Composting worms are often mentioned alongside organic by-product processing and vermicompost. However, it is necessary to distinguish the organism being raised, the processing method and the resulting products.
What is vermicomposting?
NC State Extension describes vermicomposting as a process that uses worms and microorganisms to process organic materials. The processed material is considered an input for soil and crops; not everything produced in a worm bed is used in the same way.
Three different subjects
- Live worms: identify the species, raising conditions and intended use.
- Processed material: understand the feedstocks, condition and quality information.
- Liquids produced: establish whether they are prepared extracts or leachate from the worm system.
Common names are not enough to confirm a species. When looking for guidance, prioritize documents with scientific names and clearly stated raising conditions.
Choose questions suited to your objective
If the aim is to process by-products at home, consider the types of inputs and your ability to care for the system. If the aim is to produce fertilizer, consider quality, storage and use. If you plan to feed worms to livestock, that is a question of feed ingredients and diets, rather than guidance on fertilizing plants.
One worm system can have several uses, but each use needs its own basis. Do not use a soil study as evidence for poultry weight gain, or infer therapeutic effects in humans from it.
Start with information you can verify
Record the source of the worm stock, the source of the materials and your management practices. These records help you compare references, investigate problems and avoid making choices based only on promotional claims.
Read more: How do Perionyx excavatus, Eudrilus eugeniae and Eisenia fetida differ?; Fresh worms as feed for chickens and ducks: distinguishing ingredients from diets.