1. COMPOST & VERMICOMPOST
En Mohd Fauzie Jusoh
Lecturer
Agrotechnology Programme
Faculty of Agro-Based Industry
Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (Jeli Campus)
Locked Bag No.100, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan.
014-2903025/fauzie.j@umk.edu.my/
3. 3
Why composting?
• about 70 % of municipal waste is normally organic
• organic waste can cause problems of smell, leachate, gas, and stray animals in
landfills
• recycling at source is most economic and environment friendly method of
waste management
• simple methods available
• compost is valuable resource for farmers
• composting at source keeps inorganic waste clean and makes it easier for
recycling
4. 4
Source: adapted from ENPHO
• process of decomposition of organic waste
by micro-organism
• natural process (be made faster and more
effective by mixing various types of waste
and adjusting moisture, temperature and
aeration)
• contains NPK and other plant nutrients
including micro-organisms
steps of composting:
• prepaeration (converting waste into raw
material)
• production of compost
• marketing
Concept
5. 5 Source: adapted from ENPHO
• waste collection
• sorting into organic and inorganic
• reduce size if necessary
• adjust moisture content
• starters/additives
• adjust C:N ratio
Preparation
7. 7 Source: adapted from ENPHO
Compost preparation
• place prepared waste in piles, windrows, chamber or bins
• turn the compost regularly or arrange other ways to aerate the waste
• regularly monitor temperature & moisture
8. 8 Source: adapted from ENPHO
Finishing & Marketing
• screening & packaging
• marketing strategy
◦ product
- quality
- packaging
◦ price
- main distributor
- Consumer
◦ place
- distribution network
◦ promotion
- mass communication
- interpersonal communication
9. 9 Source: adapted from ENPHO
• separate waste at source. Glass in the waste can result in
injuries
• ensure proper C/N-ratio & chop waste in small pieces
• ensure proper amount of water and air to avoid smell
• prepare and implement proper marketing strategy (most
compost projects fail because of poor marketing)
• regularly monitor composting process
Important points to remember
11. • Utilizing earth worms and microorganisms to
convert organic waste into a nutrient-rich
humus like material known as vermicompost
(worm castings)
• Eisenia fetida, commonly called ‘Red Wiggler’,
‘Manure Worm’, ‘Tiger Worm’
12. Vermicomposting
Characteristics of the Red Wiggler
(Eisenia fetida)
~ Can consume half it’s weight of food per day
~ Requires 70% moisture – to breath
~ Temperature – 60 - 85 Degree F
~ Acidity – pH 6 – pH 8
~ Aeration – Good ventilation and drainage
~ Bedding and Food
~ Darkness
13. Worms, worms
• Worms become mature at 10 weeks
• Will produce 2 to 3 cocoons a week
– Each cocoon holds 2-5 babies
– Cocoons take 3 weeks to hatch
14. And more worms
• In 6 months, 8 worms will multiply
into 1500 if conditions are right
• They will stop breeding if there is
not enough food or space.
16. 16
How to do at home
Source: adapted from ENPHO
• prepare vessel or bin
• add 2 inches (5 cm) of bedding materials
• add worms
• cut waste into small pieces and put in the bin
• keep bin covered with a moist cloth
• put bin away from direct sunlight
• regularly check moisture
• harvest vermicompost every 3 to 4 months
• store harvested compost for 2-3 weeks and then
remove the young worms
22. So what’s the difference between conventional composting
(also called “hot composting”) and vermicomposting?
Hot composting Vermicomposting
23. Differences between vermicomposting and (hot) composting
Process variable Vermicomposting Hot composting
Conditions Aerobic
Process
temperature
15 - 25ºC 50-70ºC
Method of
operation
Apply waste frequently in
thin layers (continuous
operation rather than batch)
Stack waste material in
large piles so that heat
produced is retained in
pile (usually batch
operation)
24. Differences between vermicomposting and (hot)
composting
Process variable Vermicomposting Hot composting
Earthworms Present in large
quantities
Only present at beginning
(die off at temperature in
pile > 35°C)
Pathogen
destruction
mechanism
Passage through worm
gut (biochemical
digestion)
Elevated temperature over
extended period (> 1
week) and action of
microorganisms
Final product Vermicompost or
vermicast;
microbiologically active
(this is good for the soil)
Compost; relatively little
microbial activity
Course 2 Unit 6
25. Vermicomposting: pros and cons
compared to hot composting
Pros
1) Tends to be somewhat less labor-
intensive - no turning/aerating
necessary (worm activity helps to mix,
fragment and aerate materials)
2) Cooler temperatures help to conserve
nitrogen
3) Higher moisture contents not an issue
(and actually preferred)
4) Materials can be constantly added (no
need to stock pile in preparation for next
‘batch’)
5) Size of system unimportant - ideally
suited for both indoors and outdoors
6) Considerable evidence to indicate that
vermicomposts have beneficial
properties not found in hot composts
7) Under ideal conditions, wastes can be
processed very quickly
Cons
1) Won’t kill seeds (and although there is
a fair amount of evidence to indicate
pathogen destruction, more research
is required)
2) More space required to process similar
amounts as hot composting - need to
be careful with amount added (since
excess heat will kill worms)
3) Outdoor systems much more limited by
cold weather
4) Worms need to be separated from
compost
5) Worms (although quite resilient) do
require some attention and proper
care.
26. Hot composting: pros and cons compared to
vermicomposting
Pros
1) Enables processing of larger
quantities of materials in a
smaller area
2) Can proceed relatively quickly
under ideal conditions
3) Can kill weed seeds and
pathogens
4) On a large scale can proceed easily
in cold weather
Cons
1) Can be labor-intensive (piling
wastes, turning pile etc) and
require more attention
2) Heat can kill off many
beneficial microbes
3) May require some stock-piling
until sufficient materials
available for ‘batch’
4) Heating can lead to
considerable nitrogen loss
