Let's begin the next session

One day in retrospect the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful

Sigmund Freud

 Once again our department is ready for the next session of vermiculture. We constructed another pit of the same dimension as 4.5'x4.5'x4.5'. This time we planned to use rotten vegetables along with freshly prepared cow dung. The Nature Conservers started to work with the same potential and enthusiasm.the pit after being prepared was given a boundary of bricks so that it have have a firm shape. the bricks were tightened together with a moistened solution of mud and was allowed to get dry. the pit was left for the whole day. 
On the very next day the pit was checked for proper aeration and a layer of soil was spread at its bottom. The dry leaves were collected and then spread over it.Freshly prepared cow dung was also sprinkled over the layer of the leaves and then a layer of rotten vegetables was spread over the layer of the cow dung. Finally just above the layer of the rotten vegetables a final layer of the freshly prepared cow dung was also sprinkled. After the layer were set the pit was sprinkled with water and left overnight. On the next day the earthworms which were taken away from the older vermicompost were inoculated in this pit. A mixture of jaggery in water was also sprinkled along with showers of water and left. The temperature was measured and it was found to be about 28 degrees Celsius.

Our Pit

 Layer of cow dung

Addition of rotten vegetable

Rotten Vegetables

Final layer

Mission Successful

The path to cheerfulness is to sit cheerfully and to act and speak as if cheerfulness were already there.

-James William

 After 60 days of tough labour finally our mission got successful. The overall cooperation of my team and my colleague San helpeed us a alot to achieve our target. We introduced about 1000 earthworms in the very preliminary step pf our practice and today we found more than 10,000 earthworms of different sizes. We also found many cocoons of earthworms. Although only studied about the cocoons in the books but today we encountered with them live. It was amazing. The earthworms removed were introduced in another pit prepared next to the lab of the Biological Sciences.

Removal of compost

Wilson with compost

Earthworms in compost

Earthworm's cocoons

Earthworm emerging from cocoon

Earthworms in compost

Well The Party Is Not Over

After working for about two months...still we don't have time to rest as we have prepared another pit so that we can introduce the earthworms in it and our practice may improve day by day.

Dear Friends your comments and suggestions are welcomed!

Team At Work

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

-Thomas A. Edison

The work began on 4th February, 2011. A pit of 4.5'x4.5'x4.5' dimension was made in the research plot of our department of Biological Sciences. The pit was made rectangular. Our Nature Conservers Team participated in this task very enthusiastically. After digging the pit a plastic sheet was placed over that pit and was tightened with the help of bamboo poles. Four holes were made at the four corners of the pit for water to escape and proper aeration. Temperature was recorded as 20 degree Celsius.

The pit

Pit-enlarged

After making the pit a layer of cow dung was spread over the pit as you can see from the picture below.

Layer of cow dung

After that dried leaves and husk were added over the layer of cow dung.Temperature was recorded to be 22 degree Celsius.

Pit with leaves and vegetable peelings

Pit with dry Leaves and Husk

 The vegetable matter and the dry leaves as well as the husk were mixed together without disturbing the lower layer of the cow dung. Then the pit was watered so that the heat may get lost as well as the microbes may get a chance to increase their activity and the waste matter may undergo decomposition. Watering is a very important part of vermiculture.

Lets Work Together

Watering the pit

The temperature was again measured and it was 23 degree Celsius. the pit was left for 3 days so that the microbial activity can take place and water was sprinkled every day over the waste material. After 3 days a layer of cow dung was spread over the rotten content.

Final layer of cow dung

When the water got absorbed earthworms belonging to the genus Eisenia foetida were released over the pit. just above the layer of cow dung a very thin layer of soil was also spread in order to provide a natural environment for the earthworms. The earthworms were brought from an organic farm located near our University.

Earthworms over cow dung and soil layer

A layer of jaggery solution was also added. jaggery solution helps the earthworms to grow well fast.

Eisenia foetida

Eisenia foetida

Also known as Red earthworms. Earthworms are the members of phylum Annelida, also known as Farmer's Friends as they convert the natural waster matter into organic manure rich in nutrients that are beneficial for the growth of the plants.The body is divided into a large number of segments. The first segment of body is known as peristomium followed by prostomium. Mouth is present at the tip of the body and the terminal most opening on the body is anus. The 14-16th segment being occupied by clitellum which can be easily identified as a dark reddish band.The clitellum secretes albumen for the formation of cocoon. The male genital pores are present on the 18th segment while female genital pores are present on 14th segment.The overall length of body is 3-10 cm and they weigh about 0.4-0.6g. They attain maturity in about 50-55 days.

Red Earthworm

After releasing the earthworms the pit was covered with a jute bag and was allowed to dry.

Pit after release of earthworms

 The earthworms entered the layer of soil as well as cow dung. The pit was then covered with a jute bag and left to dry. everyday the temperature was measured which came around 23-24 degree Celsius. Water was sprinkled everyday for maintaining the moisture content as well as aeration of the pit.

The changing texture of pit

The earthworms appeared after some days on the upper layer when it was scrapped a little. They were healthy and had acquired a good length as well as body weight. Water was sprinkled each and every day and temperature was recorded.

Earthworm

Earthworm on finger

Day by day the texture of the layer got changed. It became darker in colour.

Texture of pit changed

 The whole process of conversion of waste matter into compost took around 55 days. The temperature averaged about 24 degree Celsius. Enjoy some of the amazing pictures of earthworms as well as the videos.

 The upper texture of the pit's layer became very loose finally.

Work done

Shubham with compost

Work is close to completion

Nature Conservers- Crazy Team

When you discover your mission, you feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it.

-W. Clement Stone

Let's play with the earthworms

I would also like to share my gratitude towards my supportive, enthusiastic and best friends whose encouragement helps me to move around....

Go Crazy....

Nature Conservers At A Glance

Nature conservers is a strong team of 25 people which are enthusiastic, dedicated and goal oriented persons.
Let's meet them individually.

1. Nimisha Benjamin

 Born on 24th July, loves to watch cricket and listening music.

2. Mritunjay Pratap Singh Yadav

 Born on 28th March, interested in reading books, playing cricket and singing.

3. Devendra Kumar

 Born on 30th June and loves to wander and watching movies.

4. Archana Kumari

  Born on 24th November, and interested in singing, playing badminton and reading books

5. Saira Bano

  Born on 20th January, and loves painting and reading books.

6. Zoya Siddiqui

  Born on 13th July and interested in vermicomposting and singing

7. Ghanshyam Singh

 Born on 1st July and interested in playing chess, weight lifting and listening music.

 8. Sana Parveen

 Born on 1st March and loves reading books

9. Suryaprakash

10. Saba Ansari

 Born on 8th October and interested in watching television and cooking.

11. Seema Tiwari

  Born on 17th March and loves dancing and sleeping.

12. Snigdha Dwivedi

 

 Born on 9th August and loves reading books and painting.

13. Deepti

 

14. Nivedita Yadav

 Born on 12th September and loves to play football and enjoys bike riding.


15. Indu Brigenza

 Born on 7th September and interested in dancing, playing badminton and reading books.

16. Sarfaraz Ahamed

  Born on 10th April and loves to play cricket, golf, squash, football and chess.

17. Abouzer

  Born on 20th June and love sleeping, playing with science and making issues.

18. Rohit Kumar

 Born on 19th October and interested in playing cricket, football and reading books about mysteries of universe.

19. Rakesh Kumar Yadav

  Born on 16th February and loves playing cricket and chess.

20. Simran Tripathi

 Born on 30th May and loves singing and dancing.


21. Mohd. Faisal

 Born on 11th November and interested in gardening and listening soft music.


22. Jyoti

 23. Rohit Jorge

 
 24. Shubham Mishra
25. Navodita George Maurice

 Born on 12th August and loves doing scientific mysteries especially playing with insects, singing, crazy things and a Platinum level author on Ezine Articles.com.