Vermicompost using Eisenia andrei (red wiggler)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 28 тра 2021
- Vermicomposting is a natural process of organic waste treatment which is currently practiced worldwide with increasing popularity.
It is a process by which the bioconversion of organic waste into an organic fertilizer is accelerated and conditioned by the activity of epigeic earthworms., meaning that these worms prefer to live in manures, dungs or leaf litter rather than mineral soils.
These are saprophytic organisms, that eat fresh decomposing organic matter and the microbial biomass therein. Their guts act as bioreactors, through which, the worm casts are produced. The material that passed trough the guts of earthworms are known as the drilosphere.
Few worm species are suitable for composting commercially or at home scale. The worm type most commonly used for vermicompost is the red wiggler or tiger worm. The red wigglers nevertheless correspond to two species: Eisenia fetida and Eisenia Andrei. Although Eisenia fetida is more commonly used, Eisenia andrei has one key advantage. These two worms behave very similarly, the main difference is that Eisenia Andrei is more prolific than Eisenia fetida. Whereas Eisenia fetida produces 3 to 5 hatching per cocoon, Eisenia Andrei produces up to 12 hatchings per cocoon. The cocoon is laid 2 days after copulation and incubates typically for 18 to 26 days, but can stay dormant for months of winter or dry periods. After hatching, they reach sexual maturity from 30 to 40 days and reach adult size in 6 months. Their maximum life expectancy is 5 years.
Visually, Eisenia fetida is clearly striped whereas Eisenia Andrei is darker in color with the characteristic stripes are less pronounced. The size of the adults is about 50 to 70 mm with yellow tail, bulging clitellum and epibolic prostomium.
Do not mix these species since they may hybridize. Eisenia andrei and E Eisenia fetida are simultaneous hermaphrodites with reciprocal insemination capable of self-fertilization with the capacity of hybridization. Depending on the subspecies or strain used, the cocoons produced by cross insemination may eider produce no hatchings or few hybrids hatching from Eisenia Andrei ova. In any case the overall fertility of the population will plummet in mixed cultures.
Bottomline, if you are starting and can choose, Eisenia andrei is the preferred species for vermicomposting.
Thanks for your valuable information. Lv from SriLanaka
Hello Daniel, Fascinating information. This is the first time I've seen your channel. I have been keeping a Can-O-Worms and Red Wigglers going since 2009. I started a UA-cam channel in September of 2020 on Gardening and Vermiculture. I love sharing the knowledge I have from 50 years of digging in the Dirt and 12 years of playing with Worms 🪱
Best of luck to you 👍
Thanks! Will check out your channel.
@@danielblac I would be honored. And you must be a favorite teacher. Great presentation 👏
Hi this video is very informative, thank you. It has helped clarify my previous identification of worm species, which is great. Eisenia Andrei are my go to species for vermicomposting. Keep up the great work
Love EA, happy new year!
AWESOME video!!!
Thanks
very interesting
Cheers
I need to check your video about worms identification finally. In Poland every composting worms on the market are called 'Californian earthworms' and in reality it's a mix of different species. I think we have a mix of European Nightcrawlers and both Eisenias in our bin. Now I'm in process of looking for new bins for them but have no clue how to separate the species.
It is really hard to separate mixed cultures of ENC and E fetida, but they can get along well. The problem is mixing E fetia and E andrei because they hybridize and most cocoons from hybrids do not produce hatchings. To get clean cultures you need to hand separate adults and transfer them into a new substrate, it is hard to visually separate E fetida from young ENC. The old ENC with 1+year (Dendrobaena veneta) are bigger and fatter.
Hi Daniel! This is such a good video.
Can I distinguish Andrei and Fetida by the striping in the head area in front of the clitellum?
I’ve noticed that my group has worms that are dark red with very little to no striping and worms that have yellow striping.
Thank you 🙏
@@selfpeace9539 May be a mix, but sometimes the colour also varies with the food they had. ENCs are also very similar to E fetida
Hi can I get the RW worms in Oman to do compost at home
I can give you a starter colony if you are in Muscat and can pick it up in my home, email me danielblac@squ.edu.om
Good evening,
Great going,
I just want to know
How about this as commercial production under conditioned growing methods
Am from India
Working in Azaiba In a hospital
Basically am a graduate microbiologist
it's commercially viable 👍
Hi sir
I am in muscat and I looking to buy compost worms if you can help me how I can contact you
I didn't deside if my worms are Fetida or Andrei 🧐
send me some photos
@@danielblac Thank You, i will !
Is Eisenia andrei the same as Red Wiggler ?
Yes both eisenua are rw
@@danielblac Which type is the best of all, according to your experience?
@boitenoire9275 Eisenia andrei has a slight advantage over E fetida, but both are excellent composters.
@@danielblac
Comment puis-je obtenir Eisenia Andrei et j'habite en Algérie, pouvez-vous me l'envoyer ?
Are you on Clubhouse?
I'm not in clubhouse at the moment but can join if there is something of interest. Any recommendations?
@@danielblac great conversations had, great contacts made on vermiculture, permaculture, composting, soilless growing, growing with soil.....on Clubhouse. I have a few invites and would like to extend one to you! My email is “EVEGROWING@comcast.net” if interested👍
ua-cam.com/video/ZG1wfauSlzY/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/o7gv7U-rZl8/v-deo.html not affiliated with any of these UA-cam people, but feel they have good info about clubhouse 👍
@@evegrowing7749 I'm interested will send you an email.
🇨🇦💩🪱🧑🌾Here visiting you today!
Welcome, hope you enjoy it!
Certainly did my friend and take a look around our Videos and leave feedback!
@@gbltheolechurch5acrehomestead will do, 👍