- Optimum pH range 5-8. The worms die under pH 4,5 and over pH 9.
- Optimum Humidity 80-85%.
- Dissolved salt leves should not exceed 0,5 % (5000 ppm?).Ammoniumacetate is toxic to the worms when concentrations exceed 0,1%(1000ppm).
- Greatest growth rate in temperatures between 20 and 25 Cdegrees, greatest feeding rate in 15-20 C degrees. Temperatures above37 C degrees cause worm deaths. Can adapt to live in temperatures closeto 0 C degree.
- "Its been theorized that with optimum temperatures andsufficient food source the worms would achieve maturity in 5-9 weeks,meaning that a population of 100 worms could produce an offspringpopulation of 250 000 worms in a year."
- "..up to 20% of the waste materials weight can becomewormbiomass ." (worm biomass is the worms themselves, not the wormcastings)
- "The will never be a problem with overproduction of worm-biomass, as the worms can always be dried and ground to produce a plantfertilizer. The NPK value of the dried worms is approxemately 10-1-1.The worm-biomass also contains 0,8% sulphur, 0,6% calcium, 0,3%magnesium and minerals that benefit the growth of plants."
Worm Species Data
Eisenia fetida (foetida)/Eisenia andrei
Common names: redworm, tiger worm, manure worm
Maximum reproduction under ideal condtions:
3.8 cocoons per adult per week
83.2% hatching success rate
3.3 hatchlings per cocoon
Net reproduction of 10.4 young per adult per week
Maximum growth rate under ideal conditions:
32-73 days to cocoon hatch
53-76 days to sexual maturity
85-149 days from egg to maturity
Temperature requirements C ( F):
Minimum 3 C (38 F)
Maximum 35 C (95 F)
Ideal range 21-27 C (70-80 F)
Eisenia hortensis (Dendrobaena veneta)
Common names: Belgian nightcrawler, European nightcrawler
Maximum growth rate under ideal conditions:
40-128 days to cocoon hatch
57-86 days to sexual maturity
97-214 days from egg to maturity
Temperature requirements C ( F):
Minimum 3 C (38 F)
Maximum 32 C (90 F)
Ideal 15-21 C (60-70 F)
Heat tolerance is dependant on moisture level. This worm is verytolerant of environmental fluctuation and handling, but has a slowerreproductive rate and requires very high moisture levels, relative toother worm species.
Other common composting worm species
Bimastos tumidus - often found in compost piles, tolerates mediumC:N ratios and cooler temperatures better than Eisenia foetida ,multiplies rapidly in old straw and spoiled hay, hardy to Z-5 and willsurvive in ordinary soil conditions hence once established it wouldsurvive without extensive preparations. Earthworm Ecology andBiogeography in North America
Eudrilus eugeniae: (African nightcrawler) do well but cannot withstand low temperatures.(composter or surface worker species)
Lumbricus rubellus: (common redworm or red marsh worm), used inCuba's vermicomposting program, (composter or surface worker species),native to U.S.
Lumbricus terrestris: nightcrawler, native to U.S. Not suitable for vermiculture.
Perionyx excavatus: (Asian species) do well but cannot withstand low temperatures. (composter or surface worker species).
Eco Green Cannabis Grower How To Answers Guide
Eco Green 2011
