earthworm castings

Earthworm castings are pretty high in nitrogen. It would have to be apretty thin layer or soaked somehow. It is a pity that they dont hold their shape in water, they look better then aquasoil fresh.

I do vermicomposting (worm bins) which was one of my other interests before NPT, and one thing that can happen is that vermicompost when dried are rock hard. If you dried them up and then crush them adding to your soil that maybe okay.

I don't know if there would be too much nuturients and may make your water muddy. Don't really know.

thanks for the replies

xpistalpetex said:

would it work as a first layer or would it be to rich in organic matter?

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This is something I find interesting and puzzling...

Although I have heard this discussion before, I've never seen any conclusive evidence to say yes castings are too rich or that they should not be used. I'm not sure why soil that has passed through a worm and had nutrients extracted from it (which is after all why the worms eat soil unless I am mistaken about their diet) would be more rich than the soil was before.

I suppose it depends on how rich whatever the worms are eating is - does anyone know what a typical commercial castings farm might "feed" their worms? Is it always fresh compost? I'm wishing I paid more attention to the episode of Dirty Jobs where they went to the worm farm!

As I understand it, works don't really eat "dirt". They eat partially decayed plant and animal matter in the soil. The stuff they eat just looks like dirt to the naked eye. Earthworm casting is really decaying plant and animal matter that is partially digested.

Cow, horse, and pig manures contain a lot of organics and are dangerous to use in a NPT or anywhere else. I suspect that earthworm manure ("castings") are similar.

Bill

For plants, worm castings tend not to burn plants.
The casting are suppose to release the nutrient slowly.
It still would be interesting what would happen.
The bacteria on the castings might not survive in the water.
I would think the castings wouldn't be much worse than the topsoil I'm using since it has a lot of decaying matter (cheap red bag from Lowes).

Worm bins compost paper products and kitchen scraps. It's a common school project. Look Here. "Compared to ordinary soil, the worm castings contain five times more nitrogen, seven times more phosphorus and 11 times more potassium. They are rich in humic acids and improve the structure of the soil." Worm castings are part of soil, but so are sand/clay/gravel...
I believe Ms Walstad once said a little bit of regular kitchen compost would be ok. So maybe a little worm castings on the bottom layer would be ok. I'd sure like to hear about your results if you try it.

ya it would seem to help the forum out trying new things...ill try to get a jar test within few weeks depending on shipping

Hi all

I could find a nursery where he has Generic potting soil with leaf mold in it.
He also said that he has vermicompost which can be mixed with it.
Is it safe to use his combination of Generic potting soil with leaf mold + vermicompost,or only Generic potting soil with leaf mold will do?
If his mixture is safe,what should be the mixing ratio of vermicompost to the Generic potting soil with leaf mold?

Thanks
Ravi

I think that mixture would supply far more nutrients to the water column than a NPT could handle. The result would be an algae farm.

But I could be wrong.

If you go that route, please let us know how you make out after, say, three months.

Bill