Page 45 - ingilizce

5. HARVESTING METHODS AND UTILIZATION

The vermicompost is ready in 75-90 days and the resulting material becomes black, granular,

light, moderately loose, crumbly and rich in humus. Watering should be avoided two to three

days before emptying the beds to facilitate the separation of the worms from the compost. The
general procedures for harvesting vermicompost are described below. Any method can only be

adopted according to preference. In addition, two or more methods can be applied on the same
pile. Except for the first method, the rest are intended for batch harvesting.

5.1. Manual collection of vermicompost

This method is applied when it is desired to collect small quantities of vermicast only a few

days after the compost heap has been filled with compost worms. In this case only the top layer
is covered with a thin layer of vermicast and the rest of the heap is not completely decomposed.

The vermicast on the heap is collected by hand/trowel and transferred directly into a container.
This method is recommended if organic soil amendment is needed in the preparation of a fertile

potting mix. Over time, as vermicompost collects at the bottom of the heap, it is also collected
by hand.

5.2. Vermicompost harvesting with pyramidal pile

Vermicompost is first collected to form a pyramid-like pile within the composting enclosure,

provided the pile is exposed to light, or transferred on a plastic sheet or a sack to a flat surface
elsewhere in the open sun. This method of vermicompost collection takes advantage of the

worm's sensitivity to light because the worms will tend to move deeper into the pyramid. The
vermicompost on the bottom, side and top surface of the heap is then collected by hand or with

a trowel. After the first cycle of vermicompost collection, a few minutes are passed to allow

enough time for the worms to go deeper and another cycle is started. The original pile is divided
into several smaller piles for faster harvesting of the vermicompost.

5.3. Sieving or screening of vermicompost

The method of vermicompost harvesting is done manually with a device called a sieve, which
consists of a wire mesh nailed to wood. A small portion of the vermicompost pile spread on flat

ground is transferred to the sieve and shaken so that the fine vermicompost falls to the ground.

All undecomposed substrates and worms are retained in the sieve and the worms are manually
separated.

38