Appropriate moisture. Earthworms breathe through their skin. The moisture in the bedding should range from 70% to 90%. In a tropical country like the Philippines, watering of the bedding should be frequent - 2x or 3x weekly -, especially during summertime. Excessive watering should be avoided.
Aeration. Worms need air to breathe. They don't need plenty of air as humans do but still, they need air. The bedding material should be porous and loose enough to facilitate airflow, moist but not wet since excessive water cuts off airflow thereby creating anaerobic conditions. This will quickly kill off the earthworms.
The bedding should not be compacted to ensure that worms can move from one place to another. The earthworms' movement encourages aeration of the bedding. Compaction of the bedding hinder the worms' movement.
Temperature. African Nightcrawlers can handle temperature ranging from 4 degrees celsius to 35 degrees Celsius. The bedding should protect them from extreme temperature.
In the Philippines, scorching summers are deadly to African Nightcrawlers. Earthworm bins should be placed indoors or under the shade of a tree. Surrounding your worm bin with potted plants also help lower the temperature in the bin.
pH Earthworms prefer a neutral pH but can live in a pH range of 5 to 9. Beddings tend become acidic over time depending on the food source. Adding calcium carbonate remedies acidic beds. High pH beds are rare.
The next post discusses pre-composting of high protein food wastes using Biolant BM concentrate.
SOURCE:"Manual of On-Farm Vermicomposting and Vermiculture", by Glenn Munroe, Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
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