content will be there then
obviously the nitrogen will degrade or will create some gases because the degradation will be
there obviously. So either heat will be get produced or some odorous gases like ammonia will get
produced. And they do not like odorous gases like ammonia or H 2 O as if there is an odor then
their growth will be completely fertile for the worms.
(Refer Slide Time: 18:59)

So these are some bedding materials/common bedding materials used. And most cases I think
you will see the dry leaves, we are using shrub trimmings, even sawdust corrugated cardboard,
even newspaper paper from MSW even some kind of different manures also or different kettle
dunks also we can use for the bedding material. So here it has been compared these different
bedding materials for their absorbency its absorption of water, bulking potential and carbon to
nitrogen ratio.

So you can see here I think the bedding material like dry leaves sawdust is somewhat good. Even
the box of food is also good bulking potential carbon to nitrogen ratio is also high. But most of
these materials are very poor in the absorbency because of that, if you are using any kind of
bedding material you need to add more amount of water and not only the more amount of water
but also continuously you have to add the water.
So, because the absorbency is very poor, so, time to time we had to add the water for the
degradation process. If available, the shredded paper or cardboard makes excellent bedding
particularly when combined with the typical on form organic resources such as straw and hay, I
think this is one more important point you can use as shredded paper cardboard or if you are
doing the vermicomposting bed form itself. So, why not the other organic resources like straw
hay we can use and also we can add these kinds of material with prepared compost so that the
water absorbency also can be increased.
(Refer Slide Time: 21:07)

Now the next point is the food source. So, regular input of feed material for the earthworm is the
most essential step in the vermicomposting process, earthworm can use a wide variety of organic
material like food, but to exhibit food preferences under ideal conditions worms can consume the
amount of food higher than their body weight, but a general rule of thumb is the consumption of
food weighing half of their body weight per day.

So, you see here the under ideal condition is what could be the ideal condition that pH is neutral
moisture is very good, the proper optimum moisture is there and whatever the substrate has been
added that substrate is not producing any kind of gas and not possible to increase the temperature
in the degradation process. So, this is also one important point which I am going to again discuss
about that. So, once these wet waist will get degrade, obviously, the temperature will increase.
So, that is not good for the vermicompost process. So, if in the reactor the ideal condition could
be possible then the earthworms will eat more than their body weight. But normally are there is a
rule of thumb, how much amount of earthworms need to be added into that particular reactor or a
particular system. So that is based on this information that so, every earthworm will eat half of
their body weight per day. So, in that way, we can also fix the time of the vermicomposting
process.

And also we can put that number of earthworms for the degradation process for a particular
amount of organic material. In adverse conditions, earthworms can extract sufficient
nourishment from soil to survive, see any live material or any live sale will try to be in the live
condition they do not anybody wants to die very easily. So, even earthworms also in very
adverse conditions, they will be trying to in the live condition and trying to degrade the organic
material.

Like take the example of this Eisenia fetida, this is normally is not the Indian one, this is the
European earthworm, it has come from the European. So, you see the ambient temperature in the
European country, their local conditions are different ambient temperature never reached to 25 to
30 degree. So, that same earthworm now, we can easily find in the African country in the
American country, even the same earthworm we can find in many locations in India.

Even they in India the climatic conditions in the central part of India or central India like Nagpur
and Madhya Pradesh kind of area where the temperature is very high, there also you will find the
Eisenia fetida and if you come to the northeast India where the temperature is very low and
mostly in the rainy season, almost 6 months 7 months rain still will find these Eisenia fetida. So,
that means you see their survival in very diverse conditions and very adverse conditions also are
possible.

Now, the next point is moisture the most important requirement of earthworms is adequate
moisture, so, they required almost 60 to 70% of nitrogen. And the feedstock should not be too
wet otherwise it may create an anaerobic condition that may be fatal to the earthworm.
(Refer Slide Time: 25:00)
Next is the aeration. So, the factors such as a high level of fatty or oily substance in the feedstock
or excessive moisture combined with poor aeration may render anaerobic condition in
vermicomposting process and worm suffer severe mortality partly because they are deprived of
oxygen and partly because of toxic substances produced under the under such condition. So,
aeration is also very important.

So, now, I think we talked about aeration in the conventional composting process even in the in-
vessel composting process that aeration does not like in the vermicomposting process, if you turn
the entire reactor for aeration, I think I do not see that the earthworm will be beneficial because
of that, now, because of that, just for the aeration process, we should not go up to the large depth.
So, normally I think some research share this the depth should not be more than 500 centimeters.

I think that is very small one we can get because until that the aeration could be possible and also
any reactor should be some things from the other part of the system or other part of the reactor
so, that air can be sufficient can be injected into the particular system or in the reactor. Next is
the temperature the activity metabolism growth respiration and production of earthworm
generally influenced by the temperature worms have an optimum temperature range of 16 to 25
degrees centigrade, but temperature above 40 degrees centigrade can kill earthworm.

So, these are this is the problem or maybe is a good climatic condition they can find in the
European country, even in India also I think except the summer will have these kinds of
temperature. So, for India or South Asian countries, we need to see that how these earthworms
could be possibly worked into winter conditions where temperatures lower than 10 degrees. So,
there could be also possible that could be some kind of mortality.

We can find under where the temperature is more than 40 degrees that is possible in most part of
India like in central India, South India, or in North India also the temperature goes to 40 to 43 or
even 48-degree temperature. So, there the mortality is possible. But again, I am saying that this
Eisenia fetida in Africa is a very high survival earthworm and there are some studies are showing
that this earthworm is possible to grow in 0 degrees to 2 degrees centigrade.

I think there is one study in Shillong, in northeast India where the temperature reached to 0
degree or 2 degrees centigrade in the night, still the earthworms fall in the live condition
obviously, there will be some kind of mortality, but, the parallel growth will be also there, I think
the cocoon productions is not that large, but the cocoon productions will be also possible in that
condition. Even in some studies conducted in such part of India where the temperature rose to 45
degrees centigrade, there also we find some mortality.

But growth is also possible. So, in that case, I think we need to see that how best we can
optimize the other conditions like moisture, substrate aeration if we can how the optimum
condition for their growth. So, we can easily reduce the mortality of earthworms.
(Refer Slide Time: 29:26)
Now is another one is pH is one of the important factors, the worms can survive in pH range to 5
to 9 it is a large range. But if it is a range of 7.5 to 8 is considered to be optimum. In general, the
pH of worm beds tends to drop over time due to the fragmentation of organic matter under a
series of a chemical reaction. So, now the problem is our kitchen waste in MSW is highly acidic
in nature. So, their pH goes to 4 even 5. So, that pH is not good for earthworms.

So, that is why either I think in the conventional composting also we did I discussed that if your
mix different kind of material I like brown waste green waste or dry waste and wet waste
together like kitchen waste if you mix with the agriculture waste, so, obviously, our carbon to
nitrogen ratio also will be changed and obviously, it will affect the pH also or because of this pH
issue or the high degradation of kitchen waste. This is also proposed by many studies that fresh
kitchen waste does not apply the earthworms.

So, what this research says that, if you have only kitchen waste for the degradation process of
vermicomposting process, so, you allow that particular material for 15 days for self-degradation
process, up to 15 days, this green waste will convert into a somewhat brown color means, the
normal degradation will be there under whatever heat is producing by the degradation process,
that heat also will get removed out, I think the thermophilic condition would not come up.

But temperature more than 40-45 degrees also that will become out and then after 15 days now,
you apply the earthworms into the degradation process that become one of the negative points of
the vermicomposting process. So, there are many studies, I think there are 100 of research
journal says that the earthworm should not be applied to the fresh material the only the problem
is that, because that organic metal will go for thermophilic conditions or the temperature will
increase.

And because of that high degradation process, the odorous gases will produce because of that,
there could be mortality of the complete mortality of earthworms and some studies says that the
entire the 100% mortality was found if you are applying the earthworms into the fresh material.
So, but I think again if you mix the proper kind of material proper mix of the material if you
make that is possible to have the proper pH and even we can apply into the fresh material also
other important parameters like the pre composting of organic waste.

It is established that pre-composition of organic waste is very essential to avoid the mortality of
earthworms this is what I was talking about, it will be required the pre-composting of organic
waste. So, I think some research says that why not these vermicomposting can do after the in-
vessel composting process. So, the in-vessel process means a rotating composting process. So, in
the rotary drum-like in the previous class I explained about the rotary drum composting for only
7 days and there also you are not able to find the mature compost.

So, that in the same compost, if you do that maturation by vermicomposting process that will be
a highly beneficial process even the salt content worms are very sensitive to the salt. So, that also
needs to see that urine content or other toxic components is also important for the growth of the
earthworm and de-worming medicine in manures. And also I think these are some important
parameter also need to be looked upon during the vermicomposting process.
(Refer Slide Time: 34:09)

So, this is how to build a worm or how to build a worm home or vermicomposting process. So
here you will see this one particular bucket where we can make these buckets themselves as a
vermicomposting reactor or worm home. So you will see here in the bottom is a bedding material
in the bottom followed by waste and earthworms mix. And in the top, we put it gunny bag,
gunny bag to retain the moisture, because moisture will get operated. So the upper surface will
be dry.

So the degradation would not be possible in that case and also they do not like a light, especially
the EPIGIEC earthworm do not like light. So the maximum degradation will be in the upper
surface, on the maximum degradation we will be into the nighttime, where there would not be
any light. So what they will do in the night they will come on to the top they will degrade the
material in the morning they will go into the bottom.

So, that is why if you put some kind of cover onto the top material and here I put it the gunny
bag because gunny bag also we can add the time to time water and we can make entire reactor
proper moisture we can attain. So, worms need air to survive they can live in the plastic bin or
wooden box with several year holes punched or drilled all around. So, these are the holes, this is
for the aeration process, it is more convenient to have several smaller or more portable units
rather than one large one do not use a bin that was once used to store chemicals such as
pesticides.

And or you may end up with a pile of dead worms vermicompost the container box should be
shallow and wider than it is tall. So, the container box is shallow and wider than it is tall. So, you
can see here the average size of vermicomposting made for a household of 2 people should be a
30 centimeter high 40 centimeter deep, and 60 centimeters long if you are using it in the
household area. So, this is what the unit could be possible that it should be a tall upper area will
be more compared to the bottom area.
(Refer Slide Time: 37:06)
So, this is the household vermicomposting reactor. So here 3 units first, second and third
commercially these kind of units are available.
(Refer Slide Time: 37:17)

Now, the vermicompost system, when you talk about the types or different ways of
vermicomposting could be possible like windrow wedge are is a similar kind of windrow system
only modified one bed and continuous flow-through reactor. So, this is the windrow
vermicomposting process. So, this is what the windrow is covered.
(Refer Slide Time: 37:50)
Under wedge composting also is a modified one, but does a similar kind of windrow composting
process. So, here the harvesting also is one of the important issues.
(Refer Slide Time: 38:07)

So, nowhere is a bed system. So, is a bed completely so, is difficult to harvest. So, now your
earthworm has to be a harvest for collecting of vermicast or vermicompost problem with too
much moisture and low temperature this is another photograph from Korea, where 10 tons per
day sewage sludge all harvesting done by hand with basket and racks. So 18 employees are
working regularly for harvesting of earthworm.
(Refer Slide Time: 38:46)
Now is a continuous flow-through reactor. So, these kinds of reactors also continuously we can
add the material or organic material for the degradation process.
(Refer Slide Time: 39:01)

And when you again compare or when you talk about the different types of vermicomposting
process, so is based on the scale large scale where the quantity is 250 kg per week, the medium is
250 to 20 kg per week small is less than 20 kg per week. So, for large scale is a windrow
medium-scale continuous flow and for small scale, we can go for simply that tray stacking
batching or wedge method and in the last lecture, I was talking about the decentralized
composting process.
So, with this small scale also we can go for decentralized composting process especially these we
can do it in the even apartment area also we can have the one vermicomposting unit, small
vermicompost unit, not in the household level, but in the community level also is possible or
some of the community there are some particular locations available in particular community
area are some parks are available.

So, in that parks, we can create one vermicomposting bed or vermicomposting pit we can create
and all organic waste we can add along with the kitchen waste also for MSW and even the
horticulture area a lot of organic waste is generated that also we can utilize in the
vermicomposting pit.
(Refer Slide Time: 40:36)

(Refer Slide Time: 40:43)

Vermicomposting on a large scale. So, you can see here the large units this is all Indian way of
the vermicomposting process.
(Refer Slide Time: 41:18)
So, this is what the vermicomposting units in this Indian Veterinary Research Institute Bareilly
they are also doing in the windrow based. So, here water pipings are available and are the time to
time is getting covered also, this is in the Divya Nursery Haridwar also working on the
vermicomposting process.
(Refer Slide Time: 41:43)

This is the batch box batch type vermicomposting system. So, you can see here in the bottom
opening scene has been created for the aeration process, this is the track or tray stacking
vermicomposting system.
(Refer Slide Time: 42:08)
So, here also we can see that, how the vermicomposting can be walked into the particular
reactors small, small reactors. So, here is stack-based reactors.
(Refer Slide Time: 42:28)

Now, location of worm bins like worm bins can be located in a number of places such as kitchen,
basement, or backyard it is important to allow air to circulate through the bin by leaving the air
holes uncovered feeding worms worm food and optimum carbon to nitrogen ratio of the order 30
is to 1 must be maintained. I think this is important for the degradation process. If we are able to
achieve a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 13 is to 1 any fruit or vegetable waste generated during the
food preparation can be used citrus peels coffee ground and tomato can be added.
But only in the moderation is they can acidify the bedding. So, this also needs to be looked upon
that if you are using for any fruit material also if it is highly acidic and has to be mixed properly.
So, adding dried crushed eggshells will help to control the acidity and will also provide the
worms with valuable nutrients. A blender works well how we are cutting or mashing the food
scrap will do. So, the size is also very important for the degradation process like same in the
conventional composting process or in-vessel composting process.

So if you are using it household level or in the small apartment level, so I think and whatever the
waste we are applying for the vermicomposting process has to be put into the blender, or
particular mixture or one particular shader, where the size also can be homogeneous material can
be created to supply for the vermicomposting process.
(Refer Slide Time: 44:25)

So, now, this is for the harvesting of worms. So, now these entire prepared material prepared
compose will have the earthworms also and we have to harvest that earthworm. So, there are 2
methods, by that way we can harvest the earthworm by this is called a light separation method
simply, you put one light, so, it is not only light but also some heat is also generating by that
particular light means I think 1-degree change in the temperature.

So, because of that what will happen, all the earthworms will be at the bottom? And remaining
part, you can collect properly. And finally, we will get a bundle of earthworms and that will take
maybe half an hour or 1 hour, we can put under the light. So, normally in the laboratories, they
are using 60 Watt bulbs for harvesting earthworms. This is for the small scale we can use, but for
commercially or commercially running vermicomposting plants, we can use a worm harvester.

This is the simple filter where size is 2 mm to 4 mm so that only the fine particles will come out
and earthworms we can easily collect or easily harvest from such kind of harvester.
(Refer Slide Time: 46:09)

Now, what are the advantages of vermicomposting process, it is a labor and equipment cost is
minimal. So, like we have seen the conventional composting process or in-vessel composting
process is a manpower requirement is more a lot of maintenance issues are there. So, here labor
equipment cost is minimal. Now, one of the promising decentralized composting technology
excellent composting concept for a smaller community that required a rapid and enclosed
pathogen kill process.

It can be very useful in peri-urban areas of large cities institutional area vegetable market large
dairies, along with the nursery and demand-driven places like garden parks official area. So,
likewise, a see in any city will have a lot of institutions. So is government institutions, civil
offices, schools, colleges, now hospitals, park, garden and different small units that we can say is
there a point source of waste generation.

So, in these particular locations, if you are using the vermicomposting process is highly
beneficial to your collection also will reduce in that case, and these kinds of material would not
go to the disposal area. Worm casting improved the plant growth earthworms double their
population every 4 months. So it is a highly beneficial one and when you compare it with
conventional compost and vermicompost.

So, obviously, the vermicompost quality is far better than the conventional or in-vessel
composting process produce not only the nutrients, but a lot of microbes also is highly beneficial
microbes will be available in the vermicomposting process. So, like I was talking about the
nitrogen content in the conventional compost can go up to 1.5 to 2% if you are using in-vessel
composting process, but in vermicomposting.

There are always chances of getting 3.5 to up to 4.44% of nitrogen also could be possible to
achieve in the vermicomposting process. And commercially if you see our as per the market, you
will see we can easily sell this kind of vermicompost at a cost of 30 rupees 40 rupees per kg
whereas, the conventional compost can go up to 5 rupees or 10 rupees per kg. And that is why is
a lot of advantages of vermicomposting process.

Even the farmers along with the vegetation growth are along with the agriculture growth, they
can also work parallelly with the production of vermicompost. So, that they will be highly
economically beneficial for the farmers also under the disadvantage like initial cost is high initial
cost means only the construction of the pit are the preparation of that particular system and the
cost of earthworms.

These normally earthworms are available in our state agriculture board or Agriculture
Department, they will have the earthworms and even any farmer they want to go for
vermicompost production they can go to the Agriculture Department. And they will get 100 or
500 numbers of earthworms and the cost will be around 50 paise or in a 1 rupee, you will get 2
number or 3 number that they would not count it, but the one particular quantity or if you pay
100 rupees, they will give 50 or 60 numbers of earthworms.

So, it is not that very high cost. And the time required is more obvious as compared to the
conventional composting process. So, like I was talking about the in-vessel composting process.
Where degradation in 7 days or a maximum of 20 days is required for the degradation process,
but the vermicomposting process, because there is a slow degradation process. So, we will
require 60 days - 90 days for the degradation process.

But the addition of more earthworms and having the optimum condition for the degradation
process, it is possible to finish the vermicomposting process within 30 days 25 to 30 days, still,
this is large compared to the conventional composting process.
(Refer Slide Time: 51:25)

So, the troubleshooting could be possible like I come up with few questions along with their
answers like the problem could be the bin has more food than bedding. So what could be the
solution do not add any more food for a week or 2. Suppose if you find that more food or more
substrate has been added into the reactor or in the bin, so in that case, do not add food for a week,
1 week, or 2 weeks. The problem could be the bedding is too wet and compacted.

So, what could be the solution, gently steer the entire content to allow more air in and stop
adding food waste for a week or so, make sure that your food waste is still buried. So gently steer
the entire material. So, that air can supply into the material the lead can be removed or left
slightly to allow the content to dry out. Another problem could come up that the bedding is too
acidic causing the earthworm to crawl through the hole of the bin.
So, whatever the opening has been given for the aeration process, it is possible that earthworms
will come out from those openings. So that is possible when the bed is acidic. So, what could be
the solution add eggshells and cut down on the amount of citrus peels. So means I the citrus peel
do not add for a week or 2 weeks, tomato coffee ground or other acidic food waste do not allow
to add into that particular bed. So that by that way we can reduce the acidity of the particular
bedding.

So, we saw that there are lots of advantages of the vermicomposting process, but the scale is only
the major issue. One very important issue here, the scaling how big we can go. So when we were
comparing about conventional windrow composting process, which can accept the 200 tons 300
tons waste in a day. But we cannot allow this much amount of waste in the vermicomposting
process in that case you will be required large area will be required a large number of
earthworms will be also required.

So, that is what these vermicomposting facilities can be easily possible to do at the household
level or community level. So as per the previous lecture, I was talking about and I was focusing
on these centralized composting process could be highly beneficial for India or Asian countries
or Developing countries. So, in that case, along with the in-vessel composting process, we can
also go for the vermicomposting process, because the in-vessel is somewhat difficult at the
household level, but the vermicomposting process can work for the household level also.

Or by the mingling of both the process together, we can work at the community level or
apartment level or at the household level also can be worked. So, thank you