VERMICOMPOSTING

VERMICOMPOSTING

Vermicomposting is a process by which all types of biodegradble waste such as farm waste, kitchen waste, market waste, livestock waste etc are converted to nutrient rich vermicompost by using earthworms as biological agents. Eudrillus eugineae is the best species of earthworm under Kerala conditions.

Vermicomposting of farm waste

Pits of size 2.5cm length, 1m width and 0.3m depth are taken in thatched sheds with sides left open. The bottom and sides of the pit are made hard by compacting with wooden mallet. At the bottom of the pit a layer of coconut husk is spread with the concave side upward to ensure drainage of excess water and for proper aeration. The husk is moistand and above this,biowaste mixed with cowdung in the in the ratio of 8:1 and is spread up to a height of 30cm above the ground level and water is sprinkled daily. After the partial decomposition of waste for 7-10 days the worms are introduced at the rate of 500-1000 number/pit. The pit is covered with coconut fronds. Moisture is maintained at 40-50%.  When the compost is ready it is removed from the pit along with worms and heaped in shade with enough light .The vermicompost produced has an average nutrient status of 1.5% nitrogen, 0.4% P2O5, 1.8% K2O with pH7-8.
                              

Eudrillus eugineae

               

  Vermicompost manure

APICULTURE

APICULTURE

Importance and Scope

Rearing of honeybee on a commercial state is called apiculture .Apiculture is becoming a popular in India not only because of production honey and beeswax but also because of honeybees are particularly valuable as cultivated plants.

Honeybee's species                               Honeybees belong to the genus Apis in the order of hymenoptera. The three well known indigenous species of Apis in india are 

1) ROCK BEE (Apis dorsata)                                                                                  
The largest Indian species,these are very good honey gathers,a single comb yielding about 40kg of honey and about1.2kg beeswax.On account of their open air habit,rock bees can't be kept in hives.                                                                                                                                                                                    2)INDIAN BEE(Apis cerana indica)                                                                         
Colonies of these always build combs in covered situation, like cavities of tree trunk,rock or walls.This is the only indigenous species capable of being kept in artificial hive.Yields about 6-8kg per colony per year

3)LITTLE BEE(Apis florae)                                                                                      
Builds  isolated small combs in open situations (The species is not economically important)poor yield 200-900g/colony.

4)EUROPEAN BEE(Italian bee)                                                                                
Similar in habits to Indian bee.Builds parallel combs suited for rearing in artificial bee boxes.Average production 25-40kg/colony/year.


5)STING LESS BEE(Trigona iridipennis)                                                               

   Make nest in ground ,holes on trees,cracks on wall.They are efficient polynators.Yield 300-400g/year. Honeyfetch are high price due to it's medicinal properties.

Honeybees gather necter and pollan mainly from the wild vegetation and forage all around their hives within a radius of about 3km.

Honeybee cast
The bee colony is polymorphic,comprising 3 verieties of cast.

1) QUEEN (fertile female)-Queen is unable to produce wax or gather pollan nectar and her sol duty is to lay eggs. She has a combatively large body but less powerful wings than workers. Lays 1-2000eggs/day

2) WORKERS(imperfectly developed female)-Most