Hobbies And Interests
Digestion and Excretion
The earthworms most commonly used in vermicomposting are redworms and brandling worms. As opposed to the common garden earthworm, these types of worms are more frequently found in old piles of manure, which is their preferred environment. Food is ingested through the earthworm's mouth and moves to the stomach. In the gizzard, the food is ground up by small stones that the worm has swallowed. After organic wastes pass through the worm's digestive system, whatever is not digested is broken down into compost that is rich in nutrients and excreted as castings.
Garden Earthworm Castings
The castings of garden earthworms can contain between five and eleven times more potassium, phosphorous and nitrogen than is found in the garden soil itself. These nutrients are concentrated by passing though the earthworm's intestines and is readily available for plants. Unlike redworms and brandworms, the garden earthworm's preference is for garden soil. There can be up to a half million earthworms in an acre of land and they can recycle up to five tons of soil annually.
Vermicompost
Vermicomposting is a technique in which worms are used for recycling organic matter, like food waste in the home and yard waste. Vermicompost contains a mixture of worms, worm castings, decomposing organic wastes and bedding materials, as well as a variety of microorganisms. While redworms are able to eat the equivalent of their body weight in organic matter per day, it takes two thousand worms to recycle a pound of food waste in a day. You can buy composting worms online.
Fertilizer
Worm castings produce a natural and environmentally friendly fertilizer. Liquid casting extract is sprayed on crops and plants, and provides nutrients that are soluble in water and easily taken up by plants. You can make liquid casting extract, also known as compost tea, by placing worm castings in the leg of a pantyhose. Knot the pantyhose, place it in a container of water and leave it overnight to soak. In addition to providing microbes and helpful bacteria, worm castings also improve aeration in the soil, which facilitates good drainage. Adequate drainage helps prevent roots from becoming waterlogged and root rot from developing. Potting soil is made from worm castings, peat, builder's sand and perlite in equal parts.