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

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Photo 2.3.
Commercial vermicompost operation
at KCDC Bangalore, India.
Source: Basavaiah (2006)
2.2.4. Cement rings
Vermicompost can also be prepared above the ground by using cement rings. The size
of the cement ring should be 90 cm in diameter and 30 cm in height (Nagavallemma et
al., 2004).
2.2.5. Commercial model
Photo 2.4.
Cement ring
vermicomposting.
Source: Nagavallemma et al.
(2004)
This model contains partition walls with small holes to facilitate easy movement
of earthworms from one chamber to another (Figure 2.1). Providing an outlet at one
corner of each chamber with a slight slope facilitates collection of excess water. The
four components are filled with plant residues one after another. Once the first
chamber is filled layer by layer along with cow dung, earthworms are released. Then
the second chamber is started filling layer by layer. Once the contents in first chamber
are decomposed the earthworms move to the chamber 2, which is already filled and
ready for earthworms. This facilitates harvesting of decomposed material from the
first chamber and also saves labor for harvesting and introducing earthworms. This
technology reduces labor cost and saves water as well as time (Twomlow, 2004).
Water is saved by reducing evaporation from the surface during handling from one
room to another in limited distances with minimum exposure to drier air outside.
Tanks can be constructed with the dimensions suitable for operations. with small
holes to facilitate easy movement of earthworms from one tank to the other.