Vermiculture in Egypt: - FAO - Regional Office for the Near East and

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The growth of E. fetida in organic matter substrates with different moisture contents and temperatures has been studied by various authors in the laboratory. This species gained weight maximally and survived best at temperatures between 20˚C and 29˚C and moisture contents between 70% and 85% in horse manure and activated sludge (Kaplan et al., 1980). Edwards (1988) reported that the optimum growth of E. fetida in different animal and vegetable wastes occurred at 25-30˚C and at a moisture content range of 75-90%, but these factors could vary in different substrates. 2.1.5.4. Worms‟s response to temperature differentials. Compost worms will redistribute themselves within piles, beds or windrows according to temperature gradients. In outdoor composting windrows in wintertime, where internal heat from decomposition is in contrast to frigid external temperatures, the worms will be found in a relatively narrow band at a depth where the temperature is close to optimum. They will also be found in much greater numbers on the south facing side of windrows in the winter and on the opposite side in the summer. Edwards (1988) studied the life cycles and optimal conditions for survival and growth of E. fetida, D. veneta, E. eugeniae, and P. excavatus. Each of these four species differed considerably in terms of their responses and tolerance to different temperatures. The optimum temperature for E. fetida was 25 °C, and its temperature tolerance was between 0 and 35°C. Dendrobaena veneta had a rather low temperature optimum and rather less tolerance to extreme temperatures. The optimum temperatures for E. eugeniae and P. excavatus were around 25 °C, but they died at temperatures below 9°C and above 30°C. Optimal temperatures for cocoon production were much lower than those for growth for all these species. 2.2. Methods of vermicomposting 2.2.1. Pits below the ground Pit of any convenient dimension can be constructed in the backyard or garden or in a field. It may be single pit, two pits or tank of any sizes with brick and mortar with proper water outlets. The most convenient pit or chamber of easily manageable size is 2m x 1m x 0.75m. The size of the pits and chambers should be determined according to the volume of biomass and agricultural waste. To combat the ants from attacking the worms, it is good to have a water column in the centre of the parapet wall of the vermin-pits. Photo 2.1. Open Pit Vermicomposting Source: Kirungakottai (http://www.icasaweb.google.com) 16
2.2.2. Heaping above the ground The waste material is spread on a polythene sheet placed on the ground and then covered with cattle dung. Sunitha et al. (1997) compared the efficacy of pit and heap methods of preparing vermicompost under field conditions. Considering the biodegradation of wastes as the criterion, the heap method of preparing vermicompost was better than the pit method. Earthworm population was high in the heap method, with a 21-fold increase in Eudrilus eugenae as compared to 17-fold increase in the pit method. Biomass production was also higher in the heap method (46-fold increase) than in the pit method (31-fold). Consequent production of vermicompost was also higher in the heap method (51 kg) than in the pit method (40 kg). On the contrary, Saini (2008) compared the efficacy of pit and heap methods under field conditions over three seasons (winter, summer and rainy) using, Eisenia fetida. A pit size of 2 × 0.5 × 0.6 m (length × width × depth); and heap of size 2 × 0.6 × 0.5 m (length × width × hight) were prepared with the same amount of mixture. The pits and heaps were made under shady trees, in open field having a temporary shed made of straw, raised on pillars, to prevent them from direct sunlight and rainfall. The pits had brick linings and plastered bottoms. The pits and heaps carrying the organic waste mixture were covered with gunny bags and were watered at 10 liter/pit or heap daily, except on rainy days, to maintain moisture. On the basis of the results of three seasons, it was concluded that summer and winter were better for the pit method, whereas the rainy season favored the heap method for vermicomposting, utilizing Eisenia fetida. However, if the annual performance of the two methods is compared, the pit method produced more worms and more biomass. Therefore, on the latter grounds, the pit method of vermicomposting is more suitable than the heap method in the semi-arid sub-tropical regions of North-West India. 2.2.3. Tanks above the ground 17 Photo 2.2. Open heap vermicomposting Source: Department of Agriculture, Andaman & Nicobar: (http://agri.and.nic.in/vermi_culture.htm) Tanks made up of different materials such as normal bricks, hollow bricks, local stones, asbestos sheets and locally available rocks were evaluated for vermicompost preparation (Nagavallemma et al., 2004).
Page 1 and 2: Vermiculture in Egypt: Current Deve
Page 3 and 4: The designations employed and the p
Page 5 and 6: 4.3. Overview of organic waste reco
Page 7 and 8: List of tables Table 1.1 Major fami
Page 9: SF6 Sulphur hexafluoride SWM Solid
Page 12 and 13: Executive Summary Vermiculture in E
Page 14 and 15: For three millennia (3,000 years),
Page 16 and 17: 1.3. Types of earthworms Earthworm
Page 18 and 19: enclosure could not be ascribed wit
Page 20 and 21: 2. Trial of vermiculture and vermic
Page 22 and 23: Table 2.2. Advantages and disadvant
Page 24 and 25: 2.1.3. Moisture The bedding used mu
Page 28 and 29: 18 Photo 2.3. Commercial vermicompo
Page 30 and 31: 2.3. The trial experience in Egypt
Page 32 and 33: 2.3.4. Moisture Photo 2.9. The loca
Page 34 and 35: - Placing narrow strips of 1-2 day
Page 36 and 37: 3. Use of compost worms globally in
Page 38 and 39: vermicastings produced per crop is
Page 40 and 41: users in Dharwad) and $3.2 per ton
Page 42 and 43: 3.4. Vermicompost „teas‟ in Ohi
Page 44 and 45: 4. Current on-farm and urban organi
Page 46 and 47: The clearly evident symptoms of the
Page 48 and 49: whole; in many cities the municipal
Page 50 and 51: 4.3. Overview of organic waste reco
Page 52 and 53: Table 4.4. Egypt‟s Integrated Sol
Page 54 and 55: Table 4.6. Solid waste amount produ
Page 56 and 57: which needs to find other alternati
Page 58 and 59: The latest fertilizers consumption
Page 60 and 61: 5.3.2. Vermicomposting of agricultu
Page 62 and 63: Table 5.3. Potential nutrients that
Page 64 and 65: demand in the world. Thus earthworm
Page 66 and 67: earthworms, delivering a protein pu
Page 68 and 69: the cost of fish-keeping, but also
Page 70 and 71: aquaculture started to exert some s
Page 72 and 73: 7. Current on-farm and urban organi
Page 74 and 75: 7.2 Total emissions from waste sect
Page 76 and 77:
Greenhouse gases Source & Sink Cate
Page 78 and 79:
CH4 ; Figure 7.1. Egypt‟s greenho
Page 80 and 81:
properties of the treated sludge, t
Page 82 and 83:
The United Nations Framework Conven
Page 84 and 85:
2. Abatement of nitrous oxide from
Page 86 and 87:
9. Analysis of the Egyptian context
Page 88 and 89:
Table 9.1. Summary of identified mi
Page 90 and 91:
References Aldadi, H.; A.R. Parvare
Page 92 and 93:
Ghafoor, A.; M. Hassan and Z.H. Alv
Page 94 and 95:
Sunitha, ND; R. S. Giraddi,; K. A.
Page 96 and 97:
How long will the material ingested
Page 98 and 99:
earthworm test species. This specie
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