Thread: Stabilized vermicompost

This post is the result of a previous post which is partly copied below. I would like to know if other members are experimenting with charcoal as a soil enhancer.

In answer to IsaanAussie's question. The charcoal is not a part of the compost but functions as a storage medium where the nutrients are locked up until released when needed by the plants (ion exchange).

For more info:
http://en.wikipedia dot org/wiki/Biochar
http://en.wikipedia dot org/wiki/Terra_preta

Cheers

R'tje

Originally Posted by repesteeltje

Hello IsaanAussie,

Can I have a look next time when I'm heading your way?
My worms make excellent vermicasts and I stabilize it by mixing with water and charcoal powder (which I make by pounding charcoal, (shitty job and cannot breath in the dust). This mix I let sit for 3 weeks with occasionally stirring and then let it dry.

I call this stabilized vermicompost.

The idea came to me while reading about Terra Preta.

Cheers

R'tje
Rjte,

Dont expect too much to see, but as always visitors are welcome any time.
This is interesting. You will have a very heavy C:N ratio. Can I ask what your objective is with this blend?
It appears to me, are there are many microbes castings and now carbon but not much nitrogen to aid them in mineralisation. What nitrogen is in the castings would be mineralised but after the mix is dried what inert microbes are there would be pretty hungry when the mix is used and the moisture level rises to wake them up. Does that give you soil nitrogen depletion initially when the stabilised castings are used?
I do a similar thing but add pond algae as the nitrogen source. I also add my probiotic brew to speed things along.
Would welcome further discussions on this topic.

Try mixing it in a Cement mixer with a cover placed over the opening, let it mix and walk away.

I hope to make a brew when I have time, sounds intersting.

I would like to add a few comments here to clarify things from my perspective. Please share any differences of opinion.
Firstly worm castings as opposed to worm compost. These are not the same thing. Castings are the excretions of the worms, whereas compost is basically what is left once the castings have been sieved out.
Secondly, castings are extremely stable. I fail to see how adding biochar will improve the stability. IMHO adding biochar will provide the environment and carbon for the bacteria in the castings to multiply, but they need nitrogen to do so.

I use castings as a fertiliser. I use the residual compost in brewing aerated teas, pelleted fertilisers and in soil amendment products, potting and seed raising mixes.
I use a high carbon (biochar) content pig manure immature compost as the worm bed. The difference is, it is added at the start of the worm composting process not to the end product. As in thermophyllic composting, the carbon content being higher at the start than the end.
I also add additional biochar when amending soil. Adding then encourages the existing soil microbes to multiply, but again, there must be sufficient nitrogen available.

Concrete mixer, is a must when you are mixing a decent volume. Not only is the blend better but it is much easier to control the moisture level. I don't bother with the cover though.