7 BENEFITS OF VERMICOMPOSTING
Vermicomposting is the usage of earthworms to convert vegetable waste to a 100% natural plant fertilizer. Vermiculture is the side issue of the breeding of common earthworms for use in vermicomposting. The use of worm farms for vermicomposting is becoming a favorite way of converting waste to a valuable product while also growing more worms to increase the capacity of the worm farms.
Organic
The most important aspect of compost produced by earthworms is that it is 100% organic. There are no harmful chemicals and it does not need to be mixed with anything.
More Nutritious
Vermicomposting produces a product that is naturally designed to benefit plants in several different ways. The most significant benefit is that the nutrients in earthworm compost are very easily absorbed by the roots of plants. Unlike chemical fertilizers, vermicompost is not easily flushed from the soil because of the worm mucus that it contains. Plants have longer to obtain the nutrients and get the maximum benefit.
Micro Organisms
As the compost is passing through the body of the worms it is enriched with bacteria and microbes. These help plants to become more disease resistant and also repel some plant pests. The presence of increased microbial activity can make the area much more attractive to birds which also help to remove plant pests.
Healthier Plants
As the compost works on the plants and they become healthier the need for pesticides is reduced. The reduction in pesticides helps the area to recover faster and can start an improvement cycle that will run on. This compares with the typical cycle when chemical fertilizers are used. The chemical fertilizers might increase plant yields but they do nothing for plant health. Continued use of chemical fertilizers inevitably leads to a breakdown in the soil. Ammonia and salts build up which attack the plants making them less able to withstand disease.
Plant Growth
Among the hormones that earthworm compost contains are hormones that help plants to grow. Germination of seeds is encouraged, the growth of the plant is stronger and the crop yield improved. This natural support for the plants is not available with chemical fertilizers. The distribution of the compost through the soil also helps to encourage healthy root growth.
Water Retention
Vermicompost is a colloid and holds up to nine times its own weight in water. This can make a huge difference when there is a dry spell. The water is held at an organic level so tends to evaporate slowly while still being available to the plants.
Slow Nutrition Release
Chemical fertilizers bombard plants with huge amounts of nutrients that are going to drain by and eventually be washed out of the soil by the rain. The chemicals can get into the aquifers and contaminate your drinking water. This is avoided by using compost which is lower in nutrient content but which does not get washed out of the soil. The nutrients are held in place and released slowly so that the plants receive what they need over a prolonged period.
Using earthworms creates a product that is natural and behaves naturally. The cycle of regularly over-dosing the soil is broken. Plant health is promoted by long term exposure to nutrients and the soil condition will continue to improve.
Source: http://www.doityourself.com/
Source: http://www.doityourself.com/
