The Worm Farmer’s Handbook

The Worm Farmer’s Handbook
Author: Rhonda Sherman
Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2018-11-08
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1603587802

Choice Reviews, Outstanding Academic Title Techniques and systems for processing food scraps, manure, yard debris, paper, and more Turning waste into wealth sounds too good to be true, but many worm farmers are finding that vermicomposting is a reliable way to do just that. Vermicast—a biologically active, nutrient-rich mix of earthworm castings and decomposed organic matter—sells for $400 or more per cubic yard. Compare that to regular compost, sold at about $30 a cubic yard, and you’ll see why vermicomposting has taken root in most countries and on every continent but Antarctica. Vermicomposting is also one of the best sustainable solutions for organic waste management. Vermicomposting manure and crop wastes on farms improves crop yields while reducing demand for off-farm inputs. Vermicast has higher nutrient levels and lower soluble salt content than regular compost, and it improves soil aeration, porosity, and water retention. Plus, vermicast suppresses plant diseases and insect attacks. Municipalities, businesses, community gardens, schools, and universities can set up vermicomposting operations to process food residuals and other waste materials. The Worm Farmer’s Handbook details the ins and outs of vermicomposting for mid- to large-scale operations, including how to recycle organic materials ranging from food wastes and yard trimmings to manure and shredded office paper. Vermicomposting expert Rhonda Sherman shares what she has learned over twenty-five years working with commercial worm growers and researchers around the world. Her profiles of successful worm growers across the United States and from New Zealand to the Middle East and Europe describe their proven methods and systems. This book digs into all the details, including: Choosing the right production system Regulatory issues and developing a business and marketing plan Finding and managing feedstocks Pre-composting: why and how to do it Monitoring an active worm bed Harvesting, screening, testing, packaging, and storing vermicast Markets for earthworms and vermicast Food security: how vermicast benefits soils and plants Keys to success: avoiding common pitfalls From livestock farms and restaurants to colleges, military bases, and prisons, Sherman details why and how commercial-scale vermicomposting is a fast-growing, sustainable solution for organic waste management. The Worm Farmer’s Handbook is the first and only authoritative how-to guide that goes beyond small-scale operations and demystifies the science and logistics of the fascinating process that is vermicomposting.

Vermiculture Technology

Vermiculture Technology
Author: Clive A. Edwards
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 603
Release: 2010-12-20
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1439809887

Exploring the dramatic growth and changes in the field of vermicomposting since 1988, this comprehensive review assesses the advancements made in government-funded projects in the U.S. and UK. It discusses outdoor and indoor windrows, container systems, wedge systems, and low labor-requirements. It also examines fully-automated continuous flow vermicomposting reactor systems that can process more than 1000 tons of organic wastes per reactor. The book highlights the science and biology behind the use and efficacy of vermicomposting and details the technology of the past, present, and future.

The Complete Technology Book on Vermiculture and Vermicompost

The Complete Technology Book on Vermiculture and Vermicompost
Author: NPCS Board of Consultants & Engineers
Publisher: ASIA PACIFIC BUSINESS PRESS Inc.
Total Pages: 334
Release: 2004-01-01
Genre:
ISBN: 8178331365

The production of degradable organic waste and its safe disposal have become the current global problem. The rejuvenation of degraded soils by protecting topsoil and sustainability of productive soils is a major concern at the international level. Vermicomposting is compatible process with sound environmental principles that value conservation of resources and sustainable practices. Vermicompost is known to be the world best organic fertilizer. Vermiculture is for vermicompost. Vermiculture means artificial rearing or cultivation of worms (Earthworms) and the technology is the scientific process of using them for the betterment of human beings. Vermiculture technology has improved the crop productivity by increasing soil fertility through ecological methods of farming. Vermiculture has been embraced throughout the world right from the developed countries to the developing countries. Vermicomposting is a panacea for solid waste management. It is a simple kindred process of composting, in which certain species of microorganism such as earthworms are used to enhance the process of waste conversion and produce a better end product. Earthworms serve as nature plowman to facilitate these functions. They form gift of nature to produce good humus, which is the most precious material to fulfill the nutritional needs of crops. The utilization of vermicompost results in several benefits to farmers, industries, environment and overall national economy. This contains experiments from the field, vermicomposting materials, earthworm life cycle, ecological types earthworms, role of earthworms, vermicomposting, advantages of vermiculture, vermitechnology. This book majorly deals with advantages of vermicomposting, vermicomposting in daily life vermiculture v/s vermicomposting, earthworms: ecological types, physical and chemical effects of earthworms on soils, fertilizers use and deterioration of soil environment, vermicomposting materials, feeding vermicomposting materials, ideal conditions for life of earthworms, earthworms : their application in organic agriculture, maintenance of vermicomposting beds, vermicomposting : general procedures at agricultural farms vermicomposting : kiss plan, vermicomposting: a world scenario, soil fertility and texture, advantages of vermiculture, small scale or indoor vermicomposting, large scale or outdoor vermicomposting ect. This book is an invaluable resource for readers, entrepreneurs, scientists, farmers, existing industries, technical institution, etc. TAGS Advantages of vermicomposting, Advantages of vermiculture, Agro business: Vermiculture earthworms Farming, Application in Organic Agriculture, Best small and cottage scale industries, Business consultancy, Business consultant, Business Plan for a Startup Business, Business Plan for Worm Farming, Business start-up, Business Startup commercial worm farming, Earthworm Farm Business, Earthworm Production, Earthworms end uses and potential, Great Opportunity for Startup, How to Build a Worm Farm, How to make a worm farm, How to make vermicompost, How to Prepare Vermicompost, How to start a successful Vermicompost business, How to Start a Vermicompost industry?, How to Start a Vermicompost Production Business, How to Start a Vermicomposting Bin, How to Start a Worm Bin System, How to start a worm compost, How to Start a Worm Farm Business, How to Start a Worm Farm for Profit, How to Start Vermicompost Processing Industry in India, How to Start Vermicomposting Business, How to start vermicomposting business in India, How to Start Vermiculture, How to start vermiculture business, Ideas and Plan to Start Vermiculture Business, Industrial Project Report, Manual of Farm Vermicomposting and Vermiculture, Materials used in vermicomposting, Modern small and cottage scale industries, Most Profitable Vermicompost Processing Business Ideas, Preparation of Project Profiles, Process technology books, Profitable small and cottage scale industries, Profitable Small Scale Vermicompost Manufacturing, Project consultancy, Project consultant, Project for startups, Project identification and selection, Role of Earthworms, Setting up and opening your Vermicompost Business, Setting Up of a Vermiwash Unit, Setting up of Vermicompost Processing Units, Small scale Commercial Vermicompost making, Small Scale Vermicompost Processing Projects, Small scale Vermicompost production line, Small Start-up Business Project, Start a Worm Farm Business, Start up India, Stand up India, Starting a Business in Vermicomposting, Starting a Vermicompost Processing Business, Starting a Vermiculture Business, Starting a worm farm business, Startup, Start-up Business Plan for Vermicompost, Start-up Business Plan for Vermiculture, Startup ideas, Startup Project, Startup Project for Vermicompost and Vermiculture, Startup project plan, Technology Book on Vermiculture and Vermicompost, Vermicompost - An Organic Gold, Vermicompost Based Profitable Projects, Vermicompost Making Small Business Manufacturing, vermicompost preparation, Vermicompost Processing Industry in India, Vermicompost Production Business, vermicompost production in India, Vermicompost Production Unit, Vermicomposting bin, Vermicomposting business plan India, Vermicomposting for Business Farms, Vermicomposting Materials, Vermicomposting method, Vermicomposting process, Vermiculture and Vermicompost, Vermiculture Based Small Scale Industries Projects, vermiculture business plan, Ways to make Compost, Worm Book for Beginners, Worm Composting, Worm farming for profit

Bioremediation of Agricultural Soils

Bioremediation of Agricultural Soils
Author: Juan C. Sanchez-Hernandez
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2019-03-14
Genre: Science
ISBN: 135179311X

The quality of agricultural soils are always under threat from chemical contaminants, which ultimately affect the productivity and safety of crops. Besides agrochemicals, a new generation of substances invades the soil through irrigation with reclaimed wastewater and pollutants of organic origin such as sewage sludge or cattle manure. Emerging pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, nanomaterials and microplastics are now present in agricultural soils, but the understanding of their impact on soil quality is still limited. With focus on in situ bioremediation, this book provides an exhaustive analysis of the current biological methodologies for recovering polluted agricultural soils as well as monitoring the effectiveness of bioremediation.

Vermicomposting for Sustainable Food Systems in Africa

Vermicomposting for Sustainable Food Systems in Africa
Author: Hupenyu Allan Mupambwa
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 364
Release: 2023-03-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9811980802

This edited book collates the research done mainly in Africa on vermicomposting and related technologies that can assist African smallholder farmers in making nutrient rich organic fertilizers from their animal and crop residue wastes. Information on the development of organic sources of liquid fertilizer development for hydroponics is also presented. The book presents research findings on vermicomposting in a simplified way that will allow farmers and extension workers to adopt the indicated technologies. The book also covers critical aspects of standardization of vermicompost preparation, earthworm biology, nutrient enrichment of composts and organic liquid fertilizer production. Vermicomposting is a technology that employs earthworms to enhance the biodegradation and fertilizer value of organic wastes. The earthworms optimize the biodegradation ecosystem during composting, resulting in a final nutrient rich product with more recalcitrant forms of carbon and much lower levels of veterinary antibiotics and their metabolites. Vermicompost as an organic fertilizer is highly preferred over other forms of soil enhancers. A lot of research has been done on vermicompost and related activities in Africa but remain scattered across various publications. The book is an invaluable source of information for farmers especially those practicing organic crop production, vermicomposting researchers, as well as extension workers.

Vermiculture and Organic Farming

Vermiculture and Organic Farming
Author: Sathe Tukaram Vithatran
Publisher: Daya Books
Total Pages: 140
Release: 2004-09
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9788170353287

Vermiculture and organic farming has attracted the attention on naturalists, ecologists and workers in applied sciences such as Agriculture, Pest Management, Horticulture, Sericulture etc., at global scenario. Agricultural chemicals increase tremendous pressure on agroecosystem. Increasing use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides lead to serious problems in agroecosystem such as air, water and soil pollution, pest resistance, pest resurgence, secondary pest out break, killing of beneficial and non target organisms, destruction of ecocycles and endemic soil fauna, drying of soil, etc. The use of biofertilizers, vermicompost, biological pest control technique will certainly add great relevance in solving the above problems. Therefore, in the present book, attempts have been made on Vermiculture and Vermicomposting, Biofertilizers and their Production and Production of Biological Pest Control Agents. Importance of biofertilizers, species diversity, applications and production technique for Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azolla, Blue-green algae, Mycorrhizae, Azospirillum, Green manure, Organic composting have been described under the chapter Biofertilizers and their Production, while, under the chapter production of biological pest control agents, emphasis is given on the importance of biological pest control technique and mass production techniques of various BCA such as Trichogramma, Chilonus blackburni, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Crysoperla carnea. This book is need of modern agriculture and useful guide to naturalist, students, teachers, farmers, researchers and industrialist. Contents Chapter 1: Vermiculture and Vermicomposting; Chapter 2: Biofertilizers and their Production; Phosphate solubizing microorganisms, Rhizobium production, Azotobacter production, Azospirillum production, Blue green algae (BGA) production, Azolla production, Mycorrhiza production, Green manure, Organic matter and composting; Chapter 3: Production Techniques for Biological Pest Control Agents; Mass production technique for trichogramma, Mass production technique for chelomus blackburni, Mass production technique for cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Mass production technique for chrperla carnea.

Verms & Vermitechnology

Verms & Vermitechnology
Author: Arvind Kumar
Publisher: APH Publishing
Total Pages: 222
Release: 2005
Genre: Bioengineering
ISBN: 9788176489386

Earthworms (Verms) have long been described as the intestine of the earth, friends of farmers and so on, because of their manifold functions in the soil. Recently, earthworms have come to be recognized as one of the bioreactors due to their ability to degrade organic waste materials into available vermin-compost and the technology is being described as vermiculture technology or Vermitechnology. Due to population explosion beyond the limit and rapid urbanization, total agricultural land area is decreasing day by day. These are directly affecting the crop production. Although due to the usage of various chemical fertilizers and pesticides, yield of crop production have been increased multi-folds, but their excessive and imbalance usage causing tremendous alterations in natural soil environment. In order to cope with this trenchant problem, the vermitechnology has become the most suitable remedial device of the day. Therefore, the present book entitled Verms & Vermitechnology has been edited to make the low cost vermitechnology a grand success among the farmers, researchers and academicians.

Biotechnology for Agro-Industrial Residues Utilisation

Biotechnology for Agro-Industrial Residues Utilisation
Author: Poonam Singh-Nee Nigam
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 462
Release: 2009-05-19
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1402099428

Residues from agriculture and the food industry consist of many and varied wastes, in total accounting for over 250 million tonnes of waste per year in the UK alone. Biotechnological processing of these residues would allow these waste products to be used as a resource, with tremendous potential. An extensive range of valuable and usable products can be recovered from what was previously considered waste: including fuels, feeds and pharmaceutical products. In this way Biotechnology can offer many viable alternatives to the disposal of agricultural waste, producing several new products in the process. This book presents up-to-date information on a biotechnology approach for the utilisation of agro-industrial residues, presenting chapters with detailed information on materials and bioconversion technology to obtain products of economic importance: The production of industrial products using agro-industrial residues as substrates The biotechnological potential of agro-industrial residues for bioprocesses Enzymes degrading agro-industrial residues and their production Bioconversion of agro-industrial residues. Written by experts in Biotechnological processing of Agro-Industrial Residues, this book will provide useful information for academic researchers and industry scientists working in biotechnology, waste management, agriculture and the food industry.

The Soil and Health

The Soil and Health
Author: Albert Howard
Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
Total Pages: 357
Release: 2011-01-23
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0813132096

During his years as a scientist working for the British government in India, Sir Albert Howard conceived of and refined the principles of organic agriculture. Howard’s The Soil and Health became a seminal and inspirational text in the organic movement soon after its publication in 1945. The Soil and Health argues that industrial agriculture, emergent in Howard’s era and dominant today, disrupts the delicate balance of nature and irrevocably robs the soil of its fertility. Howard’s classic treatise links the burgeoning health crises facing crops, livestock, and humanity to this radical degradation of the Earth’s soil. His message—that we must respect and restore the health of the soil for the benefit of future generations—still resonates among those who are concerned about the effects of chemically enhanced agriculture.