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

The latest fertilizers consumption is shown in Figure (5.2) and illustrates that
phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers are the highest consumed type of fertilizers under
Egyptian conditions. The most recent FAO statistics of 2010 indicated that there is an
increase in nitrogen fertilizer consumption for 2008 (1721105 ton N) and phosphorus
(229911 tons). This increase reached 60 and 61% in 2008 compared to 2002 for
nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively.
In addition, the continuous increase in fertilizers consumption is obvious and
additional increase in fertilizer demand is expected in the next few years.
1000 tonnes N
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Consumption in nutrients (tonnes of nutrients)
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
N P K
Figure 5.2. Nitrogen, phosphate, potassium and total fertilizers consumption in Egypt.
Source: FAO (2010).
5.3. Vermicomposting as fertilizers in Egypt
The production of consistently high-quality vermicompost is especially important to
growers of high-value crops. The influence of production factors, such as the
variability in the characteristics of the organic feedstocks, the length of time of
vermicomposting, and the various parameters used as maturity indicators, are
essential aspects to be considered in developing guidelines for assessing the quality of
vermicompost. The vermicomposting industry anticipates a need for compost quality
indicators as the production, utilization and marketing of vermicompost expands.
Various organic wastes tested in past as feed material for different species of
earthworms include sewage sludge, paper mill industry sludge, water hyacinth, paper
waste, crop residues, cattle manure, etc.
Many studies were conducted in order to evaluate vermicomposting from various
waste sources as follows:
48
250
200
150
100
50
0
1000 tonnes P & K