"The earthworm composting"
The earthworm compost is a system that enable the deterioration of our organic waste by worms (earthworm; precisely Eisenia Fetida), which is similar to the work of the living in the superficial layers of the soil.
The waste (vegetable remains such as peeling or meal leftovers, but also animals carcass, excretions...) is used as food for microorganism (bacterium and mushrooms) and for worms present in the earthworm compost who eat and digest them. This digestion process enable to mineralize waste to transform it into simple elements digestible by plants (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, trace elements...) essentials for their growth and development.
Results of that digestion: percolate or compost juice and humus.
The "percolate" (liquid matter) is composed in nutrients, organics molecules yet non degraded, as well as beneficials microorganisms decomposers. It is composed of liquid excretions from earthworms, humidity from the compost and fresh matters that are going down due to gravity.
The "humus" (black matter, lumpy and humid at touch) contains minerals necessary for plants, humic acid (molecule which support roots ramification and their metabolism) and beneficials microorganisms decomposers. It serves as food safe by keeping nutrients to supply them for plants gradually and continuously.
"The Organic Filter"
It is a system in which decomposers microorganisms are going to finish the stage of "digestion" of chemicals compounds in order for them to be directly and easily available for plants. In a healthy soil, this method is happening continuously.
The liquid coming out of the filter is rich in elements easily digestible by plants and beneficials microorganisms. The interest of such a work of deconstruction in the organic filter avoids that the deconstruction take place in the roots of the plants and then creates rotten bits or deficiency. In this organic filter, this work is happening in aerobic, which means in oxygenated environment.
The organic filter consist in a energetic flow of the liquid (water and organics matters) with waterfall (oxygenating fountain) on microporous and aerated layers (volcanic rock, pumice stone, expanded clay beads) and aerated cellulosic layers favorable for fungal developments (straw, dry herbs, dry reeds...)
"Why combine earthworm compost and organic filter ?"
The percolate (or compost juice) collected after the composting isn't yet totally deteriorated. Adding an organic filter to the earthworm compost enable to finish preparing the different nutrients that the plants need in order to obtain an "fertilizer" usable even on an inert substrate (hydroponics) as well as bringing beneficials microorganisms to your system.
The humus can be gathered by sieving or after migration of the earthworm and can bu used to enrich a soil or a potted substrate.
In this specific system, the earthworms establish their colony in the superior part (the first 15cm), the humus created stays in the inferior part and the percolate which is evacuated in the organic filter is enriching by going through the humus. This kind of earthworm composting is intended mostly for percolate gathering.
"Use context"
The earthworm composing can be perform to all size-cultures, from a community scale, to spread the large-scale cultures, or smaller one at home to produce for example, fertilizer for personal culture of the soil or hydroponics.
This system is really interesting for isolated cultures with an agricultural activity, or even in urban areas in hydroponics (for example in roofing) because it enable to create a virtuous alimentation cycle by combining organic waste recycling and fertilizer production for plants.
This tutorial gives a way to create an homemade earthworm compost (around 50L per each of the organic filter system and earthworm composting). There are a lot of different ones in other sizes with different materials, but this one has been created to permit a reproduction by the greatest number and adaptable to each one local conditions.
Étape 3 - The organic filter
1) Drill one hole in the center of the basin with a diameter of the size of the garden hose you are going to use.
2) Drill a few smaller holes at the bottom of the basin. They will permit for the liquid to go from the basin to the vat.
3) Place your basin on top of your vat.
4) Faites passer le tuyau par le trou de la bassine en vérifiant que la pompe soit toujours plongée dans l'eau au fond de la cuve.
5) Remplissez la bassine avec la paille, les roches poreuses, les champignons. (à trouver chez GHE - General Hydroponics Europe, 10g/100L ou environ 2 cuillères à café).
Remarque : Il est également possible d'utiliser de la matière organique en décomposition. Les micro-organismes décomposeurs se trouvent par exemple sous une branche en décomposition et reconaissables par un film de moisissure blanchâtre.
6) Déposez éventuellement un bout de toile ajourée au dessus du tuyau permettant à l'eau de circuler sans laisser passer les roches ou la paille dans le tuyau.
Ce biofiltre a été réalisé avec l'aide deThomas Blanguille expert en hydroponie.
N'hésitez pas à commenter, partager, et agrémenter le tutoriel d'informations utiles à son amélioration.
Français
English
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Português