STUDENT PROJECT

With

VERMICOMPOST– SOIL LOVES COMPOST

Background in taking up the project:                        

• Vermicomposting has been gaining a strong toehold from many years in the country due to simple production techniques, natural, financial and human health benefits associated with it.
• Since our college generates a lot of garbage, like dry leaves, kitchen waste, fruit peels and vegetable peels, we have chosen this method to recycle it. 
• We are doing this from January month for 2023-24 academic years in our college.
• In many states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Entrepreneurs have popularized the usage of vermicompost.
• But this type of initiation lacking in Telangana, so our college has initiated this as a college level unit.
• So this promotes more usage of vermicompost rather than pesticides and fertilizers.
• Not only it’s advantages to environment, but also our students will also try to     become future entrepreneur in vermicomposting. 
• Advantages of vermicomposting:
• Production of compost using earth worms is called the vermicomposting technology.
• In this technology earthworms eat dried leaves and vegetables and excrete in digested form which is known as vermicompost.
• Vermicompost is rich in all essential plant nutrients
• Provides excellent effect on plant growth, encourage the growth of new shoots/leaves and improves the quality and shelf life to produce.
• Vermicompost is free flowing, easy to apply, handle and store and does not have bad odour.

• It improves soil structure, texture, aeration, and water holding capacity and prevents soil erosion.

     PROCEDURE FOR PREPARATION OF VERMICOMPOST :

• Decomposable organic wastes such as animal excreta, kitchen waste, farm residues and forest litter are commonly used as composting materials. 

         In general, animal dung mostly cow dung and dried chopped crop residues are the  key raw materials.

   Method of Vermicomposting we used Pit method:       

   ØComposting is done in the cemented pits of size 5x5x3 feet. The unit is       Covered with thatch grass or any other locally available materials.

Sample collection: 

Processing involves collection of wastes, shredding, mechanical separation of the metal, glass and ceramics and storage of organic waste.

Collecting and drying leaves and vegetables

  Preparation of vermicompost: 

Pre digestion of organic waste for twenty days by heaping the material along with cattle dung slurry. This process partially digests the material and fit for earthworm consumption. Cattle dung and biomass slurry may be used after drying. Wet dung should not be used for vermicompost production.

Preparation of vermicomposting                        

How to manage the pits

➢The floor of the unit should be compact to prevent earthworms’ migration into the soil. 

➢The organic wastes should be free from plastics, chemicals, pesticides and metals etc. 

➢ Optimum moisture level (30-40 %) should be maintained. 

➢Temperature level should be maintained at 18- 25°C.

Storage:

Storing the vermicompost in proper place to maintain moisture and allow the beneficial microorganisms to grow.

PRODUCTION: some quantity of the vermicompost is used to the plants in our campus , remaining quantity vermicompost is packed in packets and put up for sale to the lecturers in our campus.

CONCLUSION

• By adapting the vermicomposting technology, we can efficiently manage the waste 
• We can produce enriched compost with low cost thereby helping the farmers to reduce the expenditure on farming 
• Vermicomposting reduce the risk of pollution and helps in maintaining the ecological balance through enriched biodiversity 
• Vermicomposting helps in reducing the usage of chemical fertilizers and increase the soil fertility

• Now a days people are very interested in roof gardening. 
• The domestic wastage also can be converted into vermicomposting. 
• And that can be used for roof gardening. 
• We can farm flowering plants, vegetables and even some fruit plants too.
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