Vermicompost - roles, commonly grown green manure

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                                                                      Vermi compost


Organic waste materials and animal dungs when fed with certain species of earthworm viz., Endrilus eugeniae, Eisenia fetida and Perionyx excavatus the 'worm cast' or excrements of the worms for the needed organic fertilizer called 'vermicompost'.

It is rich in organic carbon content (47%) and humus substances which help in building soil structure and stimulating plant growth particularly that of roots. It can be applied to horticultural crops relatively in small quantity in the places of organic manures or organic cakes along with 50-75 per cent recommended quantities of NPK fertilizers.


The major roles of various organic manures are:

1. To serve as a source of major, secondary and minor elements

2. To build up soil organic matter and maintain fertility

3. To improve physicochemical and biological properties of the soil 4. To have residual effect.

5. To reduce the incidence of pests and diseases

6. To improve the quality of the crop 7. To act as a chelating agent.

The soil organic matter can be increased by the addition of 'synthetic farm yard manure' which is popularly called 'compost'. It may be defined as the material resulting from the decomposition of plant residues under the action of bacteria and fungi. The final product is usually dark brown in colour and when correctly made, resembles ordinary farm yard manure both in its properties and appearance. By regulating the temperature and moisture and by introducing the required amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium, the speed of decomposition and the nature of the product can be decided. Well prepared compost contains 0.75 to 1.00% N, 0.60 to 0.75% P₂O, and 1.00 to 1.50% KO.

Sometimes, green manure or green-leaf manures are ploughed into the soil for the purpose of incorporating organic matter, thus supplying humus as well as nutrients contained in them. The green manure crops are generally leguminous plants, raised for the sole purpose of serving as manure. About 45 to 60 days old crops can accumulate about 100 to 200 kg N per ha. The following are the commonly grown green manure legumes in India.

1. Sunhemp (Crotolaria juncea) 2. Daincha (Seshania aculeata)

3. Pillipesara (Sesbania speciosa)
Green leaf manuring' refers to the incorporation of the green leaves and other tender parts of the plants collected from the shrubs and trees grown outside the field and also collected from the waste lands and nearby forests into the soil. The popular plants are:

1. Gliricidia (Gliricidia maculata)

2. Sesbania (Sesbania speciosa)

3. Pungam (Pungamia pinnata)

The green manuring is generally recommended in orchard to build up humus status of the soil, available plant nutrients and enhance the biological properties of the soil. Green leaf manures like Gliricidia maculata can be in the roadsides and bunds. the grown.

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