While both vermicompost and regular compost have their own merits and limitations, it is a general belief that vermicompost is better than regular compost. Some of these merits and limitations are listed below:
- The enzymatic response is greater in vermicompost compared to regular compost.
- Vermicomposting has a higher rate of microbial activity compared to regular compost.
- Size of vermicompost is less than 20 microns.
- Compared to regular compost, vermicompost contains more nutrients. It is concentrated with high levels of phosphorous and nitrogen.
- Compost Tea is formed when the liquid beneath vermicompost bin is diluted with water. This provides a nutrient rich drink for established plants. Regular composting does not form any such liquid.
Other differences between vermicompost and regular composts are listed as follows:
Differences in Chemical and Physical Properties
| | MC | MV | BV |
|---|
| pH | 9.2 | 8.7 | 7.7 |
| EC | 0.8 | 0.51 | 1.2 |
| Moisture (%) | 44 | 51 | 52 |
| Organic Matter | 20 | 24 | 21 |
| Total Nutrients (g Kg-1) | | | |
| N | 8.6 | 10.8 | 8.5 |
| P | 4.8 | 7.0 | 6.2 |
| K | 5.3 | 5.6 | 8.2 |
| Available Nutrients | | | |
| NH4+-N | 7.3 | 25.2 | 7.1 |
| NH3--N | 90 | 203 | 527 |
| Extractable P | 127 | 207 | 247 |
| Maturity Indexes | | | |
| Total C / Total N | 11.7 | 11.1 | 12.4 |
| WSC (g Kg-1 | 3 | 1.9 | 2.5 |
| WSC / Total N | 0.35 | 0.17 | 0.29 |
| Fecal Coliform (MPN g (g Kg-1) | 28 | 80 | 80 |
MC = Municipal Compost
MV = Municipal Vermicompost
BV = Backyard Vermicompost
EC = Electrical Conductivity
WSC = Water Soluble Carbon
MPN = Most Probable NumberDifferences in Biological and Biochemical Properties| | MC | MV | BV |
|---|
Urease
(μmol NH4+g-1h-1) | 3.54 | 3.90 | 6.11 |
BAA - Protease
(μmol NH4+g-1h-1) | 0.31 | 0.96 | 1.83 |
Phosohatase
(μmol PNP g-1h-1) | 237 | 398 | 676 |
Dehyrdrogenase
(μg INTFg-1) | 193 | 123 | 77 |
Microbial Biomass C
(μg C g-1) | 1147 | 703 | 335 |
* Data for tables taken from : Composting vs Vermicomposting: A Comparison of End Product Quality [Composting Science & Utilization, (2005), Vol. 13, No.1, 6-13]
Devesh Shah asked 3 years ago
Team GreenSutra®Staff answered 3 years ago
