282 week study of vermicast production in the philippines
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Eudrilus Eugeniae (African Night Crawler) Starting Formula for Potting Mix 1/4 Vermicast 1/4 Rice hull charcoal 1/4 Soil - from your farm 1/4 Sand 282 Week Study Of Vermicast Production In The Philippines Keith Mikkelson, Aloha House, Palawan, Philippines 4. Results • 282 weeks yielded 241 liters per week from 38 sq. m. = 6.37 liters/sq. meter/week • (1975 days yielded 34 liters/day from 38 sq. m. = 0.91 liters/sq. meter/day) • 88 tons from 38 sq. m. harvested over 5 years, 4 months, 27 days Vermiculture area can now be accurately calculated for potting soil Vermicast ppm NPK % Nitrogen (N) 5,100 0.51 Phosphate (P 2 O 5 ) 8,200 0.82 Potash (K 2 O) 2,500 0.25 Manganese 110 Iron 677 Copper 6 Zinc 206 1. Background and Introduction • Profitable vegetable and herb production can be a challenge in tropical conditions due to poor fertility, heavy rains, strong UV rays, high heat and excessive evaporation. • Plant nurseries can buffer these environmental stresses with micro climates but potting soil methods and formulas are often inconsistent and perform inconsistently. • A high quality potting soil can be consistently made with local materials throughout Asia. 2. Purpose Determine the volume of pure vermi castings produced per square meter in order to boost production and lower input costs through farm generated fertility utilizing vermiculture of non food waste. A farm with integrated livestock can use manures as the key source of fertility in vermiculture production thus boosting potting soils for higher profits. 3. Methodology The Top Harvest Method (THM) of gathering pure castings of the Eudrilus Eugeniae (African Night Crawler-A.N.C.) was tracked on a resource center in the Philippines. Top harvesting the castings allows the A.N.C. maximum production and allows the farmer to collect the highest quality and volume for his efforts. A method was developed for pure vermicast production that enhanced a high performance potting soil for intensive nursery management in the tropics. Manures from pastured goats, cows and hogs were pre-composted with Effective Microorganisms for 2 weeks before use and added to the feed stocks in the vermi beds as needed. 9 beds totaling 38 sq. meters were stocked. Beds were never emptied. This insures a full colony of A.N.C. and beneficial composters within the soil food web. Loss of eggs and juveniles to removal and screening is minimized because of the top harvest method. Prolific breeding take place in the feedstock and egg deposits are maximized. Castings do not need screening when top harvested with care. Beds are watered weekly for five consecutive days to promote feeding/breeding activity. To aid in cast removal, water was withheld for 24 hrs. prior to harvest. Aeration of the beds takes place with gentle fork manipulation weekly after harvest. Castings averaged 30% moisture content and were measured by volume weekly. Castings are used in a high performance potting mix consisting of 4 equal parts of vermicasts/ rice hull charcoal/ clay soil/ sand. Top harvesting castings eekly record keeping R e ad m o r e a b ou t i t … 1 2 3 5 4
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Transcript of 282 week study of vermicast production in the philippines
Eudrilus Eugeniae (African Night Crawler)
Starting Formula for Potting Mix1/4 Vermicast1/4 Rice hull charcoal1/4 Soil - from your farm1/4 Sand
282 Week Study Of Vermicast Production In The PhilippinesKeith Mikkelson, Aloha House, Palawan, Philippines
4. Results• 282 weeks yielded 241 liters per week from 38 sq. m. = 6.37 liters/sq. meter/week• (1975 days yielded 34 liters/day from 38 sq. m. = 0.91 liters/sq. meter/day)• 88 tons from 38 sq. m. harvested over 5 years, 4 months, 27 daysVermiculture area can now be accurately calculated for potting soil volume requirements.
Vermicast ppm NPK %
Nitrogen (N) 5,100 0.51
Phosphate (P2O5) 8,200 0.82
Potash (K2O) 2,500 0.25Manganese 110Iron 677Copper 6Zinc 206
1. Background and Introduction• Profitable vegetable and herb production can be a challenge in tropical conditions due to
poor fertility, heavy rains, strong UV rays, high heat and excessive evaporation.• Plant nurseries can buffer these environmental stresses with micro climates but potting soil
methods and formulas are often inconsistent and perform inconsistently.• A high quality potting soil can be consistently made with local materials throughout Asia.
2. Purpose Determine the volume of pure vermi castings produced per square meter in order to boost production and lower input costs through farm generated fertility utilizing vermiculture of non food waste. A farm with integrated livestock can use manures as the key source of fertility in vermiculture production thus boosting potting soils for higher profits.
3. Methodology The Top Harvest Method (THM) of gathering pure castings of the Eudrilus Eugeniae (African Night Crawler-A.N.C.) was tracked on a resource center in the Philippines. Top harvesting the castings allows the A.N.C. maximum production and allows the farmer to collect the highest quality and volume for his efforts. A method was developed for pure vermicast production that enhanced a high performance potting soil for intensive nursery management in the tropics.
Manures from pastured goats, cows and hogs were pre-composted with Effective Microorganisms for 2 weeks before use and added to the feed stocks in the vermi beds as needed. 9 beds totaling 38 sq. meters were stocked. Beds were never emptied. This insures a full colony of A.N.C. and beneficial composters within the soil food web. Loss of eggs and juveniles to removal and screening is minimized because of the top harvest method. Prolific breeding take place in the feedstock and egg deposits are maximized.
Castings do not need screening when top harvested with care. Beds are watered weekly for five consecutive days to promote feeding/breeding activity. To aid in cast removal, water was withheld for 24 hrs. prior to harvest. Aeration of the beds takes place with gentle fork manipulation weekly after harvest. Castings averaged 30% moisture content and were measured by volume weekly. Castings are used in a high performance potting mix consisting of 4 equal parts of vermicasts/ rice hull charcoal/ clay soil/ sand.
Top harvesting castings
Weekly record keeping
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