Biology investigatory

PROJECT

DONE BY;
R.SUDARSHINI
XII –A
 CONTENT

 ACKNOWLEGMENT
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 PROCEDURE
 OBSERVATION AND INFERENCE
 RESULT AND PRECAUTIONS
 REFERENCE
 Images
 ACKNOWLEGMENT
I am over helmed in all humbleness and gratefulness to
acknowledge my depth to all those who have helped me to put
these ideas, well above the level of simplicity and into
something concrete.
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my
teacher as well as our principal [MRS.M.SARASWATHI] who
gave me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on
this topic, which also helped me in doing a lot of Research and I
came to know about so many new things. I am really thankful to
them.
Any attempt at any level can’t be satisfactorily completed
without the support and guidance of my parents and friends.
I would like to thank my parents who helped me a lot in
gathering different information, collecting data and guiding me
from time to time in making this project, despite of their busy
schedules, they gave me different ideas in making this project
unique.
ABSTRACT;
Generation of the huge amount of solid waste around the globe
is a major ecological and technical problem. Vermicomposting
may be the viable option to handle solid waste in an
environmentally friendly way. This review provides a general
overview of viability of vermicomposting processes as an
ecofriendly approach. The integrated approach of composting
and vermicomposting processes provides better results. Further,
to optimize the process of vermicomposting, codigestion of
organic wastes provides better opportunity for both
microorganisms and earthworms to convert the organic fraction
of solid waste under controlled environmental conditions.
Feeding, stocking density, pH, C/N ratio, temperature, and
moisture, by inference, seem to be the critical factors that
influence the vermicomposting process. Furthermore, the end
product of vermicomposting, the nutrient‐rich compost, could be
used for biogas production. Hence, the management of solid
waste and energy production can be achieved at the same time
with no further costs.
INTRODUCTION;
Vermicompost (vermi-compost, vermiculture) is the product of
the composting process using various species of worms, usually
red wigglers, white worms, and other earthworms, to create a
mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding
materials, and vermicast.
Vermicast (also called worm castings, worm humus, worm
manure, or worm feces) is the end-product of the breakdown of
organic matter by earthworms. These castings have been shown
to contain reduced levels of contaminants and a higher
saturation of nutrients than the organic materials before
vermicomposting.
Vermicompost contains water-soluble nutrients and is an
excellent, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. It
is used in farming and small scale sustainable, organic farming.
Vermicomposting can also be applied for treatment of sewage.
A variation of the process is vermifiltration which is used to
remove organic matter, pathogens, and oxygen demand from
wastewater or directly from black water of flush toilets.
Vermicomposting has gained popularity in both industrial and
domestic settings because, as compared with conventional
composting, it provides a way to treat organic wastes more
quickly. In manure composting, it also generates products that
have lower salinity levels.
The earthworm species (or composting worms) most often used
are red wigglers though European night crawlers could also be
used. Red wigglers are recommended by most vermicomposting
experts, as they have some of the best appetites and breed very
quickly. Users refer to European night crawlers by a variety of
other names, including dendrobaenas, deodars’, Dutch night
crawlers, and Belgian night crawlers.
Containing water-soluble nutrients, vermicompost is a nutrient-
rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner in a form that is
relatively easy for plants to absorb. Worm castings are
sometimes used as an organic fertilizer. Because the earthworms
grind and uniformly mix minerals in simple forms, plants need
only minimal effort to obtain them. The worms' digestive
systems create environments that allow certain species of
microbes to thrive to help create a "living" soil environment for
plants. The fraction of soil which has gone through the digestive
tract of earthworms is called the drilosphere.
Aim;
To prepare vermicomposting using earthworms and other
biodegradable wastes.

Principle;
This process is mainly prepared to add nutrients to the soil.
Compost is a natural fertilizer and it allows for easy flow of
water and air for growing the plants. The earthworms are
mainly used in this process as they eat the organic matter and
produce castings, or “worm poop” through their digestive
systems. .

Materials required
 Water.
 Cow dung.
 Thatch Roof.
 Soil or Sand.
 Gunny bags.
 Earthworms.
 Weed biomass
 A large bin (plastic or cemented tank).
 Dry straw and leaves collected from paddy fields.
  Biodegradable wastes collected from fields and kitchen.

Procedure;
1. To prepare compost, either a plastic or a concrete tank can be
used. The size of the tank depends upon the availability of
raw materials.
2. Collect the weed biomass and place them under the sun for
about 8-12 days. Now chop them to the required smaller size
using the cutter.
3. Prepare cow dung slurry and sprinkle it on the heap for quick
decomposition.
4. Add a layer (2 – 3 inch) of soil or sand at the bottom of
the tank.
5. Now prepare fine bedding by adding partially decomposed
cow dung, dried leaves, and other biodegradable wastes
collected from fields and kitchen. Distribute evenly on the
sand layer.
6. Continue adding both the chopped bio-waste and partially
decomposed cow dung layer-wise into the tank up to a depth
of 0.5-1.0 ft.
7. Once, after adding all the bio-wastes, release the earthworm
species over the mixture and cover the compost mixture with
dry straw or gunny bags.
8. Sprinkle water on the regular basis to maintain the moisture
content of the compost.
9. Cover the tank with a thatch roof to prevent the entry of ants,
lizards, mouse, snakes, etc. and protect the compost from
rainwater and direct sunshine.
10. Have a frequent check to avoid the compost from
overheating. Maintain a proper moisture and temperature by
turnings and subsequent staking.

 Construction of a worm farm

Stage 1: Bedding
To create a perfect climate, a “worm bed” is made by using
course materials such as shredded twigs, coconut fibber,
mulch or wood shavings/sawdust as a basis, varying ac-
cording to what is available locally. All the components
should have been produced or-genially.
Properties of the worm bed:
Protection from extreme fluctuations in temperature
guarantees well-balanced humidity and aeration
Stage 2: Feed
The next step is to cover the worm bed with a layer of feed
matter consisting of vegetable waste and manure.
Stage 3: Introducing the worms
The worms are added to the compost heap in batches.
Stage 4: Watering the worm compost
The amount of water needed depends on the climate
(temperature, evaporation).
Stage 5: Cover the compost heap
In order to protect the worm population from predators such
as birds, rats, snakes, cock-roaches and ants, but also from
heavy rains, the compost heap needs to be covered. Here, the
most suitable materials are:
Banana leaves
Polyethylene foil
Wood
Bamboo
Bricks
corrugated sheeting
Palm leaves
Stage 6: Monitoring the worm compost
The compost heap should be checked once a week.
OBSERVATIONS;
Imagine eating your own weight in food every day. That's
what the earthworm does. As soil full of partially decomposed
organic matter passes through the earthworm's gut, it is
metabolized into rich castings (manure) that nourish plants.
When earthworms burrow through soil, they make tunnels
that bring air, water and their rich nutrients to plant roots.
With earthworms, you can compost anywhere, on your roof,
porch, or classroom.
The earthworm is nature's plough; producing the finest
fertilizer for plants. In every way, the earthworm surpasses
any machine that people have yet invented to plough, to
cultivate or to fertilize the soil. Earthworm manure, called
vermicompost or castings, is a rich living fertilizer for plants
and especially good mixed in potting soil for seedlings. The
diversity of microbes in earthworm manure protects against
soil disease. The humus in vermicompost holds in and
increases the availability of plant nutrients, helps control plant
diseases and stimulates healthy plant growth. Vermicompost
helps the soil drink in and hold water.
Earthworms can double their population in two to three
months. Earthworms are hermaphrodites - each worm is both
male and female and can produce fertilized eggs with any
other earthworm. Inside the swollen white band on the worm
a tiny cocoon is produced. Following fertilization, in about
 three weeks the cocoon hatches from one to five tiny white
baby worms. A mature worm can produce two to three
cocoons per week.

INFERENCE;
The compost will be ready in 60 to 90 days and the material
becomes moderately loose, crumbly with dark brown color. It
will be black, granular, light weight and humus-rich.
 It looks like dark, crumbly topsoil.
 It has a pleasant, earthy odor. It should not smell like
ammonia
 The original organic materials (with a few exceptions) should
no longer be recognizable
 The compost pile should have shrunk by half the size
 The pile should have returned to air temperature, about 50
degrees F.
 RESULT:
Vermicomposting appears to be the most promising as high
value bio-fertilizer which is not only increases the plant
growth and productivity by nutrient supply but also is cost
effective and pollution free. Use of vermicompost promotes
soil aggregation and stabilizes soil structure. This improves
the air- water relationship of soil, thus increasing the water
retention capacity and encourages extensive development of
root system of plants. The mineralization of nutrients is
observed to be enhanced, therefore results into boosting up of
crop productivity.
Vermicompost produced from the farm wastes is not only
having beneficial effects on soil health and growth, quality
and yield of crop but also playing vital role in eradication of
pollution hazards.
 It helped to reduce volume of agro waste and to generate
additional revenue.
 The Problem of disposing the agro waste may be solved by
constructing such the vermicomposting production unit.
 The agro waste converted in vermicompost which will earn
economic benefits.
 No hazardous effluents are generated from a compost
production unit using agro wastes.
 There are no pesticide residues, weed seeds, heavy metals,
sand, termite or wax, plant root diseases, etc. Vermicompost
can be used for all crops agricultural, horticultural, and
ornamental and vegetables at any stage of the crop.
 It will reduce the requirement of more land for disposal of
fruits and vegetable wastes in near future.
 It helps to create better environments, thus reduce ecological
risk.

CHANCES FOR IMPROVEMENT

The production of agro waste in market area from various
sectors such as vegetables market, fruit market and onion
market is about 1.5 metric ton per day. The agro waste
contained about 95 to 96 % of biodegradable waste only 5 to
6 % is non biodegradable wastes.
 There should be provision effective collection and
transportation of agro waste at the site from various sectors to
vermicompost site. This will reduce the cost.
 The labor should be trained for the effective segregation of
agro waste. The non biodegradable waste should be removed
before vermicomposting process.
 They should followed the standard process to maintain all
parameters such as temperature, moisture, humidity at
optimum condition for better availability of nutrients after
vermicomposting process.
 Vermicomposting unit should have facilities such as outlets of
vermiwash and the possible to collect the vermiwash
periodically.
The above improvements are essential for vermicomposting
that will help to farmers and society.

PRECAUTIONS;
 Moisture level in the bed should not exceed 40-50%. This
in turn increases the Ph level of the medium and hampers
the normal activities of worms leading to weight loss and
decline in temperature of bed should be within the range of
20-30 degree centigrade.
 Worms should not be injured during handling.
 Beds should be protected from predators like red ants,
white ants, centipedes, and others like toads, rats, cats,
poultry birds and even dogs.
 Frequent observation of culture bed is essential as
accumulation of cast’s retards growth of worms.
 Space is necessary for growth and establishment of culture
.Minimum space required is 2 square meter per 2000
worms with 30-45 cm thick bed.
 Addition of inoculums as a bait from earlier habitat helps in
early adaptation of worms to new site of rearing.
 REFERENCE
 Eastman B.R. (1999), ‘Achieving Pathogen Stabilization
Using Vermicomposting’, Biocycle, pp. 62-64.
 Ansari A, Sukhraj K (2010) Effect of vermiwash and
vermicompost on soil parameters and productivity of okra
(Abelmoschus esculentus) in Guyana. Afr J Agric Res
5(14):1794–1798. https://doi.org/10.5897/ajar09.107
 Atiyeh RM, Lee S, Edwards CA, Arancon NQ, Metzger JD
(2002) The influence of humic acids derived from
earthworm processed organic wastes on plant growth.
Bioresour Technol 84(1):7–14.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-8524(02)00017-2
These are the materials used in this project.

THIS TYPE OF SOIL IS USED TO GROW

EARTHWORM.

TUB ;USED FOR MAKING BED LAYER.

THERE ARE HOLES BECAUSE TO RELEASE WASTE
WATER AND GET AIR FROM SURROUNDINGS.
CUIRD;IS USED TO MIX WITH THE WASTE AND
THE SOIL.

VEGETABLE EXTRACT;VEGETATABLES AND

WASTE ARE GRINDED AND EXTRACTED.THEN
ADDED TO THE SOIL.
 PAPER WASTE;PLACED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
CONTAINER.TO OBSERVE OR DRAIN WATER.

LAST PROCESS; ALL THE MATERIALS ARE MIXED

TOGETHER.