For the creation of fertile land that helps the development of crops and the oxygenation of the land there is a type of discipline that was dedicated to it. It's about the vermiculture. It is an activity that focuses on the breeding and multiplication of worms in order to increase the populations of these annelids in the soil. With this, the vermicompost can be prepared to promote the development of crops. It is also known by the name of vermiculture in many countries.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics and importance of vermiculture.
What is vermiculture
When we talk about vermiculture we refer to all the operations carried out with the aim of raising and increasing the production of epigeal worms. This means that they are worms whose life cycle is different from those commonly found in gardens. They are worms that are found on the surface and a treatment is carried out in order to increase their populations. Thanks to the existence of worms we can transform organic waste for recycling in the form of fertilizer and proteins for the soil. The compost resulting from the activity of the worms has very good quality and is termed as vermicompost or vermicompost.
Vermiculture has joined home composting in homes since, thanks to compost bins, all organic waste can be stored and the worms do their job. This discipline has become a practice that is in harmony with environmental sustainability. This is because it is responsible for treating organic waste to produce natural and ecological fertilizers. In this way, the physical-chemical conditions of the soil are also improved and meat rich in animal protein is produced.
It is a type of activity that significantly accelerates the return of organic waste. These organic wastes are used by plants to grow and nourish themselves. One of the advantages of vermiculture is that the most degraded soils are recovered since it is usually mismanaged due to excessive use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals to control pests and diseases. Many soils have lost their natural fertility and thanks to vermiculture it can be recovered little by little.
Earthworms throughout history
As science has studied the morphology and characteristics of earthworms, it has discovered the importance of their role for the improvement of farmland. In ancient Egypt it was already known as one of the main animals to improve the fertility of the Nile Valley. There are many inhabitants who depended on the fertility of this soil and who, in turn, depended on the existence and activity of these animals.
The pharaohs had numerous and very severe punishments provided for those who illegally damaged or sold the worms. The Greek philosopher Aristotle defined earthworms as the intestines of the earth. Hence the importance of the activity of these animals on earth. Throughout history they have been widely denied even by the Romans. It was already in the XNUMXth century when the activity of earthworms and the fundamental role they play in the earth could be scientifically explained. The true function of the ecosystem came in Charles Darwin's latest book which showed that, Over the course of 4-5 years, the worms passed most of the topsoil through their intestines.
If we get an idea of this statement, we can see that the magnitude of this task was extrapolated to one hectare of field to be able to contain a ton of worms that are capable of processing 250 tons of soil per year. For this reason, it has been pointed out that worms are the link that closes the cycle between life and death.
Biology of the red worm and importance of vermiculture
We are going to learn more about the biology and characteristics of earthworms. If we want to manage the red worm, we need morphological, physiological and ecological knowledge. Otherwise, we cannot guarantee the success of the production. Although these animals play a fundamental role in the terrestrial biological cycle, if we want to increase the populations of worms on a large scale, we must know their biology and physiology.
The red worm is an animal belonging to the edge of the annelids and has been ecologically classified according to its eating habits. Depending on the depth at which they are found and the size of the individuals, different species and classes differ. The earthworm that is used in vermiculture is the one that lives in the most superficial areas. From there to what are called epigeal worms. They feed mainly on decomposing organic matter. For this reason, compost bins are normally used where organic waste generated in homes is deposited. Organic waste as can be food scraps, garden pruning, eggshells, etc.
Everything that is organic and degrades on its own can be put into a compost bin inside which there will be worms that will decompose said organic matter to form soil with a high degree of natural fertilizer. Among the general biological characteristics of worms we find the need to have a fair humidity. We cannot know if the worms are working efficiently if we do not know their biology. For example, we know that they need an exact amount of humidity in order to survive in good conditions. If you have a deficit of moisture or access or have poorly prepared food, you will lose efficiency in production capacity. It can be easily seen when we analyze the worms without clitellus.
The animal has a length of between 6-12 centimeters long and 0.5 centimeters in diameter. Its color is red and it can live in captivity. It has neither eyes nor teeth and its mouth is the only thing through which to incorporate food that will serve for decomposition. Their adult form will give us an idea if we are treating them well or badly. If the stonemason has problems, the worms can lose weight and the production capacity decreases. This makes them look like a young worm.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about vermiculture and its main characteristics.