Questions › Category: Composting › What is the difference between vermicompost and regular compost?
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Devesh Shah asked 5 years ago
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What is the difference between vermicompost and regular compost?
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What is the difference between vermicompost and regular compost?
Description
While both vermicompost and regular compost have their own merits and limitations, it is a general belief that vermicompost is better than regular compost.
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GreenSutra
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Team GreenSutra® Staff answered 5 years ago

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

 MCMVBV
pH9.28.77.7
EC0.80.511.2
Moisture (%)445152
Organic Matter202421
Total Nutrients (g Kg-1)
N8.610.88.5
P4.87.06.2
K5.35.68.2
Available Nutrients
NH4+-N 7.325.27.1
NH3--N 90203527
Extractable P127207247
Maturity Indexes
Total C / Total N11.711.112.4
WSC (g Kg-131.92.5
WSC / Total N0.350.170.29
Fecal Coliform (MPN g (g Kg-1)288080
MC = Municipal Compost
MV = Municipal Vermicompost
BV = Backyard Vermicompost
EC = Electrical Conductivity
WSC = Water Soluble Carbon
MPN = Most Probable Number
Differences in Biological and Biochemical Properties
 MCMVBV
Urease
(μmol NH4+g-1h-1)		3.543.906.11
BAA - Protease
(μmol NH4+g-1h-1)		0.310.961.83
Phosohatase
(μmol PNP g-1h-1)		237398676
Dehyrdrogenase
(μg INTFg-1)		19312377
Microbial Biomass C
(μg C g-1)		1147703335

* Data for tables taken from : Composting vs Vermicomposting: A Comparison of End Product Quality [Composting Science & Utilization, (2005), Vol. 13, No.1, 6-13]

Summary
What is the difference between vermicompost and regular compost?
Article Name
What is the difference between vermicompost and regular compost?
Description
While both vermicompost and regular compost have their own merits and limitations, it is a general belief that vermicompost is better than regular compost.
Author
Publisher Name
GreenSutra
Publisher Logo