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can result in rapid degradation of bedding and its associated heating, creating inhospitable or

fatal conditions. High carbon content is required as earthworms and microbes in the feed
mixtures activate microbial respiration and degradation of organic wastes, thereby increasing

the loss of organic carbon during the vermicomposting process [22]. Various bedding material
according to absorbency, bulking potential and C:N are enlisted in Table 2.

Vermiculture bed: Vermiculture bed can be prepared by placing a first layer of saw dust,

newspaper, straw, coir waste, sugarcane trash etc. at the bottom of tub/container. Newspaper is
one of bedding material that high in absorbency whereas for the sawdust the level of absorbency

is poor to medium. A second layer of moistened fine sand of 3 cm thick should be spread over
the culture bed followed by a layer of garden soil (3 cm). The floor of the unit should be

compacted to prevent earthworm’s migration into the soil.

3.3. Earthworm

Earthworm is one of the major kinds and a key component of tropical and subtropical
ecosystems. It helps is soil aggregation, nutrient recycling, litter decomposition, etc. Earthworm

improves the soil environment by producing cast, pellets, and galleries. Mucus secretion from
the gut of earth worm enhances microbial activity. Earthworms are terrestrial invertebrates

comprising more than 3200 species, grouped into three categories according to their behavior

in the natural environment: anecic, endogeic, and epigeic [21, 23] (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Earthworm classification [24]

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