Biohumus is a very useful organic fertilizer that nourishes and restores nutrients in the soil, which allows you to grow large volumes and environmentally friendly crops. That is included in this organic matter, how it differs from other fertilizers and how to make biohumus with your own hands, we will tell in this article.
What is vermicompost and how to use it
Biohumus or vermicompost is a product of the processing of various organic agricultural waste by earthworms. This is what distinguishes it from the same humus or compost, which are formed as a result of the action of various bacteria and microorganisms.
Biohumus has such characteristics as improving the structure of the soil and its water-physical properties. In addition, the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in it is somewhat higher than in other organics. The advantages of vermicompost are also:
- humus content from 10 to 15%;
- acidity pH 6.5-7.5;
- the absence of extraneous bacteria, weed seeds, heavy metal salts;
- the presence of antibiotics and a large number of microorganisms that are involved in soil formation;
- more rapid development and more durable immunity in plants fed with this organic matter;
- valid for three to seven years.
Biohumus is well proven when using:
- for the prevention of plant diseases and their easy transfer of temperature drops;
- to speed up the germination of seeds and to increase the number of seedlings;
- to increase the volume and accelerate the ripening of the crop;
- for quick recovery, restoration and improvement of soil fertility;
- to combat harmful insects (effect up to six months);
- to enhance the decorative appearance of flowers.
Did you know? The yield of plants fertilized with vermicompost is 35-75% higher than that fed with manure.A few words about how to use biohumus in the garden. It is used as the main fertilizer for:
- planting and sowing plants in open ground and in the greenhouse;
- top dressing of all types of agricultural plants;
- resuscitation and land reclamation;
- various forestry activities;
- fertilizing floral plants and growing lawn grasses.
This organic fertilizer is used throughout the season: from early spring until the end of autumn.Biohumus can be applied to any soil and in any quantities, the recommended application rate - 3-6 tons of dry fertilizer per 1 ha for large areas, for small - 500 g per 1 m².
Liquid solution for feeding and watering plants is prepared from 1 liter of vermicompost, which is diluted in 10 liters of warm water.
Biohumus is sold in finished form in granules and in liquid form (aqueous suspension).
Did you know? For the first time, the Americans began to breed worms on special farms (vermiculture) in the 40s of the past century. Then vermiculture spread to European countries. Today it is best known in Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and other countries.It can be easily prepared at home. There are two ways to do this:
- in the open area;
- in room.
Both in the first and in the second case it will be necessary to equip a special composter for breeding. Commercially used for this vermifabriki.
Read more about how to cook biohumus, read the following subsections. In general, this process consists of five stages:
- selection of the type and purchase of worms;
- composting;
- laying of animals in compost;
- care and feeding;
- extraction of worms and biohumus.
Choosing and buying compost worms
Earthworms can be found and collected by themselves or purchased in the store. Most often, red Californian worms are used in vermicultivation (bred on the basis of manure in the 50s – 60s of the 20th century), but many companies also offer other species: prospector, manure, earthy, Dendroben Veneta (European worm for fishing).
Experienced manufacturers of vermicompost claim that the best of these species for vermicultivation are Californian red and a prospector. The first ones multiply well, live for a long time (10-16 years), work fast, but their main disadvantage is low temperature intolerance.
Did you know? During the day, one worm is able to pass through its digestive system a volume of soil equal to the weight of its body. Thus, if we consider that on average this crawling animal weighs about 0.5 g, then 50 individuals per 24 hours per hectare of land can process 250 kg of soil.The miner was also taken out of the usual dung-worm. It is fast in reproduction of fertilizer (it produces up to 100 kg of biohumus), does not undergo diseases and epidemics, reproduces well (produces up to 1500 individuals) and is able to withstand low temperatures - it goes deep into the soil in order not to freeze.
You can buy worms in specialized stores, including on the Internet, or in vermuschestvah. They are usually sold by families, at least 1500 pieces each, which include 10% of adults, 80% of kids and 10% of cocoons. When purchasing animals, you need to pay attention to their mobility and body color.Composter design
As we have already noted, vermicompost can be prepared both in the conditions of the summer cottage, and in the apartment or house. Any premises will do: garage, shed, basement. Some equip chervyatniki in the bathroom. The main thing - to build a composter or compost pit or a pile.
On the street, a house for worms is arranged in the form of a box of wooden boards without a bottom and a lid. The box must be placed in a place sheltered from the sun on the ground, in no case on the concrete, because the excess water will need a way out.
Dimensions can be different, for example, 60-100 cm high, 1-1.3 m long and wide. In an apartment, a house for worms can also be built from a wooden or plastic box (container), or from cardboard boxes inserted one into another. -Under household appliances. For breeding worms are suitable large aquariums. You can use a plastic sieve, enclosed in a plastic basin or container.
Important! The tank must be equipped with a drainage: put a layer of gravel at the bottom or make holes in it. If moisture is not removed, the animals will soon die.In order to fit as many worms as possible in a small room, boxes or containers can be placed one-on-one in several tiers or shelves can be made. So it is possible to place about a million crawling animals on an area of 15-20 m².
Compost preparation (nutrient substrate)
For any species of worms, it will be necessary to prepare a nutrient substrate, which should consist of:
- manure or litter, food waste of plant origin, leaves, tops - one part;
- sand - 5%;
- hay (straw) or sawdust - one part.
Before being placed into the composter of worms, the substrate must undergo a special treatment - composting. It must be heated to the required temperature for several days. To do this, it is either simply heated in the sun (the desired temperature is easily achieved from April to September), or lime or peat (20 kg per 1 ton of raw material) is introduced into it. 
Composting should last for 10 days. From the first to the third day, the temperature should be at +40 ° C, the next two days - at + 60 ... +70 ° C, from the seventh to the tenth day - + 20 ... +30 ° C.
After compost preparation, it should be tested by running several worms on the surface. If the animals have gone deep in a few minutes, then the compost is ready; if they remain on the surface, the substrate must still stand.
The optimum acidity of compost is 6.5-7.5 pH. With an increase in acidity above 9 pH, animals will die within seven days.
Learn more about other fertilizers, such as Kemira, Stimul, humates, Kristalon, Ammophos, potassium sulfate, Zircon.Test substrate for acidity can also be a method of testing. Run 50-100 individuals per day. If after this period all individuals are alive, then the compost is good. In the case of the death of 5-10 individuals, it is necessary to lower the acidity by adding chalk or lime, or to reduce the alkalinity by adding straw or sawdust.
The optimum moisture content of compost is 75-90% (will depend on the type of worms). At a humidity below 35% during the week, animals may die.
The most suitable temperature for the vital activity of worms is + 20 ... +24 ° C, and at temperatures below -5 ° C and above +36 ° C the probability of their death is greatest. 
Bookmark (release) worms in compost
Worms gently laid out across the surface of the substrate in the composter. 750-1500 individuals should fall on each square meter.
Important! Since worms do not tolerate bright light, the top of the composter must be covered with a dark material that allows air to pass through.Adaptation of animals will be carried out for two to three weeks.
Care and conditions for keeping compost worms
Substrate in the composter is subject to regular loosening and watering. Also worms need to be fed.
Loosening should be carried out twice a week using a stake or special forks for vermicompost. It is carried out to the entire depth of the substrate, but without mixing.
Water only with warm (+ 20 ... +24 ° C) and only separated water (at least three days). Chlorinated tap water can kill animals. Rainwater or melt water is good for watering. It is convenient to water with a watering can with small holes.
Check the humidity of the substrate, holding a small amount of it in a fist. A sufficiently moist substrate is one that, when compressed, acts moisture, but not water droplets. 
The first feeding of animals is carried out two or three days after the settlement. In the future, they need to be fed every two to three weeks. Vegetable food waste is poured in a uniform layer of 10-20 cm over the entire surface. Egg shells, potato peelings, watermelon peels, melons, banana peel, onion peel, etc. can be used for top dressing, only all waste should be chopped well.
Check out the list of drugs that will be useful to you for the care of the garden: "PhytoDoctor", "Nemabakt", "Thanos", "Strobe", "Bud", "Quadris", "Corado", "Hom", "Confidor" .Over time, the substrate in the box will be distributed in three layers. Worms will feed in the upper layer of the substrate at a depth of 5-7 cm. In the second layer - at a depth of 10-30 cm, the majority of animals will live. Everything that is, below, in the third layer, and is biohumus.
Sampling (department) of worms and biohumus
Biohumus will be ready four to five months after the launch of the worms. When the box with worms and biohumus is completely full, animals and fertilizer will need to be removed. 
To separate the worms, they are starved for three to four days. Then, on one third of the substrate area, a 5-7 cm layer of fresh food is laid out. Animals for some time will gather at this site. After a couple of days, the worms layer will need to be removed. For three weeks, this process is repeated three times.
Biohumus is a dark smearing mass that is collected and dried. Then sift with a sieve and packaged for storage. Its shelf life is 24 months when stored at a temperature of -20 to + 30 ° C.
Did you know? In the countries of the European Union, in America and Japan, products grown on fields that are fertilized with biohumus have a greater demand and are much more expensive than those grown on soils that are fed with manure or mineral fertilizers. It does not contain substances harmful to humans, which means it has a higher nutritional value.Natural fertilizer biohumus is becoming increasingly popular among agricultural owners and dacha plots. Its production is also a promising business. And although it is not too easy and cheap to produce this organic matter, ecologically clean, large, healthy and tasty vegetables are undoubtedly worth the effort. 1500-3000 worms will be enough to get organic fertilizer, which is enough to feed a garden area of three to four hundred.
