Should you require a task to be completed, enlist the aid of a busy individual – or in this scenario, a diligent worm. Continuously working, worms have been foundational in soil development, following practices established by their forebears 600 million years ago. Although often, the key roles they play are critical: through activity and the resulting castings, worms produce vital elements for life. As Professor Clive A. Edwards from Ohio University emphasised in 1995, the effectiveness of worm castings (vermicast) surpasses that of traditional fertilisers, with vermicompost outperforming all known commercial alternatives.
The benefits of using vermicast are extensive. It enhances soil by retaining more water and nutrients, improving texture, increasing nutrient accessibility, and contributing to disease resistance. Research indicates notable improvements in agricultural yields, including larger fruit sizes, better fruit preservation, increased trunk diameters, and other positive outcomes that can persist for up to four years after application.
Worms are masterful at transforming crucial plant nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium into more accessible forms for plants than their original states in raw materials. Vermicast significantly boosts seed germination, stimulates the growth and development of seedlings, and increases overall plant productivity far beyond mere nutrient conversion.
The global vermicompost market size was around $US76.95 million in the year 2021 and is expected to reach a value of $US181 million by 2032.
For optimal results, it is important to feed compost worms a diverse diet. This encourages the growth of various micro-organisms, including fungi, bacteria, protozoa, and nematodes, each playing an essential role in nutrient cycling and combating disease. Although cow manure is an excellent food source for worms, its exclusive use leads to a bacteria-heavy end product. By adding woody materials, the balance shifts, fostering fungal growth and creating a superior vermicast. Depending on the need, different ratios of bacteria to fungi in the vermicast can benefit orchards or pastures specifically.
The phrase ‘Build it and they will come’ holds true not just for fictional baseball fields but also for earthworm populations in soil treated with vermicast. This encourages other earthworm species to thrive, thus improving soil aeration, facilitating water infiltration, enhancing nutrient cycling, and promoting microbial activity. The digestion process of certain earthworms alters phosphorus into plant-usable forms, a critical function given phosphorus’s role in plant growth.
Earthworm castings contain essential plant hormones, enzymes, vitamins, and even natural antibiotics crucial for both plant and eventually, human health. Present in minute concentrations, these compounds have a profound impact on plant growth and the quality of crops.
An integral element of worm humus—what gives healthy soil its rich, dark color—is its ability to bind with plant nutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, sulfur, and phosphorus. These nutrients are stored in humic acids and released as needed by plants. Additionally, this humus improves soil’s capacity to retain water, with the ability to absorb up to three times its weight. Vermicast not only protects plants against extreme temperatures but also helps prevent erosion and, when balanced, can even reduce weed occurrence.
Using earthworm castings can diminish the dependence on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, as evidenced by studies like those suggesting increased levels of available nitrogen and a higher potential for denitrification. Such findings advocate for sustainable farming practices that maximise nutrient recycling and minimise chemical use.
Charles Darwin, in his later years, turned his studies towards the often-underappreciated earthworm, recognizing the significant yet unheralded value they offer. In New Zealand, this realization is gaining traction among farmers who acknowledge the benefits that a shift towards greater appreciation of soil microbiology and the role of worms can bring to agriculture.”
Supercharge your soil naturally with Gardenscape wormcastings, the ultimate nutrient-rich additive. Packed with goodies from happy earthworms, vermicast revives soil fertility and boosts plant health – all without chemicals! Shop here.