CHAPTER1 3 Vermicast

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
Region II – Cagayan Valley
Schools Division of Cagayan
Libertad National High School
Libertad, Abulug, Cagayan
PRODUCTION OF VERMICOMPOST AND

ITS EFFECT TO VIGNA RADIATA (MUNG BEAN)
________________________
A Research Presented to
the Faculty of the Senior High School
__________________________
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirement for the subject
Practical Research 2
_________________________
Princess Andres
Heinz Salvatera
Kyla Balbas
Gerard Suclad
Kennedy Zinampan
Iron James Cariaga
Heron March Bayani
Rhyle Ganaden
Address: Libertad, Abulug, Cagayan, 3517 1

Contact No: 09050425523
Email Address: lnhs1967@gmail.com
CHAPTER 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction
Chemical fertilizers or inorganic fertilizers are manmade
soil enhancers used to raise the level of nutrients found in
soil. Chemical fertilizers improve the growth of plants and
increase the yields of fruits and vegetables in a relatively
short period of time. But, there are certain disadvantages of
using chemical fertilizers as organic fertilizers to any
plants.
Chemical fertilizers are high in nutrient content such as
nitrogen. Over-application of chemical fertilizers to plants
may cause the leaves to turn yellow or brown, damaging the
plant and reducing crop yield. This is known as chemical leaf
scorch.
Vermicomposting, as an industrial process, was originally
developed to remove unwanted organic materials from the
agricultural and industrial waste streams. The derived
product: earthworm castings, is now recognized as a high a
value material which, when blended with soil can restore soil

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tilth by correcting the imbalances caused by the over-
utilization of petrol- chemical based fertilizers.
Vermicompost is composed of the organic waste transformed
through different earthworms species’ digestive systems into a
homogeneous product of high nutritional vale and with great
possibilities from its application in agriculture ( Suthar,
2009). This process allows the stabilization of solid
residues, showing great possibilities when the concentration
in cellulose fibers is high (Sahariah et al., 2014).
One of the main advantages of the use of earthworms in
the producton of a higher concentration of nutrients through
the biological activity of these worms, which might be
compared to traditional composting and allow the reuse of
residues of low fertilization potential (Soohany et al.,
2015).
Earthworms have the ability to remove toxic organic
compounds that may present problems in traditional composting
systems, being effective in the recovery of degraded
agricultural soils with decreased nutrient reservoirs (Lim et
al., 2015; Hussian et al., 2016).

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Moreover, being a pathogen-free end product product and
the high percentage of nutrients in available forms makes
composts extensively used in horticulture or extensive crops,
both cereals and legumes (Baradari et al.,2013; John and Praba
2013; Joshi et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2014; Sreevidya et al.,
2016)
Vermicomposting is a type of composting in which certain
species of earthworms are used to enhance the process of
organic waste conversion and produce a better end-product. It
is a mesophilic process utilizing microorganisms and
earthworms. Earthworms feeds the organic wastes materials and
passes it through their digestive gives out in a granular form
(cocoons) which is known as vermicompost.
Vermicompost also benefits the environment by reducing
the need for chemical fertilizers and decreasing the amount of
waste going to landfills. Vermicompost production is trending
up worldwide and it is finding increasing use especially in
Western countries, Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia.
Vermicompost is essentially what ends up being applied to
plants in the garden. Utimately, vermicomposting results in

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rich, black, earthy-smelling compost that will help our garden
enjoy healthy growth.
In addition, vermicompost there is vermicast, which is
slightly different. Vermicast, also known as worm castings, is
the excitement from the worms, minus the rest of the compost.

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CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
FIGURE 1. THE PARADIGM OF THE STUDY
INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
a.)Producing a.)Creating a composting bin.
vermicompost.
b.)Preparation of the materials
or substrate by cutting the
b.)Testing the level banana stalks and crumbing the
of effectiveness of cow manure into pieces.
vermicompost to the
mung bean in terms c.)After, add the crumbed cow
manure to the composting bin as
of:
the base then add the banana
stalks as the second layer.
 Height of the
plant d.)Continue to layer the
 Length of the composting bin until it is filled
leaves with substrate. PRODUCTION OF
 Numbers of VERMICOMPOST
leaves e.)After a few minutes, spray AND ITS
some water evenly to the EFFECT TO
c.)Determining the substrate
VIGNA RADIATA
significant (MUNG BEAN)
f.)Wait for at least two weeks
difference between
for the substrate to decompose.
the commercial After the substrate decomposed,
fertilizer and the put the African Night Crawler to
vermicompost in terms the composting bin and cover it.
of:
g.)After 1-2 months the produced
 Height of the vermicompost is ready to be
plant harvest.
 Length of the
leaves h.)The produced vermicompost will
 Numbers of be distributed to the respondents
leaves for the testing of its
effectiveness.
d.)The respondents
recommendations and i.) Collection of data based on
suggestion to the the conducted experimentation.
vermicompost and its
effect to mung bean? j.) Statistical and Scientific
analysis on the gathered data.

FEEDBACK
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Statement of the Problem
This study aims to produce vermicompost and determine its
effectiveness as fertilizer to mung bean among gardeners.
Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:
1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:
1.1. Age
1.2 Sex
2. What is the level of effectiveness of vermicompost to the
mung bean in terms of:
a) Height of the plant
b) Length of the leaves
c) Numbers of leaves
3. Is there a significant difference on the level of
effectiveness between the commercial fertilizer and the
vermicompost in terms of :
d) Height of the plant

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e) Length of the leaves
f) Numbers of leaves
4. What are the respondents’ recommendations and suggestion to
the vermicompost and its effect to mung bean?
Hypothesis
Vermicompost is a good fertilizer for the growth of mung
bean.
Significance of the Study

The findings of the study will be beneficial to the
following:
Gardeners: this study will give idea and knowledge to
gardeners who are planting mung beans.
Researchers: This study will benefit the future researchers by
providing a basis of the effect of vermicompost to the growth
of mung beans.
Scope and Delimitation

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This study is limited on determining that vermicompost is
a good fertilizer for the growth of mung bean in terms of
height of the plant, length of the leaves, and the numbers of
leaves. It will be conducted at the researcher’s residence in
Libertad, Abulug, Cagayan.
This study will be conducted at Libertad National High
School during the School Year 2022-2023. This study is to
determine the level of effectiveness of vermicompost and its
effect to mung beam compared to the commercial fertilizer.
Definition of Terms
The following terms are use in the study. It can help in
further understanding of the readers.
Casting- an object made by pouring or molten metal or other
material into a mold.
Compost- decayed organic material used as a plant fertilizer.
Conversion- the process of changing or causing something to
change from one form to another.
Degraded- treated or regarded with contempt or disrespect.
Enhance- intensify, increase, or further improve the quality,
value, or extent.

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Extensive- obtaining a relatively small crop from a large area
with a minimum of attention and expense.
Granular- resembling or consisting of small grains or
particles.
Homogeneous- consisting of parts all of the same kind.
Horticulture- the art or practice of garden cultivation and
management.
Mesophilic- (of bacteria) growing best at moderate
temperatures between 25ᵒC and 40ᵒ
Methemoglobinemia- the presence of methemoglobin pr a
soluble brown crystalline basic blood pigment that differs
from hemoglobin in containing ferric iron and in being unable
to combine reversibly with molecular oxygen.
MungBean- a small round bean often used to grow bean sprouts.
Reduce- make smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.
Stabilization- the process of making something physically more
secure; the process of becoming or being made unlikely to
change, fails, or decline.
Tilth- the condition of tilled soil, especially in respect to
suitability for sowing seeds.
Utilizing- to use (something) for a particular purpose.

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Vermicompost- the use of earthworms to convert organic waste
to fertilizer.
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
This chapter presents the review of related literatures
and studies both foreign and local. This Related Literature and
Studies helps the researchers for a better understanding and a
wider perspective on the topic gathered.
FOREIGN RELATED LITERATURES
Vermicomposting has been arising as an innovative eco-
technology for the conversion of various types of wastes into
vermicompost. Vermicompost is humus like, finely granulated
and stabilized material which can be used as a soil
conditioner to reintegrate the organic matter to the
agricultural soils. Industrial wastes remain largely
unutilized and often cause environmental problems like ground
and surface water pollution, foul odours, occupying vast land
areas etc.
Non-toxic and organic industrial wastes could be
potential raw material for vermitechnology. In the last two

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decades, vermitechnology has been applied for the management
of industrial wastes and sludges and to convert them into
vermicompost for land restoration practices. The success of
the process depends upon several process parameters like
quality of raw material, pH, temperature, moisture, aeration
etc., type of vermicomposting system and earthworm species
used.
Vermicompost has been found to have a favourable
influence on all yield parameters of crops like wheat and
paddy. Ahmed (2010) mentioned the plant height, total dry
weight and leaf area significantly increases on the
application of biofertilizers. Mohmood et al. (2006) found
that plant height of wheat increased by inoculation with
Azospirillum.
Vermicompost, which are stabilized organic materials
produced by interactions between earthworms and microorganisms
in a nonthermophilic process, have been reported to enhance in
plant growth and yields in greenhouse crops.
Importance of vermicomposting

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Vermicomposting is a biotechnological process in which
earthworms are employed to convert the organic wastes into
humus like material known as vermicompost. Certain earthworm
species are capable of consuming a wide range of organic
wastes from sewage sludge, animal wastes, agricultural
residues, domestic wastes, to industrial wastes.
Under favourable conditions of temperature and moisture,
earthworms maintain the aerobic conditions in the
vermicomposting process ingest organic waste materials and
egest a humus-like substance which is more homogeneous than
the organic wastes or raw materials used (Arancon et al. 2003;
Edwards and Burrows 1988).
The actions of the earthworms in this process are both
physical and biochemical. The physical actions include
fragmentation, turnover and aeration. Whereas biochemical
actions include enzymatic digestion, nitrogen enrichment,
transport of inorganic and organic materials (Edwards and
Lofty 1972). During this process, important plant nutrients
such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and calcium present in
the waste materials are converted through microbial action
into such chemical forms which are much more soluble and

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available to the plants than those in the parent substrate
(Ndegwa and Thompson 2001).
Earthworms stocking density
Population of earthworms (stocking density) in
vermicomposting system affects various physiological
processes, such as respiration rate, reproduction rate,
feeding rate and burrowing activity. Uvarov and Scheu (2004)
have reported that at higher population densities mortality is
increased, cocoon production per earthworm is reduced and
growth rate is decreased. In contrary, Frederickson et al.
(1997) have also reported a significant reduction in growth
and reproduction of Eiseniaandrei as stocking densities
increased. High population densities of earthworms in
vermicomposting systems result in a rapid turnover of fresh
organic matter into earthworm casts (Aira et al. 2002).
Therefore, when establishing a vermicomposting system, it is
essential to maintain optimum earthworm density to obtain
maximum population growth and reproduction in shortest
possible time.

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Microorganisms
The compostable organic waste materials are naturally
inhabited by microorganisms and these help in the breakdown of
organic wastes under ideal environmental conditions.
The composition of the microorganism communities in a
vermicomposting 17 system depends on the composition of waste
components undergoing vermicomposting. During vermicomposting,
organic matter is stabilized by the mutual interaction between
earthworms and microorganisms (Edwards and Fletcher 1988).
Though earthworms consume fungi with organic substrates to
fulfil their protein or nitrogen requirement, fungal
population in earthworm casts was almost equal or higher than
that of initial substrates (Edwards and Bohlen 1996).
The micro-organisms not only mineralize complex
substances into plant available form but also synthesize
biologically active substances. Pramanik (2010) has reported
that during vermicomposting, earthworms ingest microorganisms
with organic substrates, but not all the microorganisms are

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killed during gut passage. In fact, under favourable condition
of earthworm guts, spore germination is facilitated. This is
probably responsible for increasing microbial biomass in
vermicompost (Tiunov and Scheu 2004).

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LOCAL RELATED LITERATURES
History of earthworms.
In 330 BC Greek philosopher Aristotle called earthworms
‘‘the intestines of the soil’’. He believed that soil was an
organic entity and he understood that earthworms played an
important role in maintaining the life of soil. But even in
4th quarter of 19th Century, people thought that earthworms
eat roots of plants and destroy crops, and thus they suggested
earthworms be eliminated.
The reputation of earthworms was rehabilitated when
Darwin published his book entitled ‘‘The Formation of
Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms with Observations
on their Habits’’ in 1881. Darwin called earthworms ‘‘ploughs
of the earth’’ because of their ability to eat soil 19 and
eject it as worm castings. He believed that worm castings and
the movement of worms were wholly responsible for the top

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layer of rich soil. Darwin claimed that earthworms were one of
the most important creatures in the ecosystem.
Adverse effects of chemical fertilizer
Chemical fertilizers have aided farmers in increasing
crop production since the 1930's. While chemical fertilizers
have their place increasing plant nutrients in adverse weather
conditions or during times when plants need additional
nutrients, there are also several harmful effects of chemical
fertilizers. Some of the harm chemical fertilizers may cause
include waterway pollution, chemical burn to crops, increased
air pollution, acidification of the soil and mineral depletion
of the soil.
Waterway Pollution
The use of chemical fertilizers on crops can have adverse
effects on waterways caused by chemical run off of the excess
fertilizer. The over-abundance of nutrients in the water
reduces the amount of oxygen. The existing organisms living in

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the water use up the oxygen that is left. The result is oxygen
depletion causing the fish to die.
Chemical Burn
Chemical fertilizers are high in nutrient content such as
nitrogen. Over-application of chemical fertilizer to plants
may cause the leaves to turn yellow or brown, damaging the
plant and reducing crop yield. This condition is known as
chemical leaf scorch. Leaf scorch can cause the leaves of the
plant to wither and may cause the plant to die.
Increased Air Pollution
Excess nitrogen used in crop fertilization can contribute
to the release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and
nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. This effect is caused by
using a greater amount of chemical fertilizer than the plants
can readily absorb. According to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Monitoring and
Diagnostics Lab, excess greenhouse gases trapped in the
atmosphere may be contributing to the increase of land and
ocean surface temperatures.

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Soil Acidification
The over-use of chemical fertilizers can lead to soil
acidification because of a decrease in organic matter in the
soil. Nitrogen applied to fields in large amounts over time
damages topsoil, resulting in reduced crop yields. Sandy soils
are much more prone to soil acidification than are clay soils.
Clay soils have an ability to buffer the effects of excess
chemical fertilization.
Mineral Depletion
There is an increasing concern that continuous use of
chemical fertilizers on soil depletes the soil of essential
nutrients. As a result, the food produced in these soils have
less vitamin and mineral content.
Ground Water Pollution
The persistent use of chemical fertilizers causes the
pollution of ground water sources, or leaching. Chemical
fertilizers that are highly soluble get absorbed by the ground
more rapidly than they are absorbed by the intended plants.
Plants have the capacity to absorb only a given level of
nutrition at a time leaving the rest of the fertilizer to

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leach. Leaching is not only hazardous to groundwater sources
but also to the health of subsoil where these chemicals react
with clay to create hard layers of soil known as hardpan. As a
result of chemical fertilizer use the health of soil and water
is jeopardized, not to mention the waste of money and nutrient
deficient plants.
Soil Friability Effect
The presence of a number of acids in the soil, such as
hydrochloric and sulfuric acids, creates a damaging effect on
soil referred to as soil friability. The different acids in
the soil dissolve the soil crumbs which help to hold together
the rock particles. Soil crumbs result from the combination of
humus, or decomposed natural material such as dead leaves,
with clay. These mineral rich soil crumbs are essential to
soil drainage and greatly improve air circulation in the soil.
As the chemicals in the chemical fertilizers destroy soil
crumbs, the result is a highly compacted soil with reduced
drainage and air circulation.

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Destruction of Micro-Organisms
The synthetic chemicals in the chemical fertilizers
adversely affect the health of naturally found soil micro-
organisms by affecting the soil pH. These altered levels of
acidity in the soil eliminate the micro-organisms beneficial
to plant and soil health as they help to increase the plants'
natural defenses against pests and diseases. These helpful
micro-organisms consist of antibiotic-producing bacteria and
mycorrhizal and other fungi which are found in healthy soil.
The use of chemical fertilizers also jeopardizes the health of
bacteria that fix the nitrogen balance in the soil. These
nitrogen-fixing bacteria are responsible for converting the
atmospheric oxygen into a form of nitrogen that can be used
readily by plants.
The biggest issue facing the use of chemical fertilizers
is groundwater contamination. Nitrogen fertilizers break down
into nitrates and travel easily through the soil. Because it
is water-soluble and can remain in groundwater for decades,
the addition of more nitrogen over the years has an
accumulative effect.

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At the University of Wisconsin, Madison, they discovered
the effects of chemical fertilizers are compounded when mixed
with a single pesticide. They discovered altered immune,
endocrine and nervous system functions in mice, as well
asninfluence on children’s and fetus's developing
neurological, endocrine and immune systems. These influences
"portend change in ability to learn and in patterns of
aggression."
One popular fertilizer, urea, produces ammonia emanation,
contributes to acid rain, groundwater contamination and ozone
depletion due to release of nitrous oxide by denitrification
process. With its increased use and projections of future use,
this problem may increase several fold in the coming decades.
Groundwater contamination has been linked to gastric cancer,
goitre, birth malformations, and hypertension; testicular
cancer and stomach cancer. Excessive air- and water-borne
nitrogen from fertilizers may cause respiratory ailments,
cardiac disease, and several cancers, as well as can "inhibit
crop growth, increase allergenic pollen production, and

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potentially affect the dynamics of several vector-borne
diseases, including West Nile virus, malaria, and cholera."
Perhaps one of the scariest effects of chemical
fertilizers is something called methemoglobinemia. In infants
it is alternatively known as Blue Baby Syndrome. The risk most
often occurs when infants are given formula reconstituted with
nitrate contaminated water. The condition causes a decrease in
oxygen in the blood and results in a blue-grey skin color,
causes lethargy and/ or irritability and can lead to coma or
death. Nitrogen groundwater contamination also contributes to
marine "dead zones". The increase in the water-soluble
nitrates creates an influx of plant-life, which eats up oxygen
and starves out fish and crustaceans. This has an impact not
only on the aquatic ecosystem, but on local societies who
depend on food sourced from those areas. And then there is the
highly questionable use of raw sewer sludge as a fertilizer.
In some countries, raw, uncomposted and untreated human waste
is applied directly to crops and soil, a practice known as
"night soil" since it's typically applied at night. The risk

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of disease is obvious and high and this practice should never
be confused with "humanure", a long, highly involved process
of decomposing human waste into a safe resource.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, most
fertilizers contain about the same basic materials: nitrogen,
potassium, phosphorus and sometimes other nutrients, like
zinc, needed for healthy plant growth. Many people use
fertilizers to give extra life to their lawn and garden, but
few people consider the potential drawbacks of these
fertilizers. In an effort to be as environmentally conscious
as possible, it is important to consider the potentially
harmful effects of fertilizers as well as the benefits.
Human Carcinogens
The most significant harmful effects come from fertilizer
that is designed to kill or prevent weeds. According to the
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, 12 of the most popular
pesticides in the United States have ingredients known to

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cause cancer. Organic fertilizers are guaranteed to be safe
for the environment, the body and free of pesticides.
FOREIGN RELATED STUDIES
Importance of vermicomposting
Organic amended in the form of vermicompost, when added
to soil increase the yield and growth of plants. Length of the
internode and diameter were increased significantly and
maximum in vermicompost-treated plants than in GA- and IAA-
treated plants. The increase in the diameter of internode can

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be related to increased girth of the plants. The observations
in present study are in accordance with previous reports
(Agarwal et al. (2003). Moreover, an increase in the yield of
certain vegetable crops such as brinjal, okra and tomato have
been reported by Guerrero (2010), Gupta (2003), Sinha et al.
(2009), Elumalai et al. (2013), respectively.
Vermicompost treatments improve the micronutrient levels
in the soil (Jaikishaun et al. 2014). The carbon content in
vermicomposted soil is found to release the nutrients slowly
into the soil and thereby aiding the plants to absorb the
available nutrients (Ansari and Sukhraj 2010). Plants treated
with 50% vermicompost showed increased shoot length than GA-
and IAA-treated plants. Studies by Atiyeh et al. (2002)
reported the benefits of vermicompost as bedding media to
promote seed germination, seedling growth and productivity of
plants.
Studies by Chauhan and Joshi (2010) reported a
considerable increase of nitrogen in vermicomposted soil. The
improvement of N2 content in the soil may be due to the
nitrogen in the vermicast, which results in nitrogen

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mineralization aided by microbes in the soil, through the
degradation of the earthworm tissues (Ananthakrishnasamy et
al. 2009). Elimination of pathogens as of wastes like cow
manure and sludge of wastewater treatment plant may be applied
for soil improvement which is very essential in preventing the
spread and transmission of disease (Karimi et al. 2017). The
luxuriant growth, flowering and yield of the vegetable crops
were promoted by the worms and vermicompost.
LOCAL RELATED STUDIES
According to Dominguez (2004), Vermicomposting is a
process that uses earthworms to transform organic residues
into a secondary product named vermicompost, which can be used
as a fertilizer for crop production. Vermicomposting is
therefore an interesting solution for both recycling the

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increasing amount of organic waste and reducing the use of
fertilizers. Moreover, the large-scale use of composts is a
good way to increase the soil content in organic matter, which
is critical for their long-term fertility (Lal 2004; Dignac et
al. 2017).
Vermicomposting in the Philippines began in the l970s
with studies conducted by researchers of the Central Luzon
State University in Munoz, Nueva Ecija. The earthworms used in
vermicomposting are “epigeic” (surface-dwelling) species, such
as the “African nightcrawler” (Eudrilus eugeniae) or ANC.
Tests have shown the efficiency of using vermicompost (VC)
produced from agricultural wastes such as animal manures,
ricestraw, sugarcane trash, grass and leaves of leguminous
trees (e.g., Gliricidia sepium).
The Philippines has a robust agricultural economy with
its extensive land and water resources. The production of
crops such as rice, coconut and sugarcane, along with
fisheries (aquaculture), is the mainstay of the country’s
agricultural base.
One of the major constraints in the production of crops and

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fish in the Philippines is the high cost of inputs,
particularly imported chemical fertilizers for crop production
and feeds for aquaculture. Of environmental concern is
widespread burning of crop residues such as rice straw and
sugarcane trash. About 24 million tons of rice straw are
generated annually. Livestock manure poses additional
challenges. Approximately 28 million tons/year are generated,
and improper discharge into water bodies is causing aquatic
pollution and fish kills.
With the enactment of the Ecological Solid Waste Management
Law, local government units have the primary responsibility of
implementing the proper segregation, collection, storage,
treatment and processing (composting, recycling, reuse,
recovery, etc.) of waste streams appropriately, in accordance
with ecologically sustainable development principles.
Various methods of composting municipal and farm solid
wastes are used in the Philippines. One method that has become
widely applied because of its simplicity, practicality and
cost-effectiveness is vermicomposting. Resource-poor farmers
can utilize vermicomposting to reduce the need for chemical
fertilizers and pesticides, while recycling farm wastes to

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minimize environmental pollution. With less farm costs and
less hazards to human health, the incomes and well-being of
small farmers are enhanced.
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter will discuss how the research will be
conduct. It consists of the following: Research Procedure,
Research Design, Locale of The Study, Respondents of The Study,

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Sampling Procedure, Research Instrument, and Statistical
Treatment of Data.
Materials and Equipment:
 Composting bins
 Starter material (banana stalks and cow manure)
 Worms (African night crawler)
 Knife
 Gloves
 Sacks
 Sprinkle
Research Procedure
The necessary materials, namely the cow manure and banana
stalks were gathered by the researchers in their target
community based on its general environment having an abundance
of banana trees and cows. However, African night crawler were

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purchased, rather than gathered, due to its unavailability in
nature.
A. Composting Bin
1. In making a diy worm bin, unused drum will be needed. Cut
the drum into two and the first bin where the hole is
placed will be at the top while the other one will be at
the bottom. The hole will serve as the drainage so water
can drain from the compost into the second bin.
2. After the compost bin is settled, make a substrate using
cow manure and banana stalks.
3. Crumb the cow manure and cut the banana stalks into pieces.
4. By then, put the cow manure into the composting bin as the
first layer/base to be followed by the banana stalks as a
second layer.
5. With that, continue to add substrate alternatively until
the compost bin will be filled. Then, spray some water
evenly to the substrate to make it moist but not so wet.
6. After at least 2 weeks the substrate will decompose.

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B. Vermicompost
1. After the substrate decomposed, put the African Night
Crawler to the composting bin and cover it to avoid it from
being eaten by frogs or chicken.
2. By then, wait for atleast 1-2 for the vermicompost to be
harvest.
After the produced vermicompost will be harvest, it will
be distributed to the respondents to determine its level of
effectiveness in terms of: a.)Height of the plant b.) Length
of the leaves c.) Number of the leaves, and the data that will
be gathered will serve as the quantitative data that will be
analysed and interpreted.
Research Design
The researchers will use experimental research design;
scientific research design; utilized mean, percentage and the
correlation analysis. It will focus on determining the level

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of effectiveness of the vermicompost for the growth of mung
bean.
Locale of the Study
This study will be conducted at Libertad National
High School Libertad, Abulug, Cagayan
Respondents of the Study
This study focused on determining the effectiveness
of vermicompost as an organic fertilizer for the growth of
mung bean. Farmers or the gardeners are the main users of
fertilizers; therefore researchers choose gardeners from
Libertad, Abulug, Cagayan as the respondents of this study.
Table 1. Distribution of Respondents
GRADE 11 STEM Number of Respondents
MALE 10
FEMALE 10

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TOTAL 20
Sampling Procedure
Using intentional sampling, the researchers choose 20
gardeners at Libertad, Abulug, Cagayan to test the product to
prove that vermicompost is effective for the growth of mung
bean.
Data Gathering Instrument
The researchers has questionnaires with four (4) parts in
order to get the data needed:

Contact No: 09050425523
Part I covers the profile of the respondents. The tool
for profile was made by the researcher; it determines the age
and gender.
Part II is a 5-point Likert Scale survey questionnaire
that will use to determine the level of effectiveness of
vermicompost to the Mung bean in terms of: a.)Height of the
plant b.)Length of the leaves c.)Numbers of leaves.
Part III aims to determine the difference on the level of
effectiveness between the commercial fertilizer and the
vermicompost in terms of: a.)Height of the plant b.)Length of
the leaves c.)Numbers of leaves
Part IV asks for the respondents’ recommendations and
suggestions.
Statistical Treatment of Data
The data will be collected, tabulated, analyzed, and
interpreted using the Microsoft Excel with the use of the
following statistical tools:

Contact No: 09050425523
Frequency count and percentage distribution was used to
interpret the profile of the respondents.
The compute weighted means will use to measure the level
of effectiveness of vermicompost to the growth of mung bean.
Table 2. The Rating Scale with the corresponding statistical

limit and adjectival description
SCALE STATISTICAL LIMIT ADJECTICAL DESCRIPTION

5 4.21- 5.00 Very Effective
4 3.41- 4.20 Effective
3 2.61- 3.40 Moderately Effective
2 1.81- 2.60 Slightly Effective
1 1.0- 1.80 Not at all Effective

Contact No: 09050425523

CHAPTER1 3 Vermicast

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CHAPTER1 3 Vermicast

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Republic of the Philippines

PRODUCTION OF VERMICOMPOST AND

Address: Libertad, Abulug, Cagayan, 3517 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Chemical fertilizers or inorganic fertilizers are manmade

soil enhancers used to raise the level of nutrients found in

soil. Chemical fertilizers improve the growth of plants and

increase the yields of fruits and vegetables in a relatively

short period of time. But, there are certain disadvantages of

using chemical fertilizers as organic fertilizers to any

Chemical fertilizers are high in nutrient content such as

nitrogen. Over-application of chemical fertilizers to plants

may cause the leaves to turn yellow or brown, damaging the

plant and reducing crop yield. This is known as chemical leaf

Vermicomposting, as an industrial process, was originally

developed to remove unwanted organic materials from the

agricultural and industrial waste streams. The derived

product: earthworm castings, is now recognized as a high a

Address: Libertad, Abulug, Cagayan, 3517 2

tilth by correcting the imbalances caused by the over-

utilization of petrol- chemical based fertilizers.

Vermicompost is composed of the organic waste transformed

through different earthworms species’ digestive systems into a

homogeneous product of high nutritional vale and with great

possibilities from its application in agriculture ( Suthar,

2009). This process allows the stabilization of solid

residues, showing great possibilities when the concentration

in cellulose fibers is high (Sahariah et al., 2014).

One of the main advantages of the use of earthworms in

the producton of a higher concentration of nutrients through

the biological activity of these worms, which might be

compared to traditional composting and allow the reuse of

residues of low fertilization potential (Soohany et al.,

Earthworms have the ability to remove toxic organic

compounds that may present problems in traditional composting

systems, being effective in the recovery of degraded

agricultural soils with decreased nutrient reservoirs (Lim et

al., 2015; Hussian et al., 2016).

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Moreover, being a pathogen-free end product product and

the high percentage of nutrients in available forms makes

composts extensively used in horticulture or extensive crops,

both cereals and legumes (Baradari et al.,2013; John and Praba

2013; Joshi et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2014; Sreevidya et al.,

Vermicomposting is a type of composting in which certain

species of earthworms are used to enhance the process of

organic waste conversion and produce a better end-product. It

is a mesophilic process utilizing microorganisms and

earthworms. Earthworms feeds the organic wastes materials and

passes it through their digestive gives out in a granular form

(cocoons) which is known as vermicompost.

Vermicompost also benefits the environment by reducing

the need for chemical fertilizers and decreasing the amount of

waste going to landfills. Vermicompost production is trending

up worldwide and it is finding increasing use especially in

Western countries, Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Vermicompost is essentially what ends up being applied to

plants in the garden. Utimately, vermicomposting results in

Address: Libertad, Abulug, Cagayan, 3517 4

rich, black, earthy-smelling compost that will help our garden

enjoy healthy growth.

In addition, vermicompost there is vermicast, which is