[USCC] Nutrient content of vermicompost

[Scott Subler]

Dear Hiroshi Hiraoka:  You correctly assume that the nutrient contents of
vermicomposts and earthworm castings are influenced by what the worms are
fed. In fact, feedstock quality is almost always the primary determining
factor.  The reported range of range of nutrient contents in vermicomposts
is quite wide, as it is in composts, although total N and P don't appear to
reach levels quite as high as found in some composts (e.g., poultry litter
composts).  Vermicomposts based on animal manure feedstocks typically
contain 2-3% N (dry wt basis), with slightly higher values reported for
biosolids vermicompost (up to 3.5% N) and lower values (<2% N) reported for
some food waste vermicomposts.  Available nitrogen often comprises a
relatively high proportion of total N, with very low ammonium-N and very
high nitrate-N being characteristic of many vermicomposts.

A classic source of information for this (and many other aspects of
vermicomposts and vermicomposting) is C.A. Edwards and E.F. Neuhauser (eds)
1988. Earthworms in Waste and Environmental Management (SPB Academic
Publishing, The Hague, The Netherlands).   Numerous recent papers on
vermicomposts and vermicomposting can be found in scientific journals such
as Compost Science & Utilization, Soil Biology & Biochemistry, Biology &
Fertility of Soils, Pedobiologia, and BioResource Technology, to name a few.

Good luck and have fun, Scott

Dr. Scott Subler
Pacific Garden Company
104 Mill Street
Millheim, PA  16854-9602
tel: 814-349-9820  fax: 814-349-9822

-----Original Message-----
From: compost-admin@compostingcouncil.org
[mailto:compost-admin@compostingcouncil.org]On Behalf Of Hiraoka, Hiroshi
(FAORAP)
Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2003 6:57 AM
To: 'compost@compostingcouncil.org'
Subject: [USCC] Nutrient content of vermicompost

Hello everyone,

I am dealing with soil management and fertilizer issues at FAO Regional
Office in Bangkok, Thailand.  One of my duties is recycling of municipal
waste into plant nutrient and now I am preparing a fact sheet for
vermicomposting in Laos.  A problem I am facing now is that after several
hours on net surfing, I have collected very few data on nutrient content of
worm castings (that of Eisenia foetida).  Moreover, figures on total
nitrogen content vary from 0.5% to 2.0% and those figures does not indicate
whether they are dried or not.  Although I assume that 0.5% is for wet
samples and 2.0% for dried samples, some part of the differece might come
from what worms eat.  I would be very happy if anyone of you could kindly
clarify on this matter.  Thank you very much for your kindness in advance.

With best wishes,

HIROSHI HIRAOKA
APO, Soil Management and Fertilizer Use
FAO/RAPG, Maliwan Mansion, 39 Phra Athit Road,
Banglumpoo, Bangkok 10200 Thailand
Tel. +66-2-697-4118   Fax. +66-2-697-4445
E-mail  hiroshi.hiraoka@fao.org


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