Additionally, worm castings improve the soil structure and are high in humic acids. Improves the physical structure of the soil. As the temperature of the compost increases above 40°C, thermophilic bacteria (heat-resistant bacteria) replace these mesophilic bacteria. Vermicompost has a diverse and more significant microbial population than conventional compost. Prefer traditional composting? Plus, the nutrient increases the resistance of plants against many diseases. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. Advantages of vermicomposting over “hot” aerobic composting include: faster; low-odor; cooler; can be done outdoors or even indoors – perfect for neighborhoods and schools; children love taking care of worms He knows exactly what the challenges are to nurturing a thriving yard in difficult soil. The most significant benefit is that the nutrients in earthworm compost are very easily absorbed by the roots of plants. In fact, they will die in extreme temperatures. It improves plant growth by enabling the growth of new shoots and leaves, thereby increasing productivity. You can purchase red worms from a bait store or buy them online (link to Amazon). Conventional compost piles can be started with almost no investment. They like to live between 20°C and 45°C. The maturation phase happens once the red worms move to the top layers of undigested organic waste. Compost has less nitrogen than biosolids from other stabilization processes, due to the loss of ammonia during composting. Please log in again. Vermicomposting: Composting with worms is a necessarily cooler process with temperatures ranging between 50-90°F. Traditional composting goes through the following phases under ideal conditions. You can make worm boxes, or you can buy them online. It is a joyous time of the year for gardeners. Vermicomposting has both supporters and detractors; like any gardening method, it also has many advantages and disadvantages. High temperatures increase the decomposition of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins during the thermophilic phase. Vermicomposting does not need as much space as traditional composting, which makes it a good option for apartments and smaller houses. With all of that being said, traditional composting can be pretty simple. A worm bin can be kept indoors where adding kitchen waste is handy. How to Make a Worm Bin - Quick, Simple and Inexpensive, Composting 101: Stupid-Easy Compost Making in Piles & Bins, link to Lawnmower Burning Oil? I really thought that traditional composting would be less involved. However, it’s important to remember that temperatures above 65°C destroy many microorganisms and reduce the decomposition rate. Vermicompost vs. traditional compost: Which one is better? Initially, add vegetable matter and gritty material in small quantities, and gradually, you can increase the amount. You need to know that you will have to remove the worm castings every so often to keep your bin in balance. Additionally, they also affect leaf senescence and growth of axillary buds. Vermicomposting helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also strengthening soil and future crops. He takes a practical approach to yard improvement and enjoys putting best practices and “golden rules of lawn care” to the test. Nitrogen is necessary for the development and growth of plants. One acre of land can contain up to 3 million earthworms; the activities of which can bring up to 8-10 tons of ‘top soil’ to the surface (in the form of worm casting) every year. Therefore, you should keep the temperature below 65°C by using aeration. In the absence of aeration, the inner part would heat up and destroy the microbes essential for composting. The type of bin, location of the bin, setup, and day-to-day feedings are not the same. As mentioned earlier, the depth of the bin should be between 8 inches and 12 inches. Click here for Paul’s author page. Thermophilic bacteria are predominant in the traditional composting, while mesophilic bacteria are predominant in the vermicomposting process. It is recommended to make bed with uniform height over the entire width to avoid low production owing to low bed volumes. Gibberellins control many plant developmental processes, including fruit senescence (a process that recycles fruit cells), flower development, stem elongation, dormancy, germination, and leaf senescence. And both of them have their advantages. While traditional composting can easily handle large amounts of organic wastes, vermicomposting cannot handle large volumes. Given the suitable environment, the red worms will digest the kitchen waste faster than any other method. Vermicompost has many advantages over conventional compost. The bottom line is this: you will not need to turn the pile in a vermicomposting system. Composting of any kind – vermicomposting in particular – improves plant health and their inner disease resistance. Advantages Of Vermicomposting The major benefits of vermicomposting are: Develops roots of the plants. -Niraj Kumar Payal Gunaki 2. You can do traditional composting outdoors only. Advantages of Composting. They act as chemical messengers for communication between cells. worm castings are a great natural fertilizer for lawns. Unlike corporate website companies, the authors on this website regularly use many of the tips and recommendations provided in their own garden and lawncare. To sum up, vermicomposting has more benefits than traditional composting for most people but those with farms or large lots of land who need to compost significant amounts of food and yard debris will gain the most benefit from traditional composting. I’ve even started compost piles in a cardboard box. A large portion of household garbage is compostable organic matter so we can reduce our weekly load to the curb and lengthen the lifespan of our landfills. We’ve got some great recommendations for that as well. Compost provides a simple solution to these soil needs. But it’s not completely maintenance-free. The red worms employed in vermicomposting need proper moisture, heat, and food to make the compost material. You have to carry scraps outside and dump them into the bin. Let’s compare the two. Traditional composting is rare in urban places because it needs land. Advantages of Vermicompost. It consists of an active stage and the maturation phase. --According to researchers at the Pondicherry University in India, “The nutrient statuses of vermicomposts of all earthworm species produced from both the wastes were more than that of the compost.”. However, in this article, we will look at the general pros and cons of all the methods. In extreme conditions, these tiny creatures slow down feeding or reproduction. Red worms thrive in temperatures between 55° F and 77° F. They are near-surface dwellers and feed off of scraps that are buried just under the surface. Learn the 8 best places to keep a worm bin, Shredded paper such as computer paper and newspaper. The death of soil microbiology impaired the power of ‘biological resistance’ in crops making them more susceptible to pests and diseases. These microorganisms also generate heat that increases the temperature of the conventional compost. The time commitment involved in proper composting may be the biggest disadvantage. Body of the container to be engaged in vermicomposting what you are looking for to! Waste and turn it into compost in the traditional compost pile a readily-available form of nitrogen is for. Can add these red wigglers you need to turn the compost pile also has advantages! 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