Aquaponics Digest - Sun 01/17/99
Message 1: Re: Tomato Varieties
from james.rakocy@uvi.edu (James Rakocy, Ph.D.)
Message 2: earthworm castings literature search
from "Donna Fezler"
Message 3: earthworm castings
from William Evans
Message 4: Re: earthworm castings literature search
from "Ted Ground"
Message 5: earthworms
from "Donna Fezler"
Message 6: earthworm seminars
from "Donna Fezler"
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Subject: Re: Tomato Varieties
From: james.rakocy@uvi.edu (James Rakocy, Ph.D.)
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 12:32:29 -0400 (AST)
> I too am interested in trying more heat tolerant varieties, but have
none to
>recommend. Maybe someone else on the list has suggestions (Jim R.?) or try
>checking with your local organic growers association or cooperative extension
>agent. Let me know what you find and I'll do the same.
>
> Gordon
We are gowing tomatoes now in a raft system, but the last time we studied
tomatoes was more than 12 years ago in an outdoor flood and drain gravel
system. The varieties may not be around anymore, but here are the results
for 16 weeks in the system:
Cherry Vendor Floradade Sunny
Challenger
Fruit production
no./plant 168 31 79 83
lbs./plant 6.4 8.1 19.8 22.2
lbs/ft.2 3.2 3.7 3.3 3.8
Marketable production 97 88 96 97
Survival 100 81 100 100
Cherry Challenger and Vendor were indeterminants I believe that we suckered
and trained to one stem and therefore planted at a higher density. Floridade
and Vendor were determinants that we planted at a lower density and never
suckered. We just tied up the main stems to supports so they would grow
upward and not fall on the ground. We achieved just as good a yield on a
density basis without all the work. Furthermore, the determinant fruit was
protected from the sun by dense foliage and they did not crack while Vendor
usually cracked right after it turned pink. Our density was too high for the
determinants because I remember that the plant at the end of the row, which
receieved the most sunlight, yielded 50 lbs. The experiment was brought to a
premature close by tomatoe russet mites, which are so small they can only be
seen under a microscope. We grew the tomatoes in a hot outdoor environment.
These results may not apply to a greenhouse in a temperate climate. Remember
that fruit set and production is better at lower nitrogen levels. Jim R.
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Subject: earthworm castings literature search
From: "Donna Fezler"
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 12:47:29 -0600
This was just posted on the worm digest list. Jim operates a large
vermiculture operation in Washington State.
EARTHWORM CASTINGS-Literature Search
Copyright by Jim Jensen, YELM Earthworm & Castings Farm, 1997
yelmworms. Permission granted to copy or post with complete
attribution in whole, without addition, deletion, or substitution.
Earthworm castings provide many special benefits beyond what farmers or
gardeners can expect from just manure or compost. In fact, most specialists
recommend that castings be used as a top dressing or supplement. In this
way, castings help make the most effective use of all your bulk soil
amendments. "A little goes a long way" because the benefits of castings are
so concentrated.
In nature, composting worms tend to be highly localized, thriving in pockets
of highly enriched, organic materials. They will consume a great variety of
organic wastes and excrete "worm castings," a highly valued soil
conditioner. Composting worms also tolerate a wide range of environmental
conditions, which helps explain their adaptability.
Here are the results of research conducted by leading researchers around the
world:
• Scientific studies show that worm-worked composts have better texture and
soil-enhancing properties; hold typically higher percentages of nitrogen,
potassium, and phosphorous; and may offer plants disease-fighting
properties. [Edwards, 1988].
• "Earthworm excreta (castings) are an excellent soil-conditioning material
with a high water holding capacity and a 'natural time release' for
releasing nitrogen into the soil." [Harris, et. al., 1990].
• "Vermicompost (castings) is a finely divided peat like material with
excellent structure, porosity, aeration, drainage and moisture-holding
capacity." [Dominguez, et. al., 1997]
• "Among the blessings of castings, vermiphiles count a smaller particle
size than thermophilic compost, lower odor, enhanced microbial activity, and
as a bonus, the vermicompost often contains worm cocoons, meaning a free
work force for the future." [Riggle and Holmes, 1994]
• "Through vermicomposting the humic substances showed an increase of 40 to
60 percent which was higher than the value obtained for the composting
process." [Dominguez, 1997]
• "An important feature is that during the processing of the wastes (manure)
by earthworms, many of the nutrients they contain are changed to forms more
readily taken up by plants, such as nitrate nitrogen, exchangeable
phosphorus and soluble potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The most
surprising result [of our research] was that even 5% of worm-worked animal
waste in the worm-worked waste/commercial mixture had a significant effect
on the growth of plants." [Edwards and Lofty, 1977] Emphasis added.
• In a study for the EPA, researchers reported, "Passage of organics through
the earthworm's gut significantly alters the physical structure of the
material. Large particles are broken down into numerous smaller particles,
with a resultant enormous increase in surface area. As a result of the
increase in surface area, any remaining odor-producing sulfides are
completely oxidized, microbial respiration is accelerated by a factor of 3,
and Salmonella bacteria are destroyed at a higher rate." [Camp, Dresser and
McKee, 1980],
• "The results obtained for the germination index showed a beneficial effect
of earthworms and the highest values of this index were recorded at the
final stages of the process. The germination index was 65 to 70 percent
higher in the treatments with earthworms than in the control (no
earthworms)." Regarding heavy metals: "We found a decrease of between 35
percent and 55 percent of the bioavailable metals in two months."
[Dominguez, 1997]
• "By shredding organic matter and contributing nitrogen, earthworms
stimulate microbial decomposition. Soil microorganisms live in the worm's
gut as well as the surrounding soil and so the microbial content of casts is
usually more concentrated than in surrounding soil. Microbial activity in
casts improves soil structure by encouraging aggregation of particles.
Microbial secretions (gums) and growth of fungal hyphae stabilize the worm
cast. Worm-worked soil is relatively water-stable and will resist soil
compaction and run-off due to rains. [Edwards and Lofty, 1977]
• "In sum, earthworms must be seen not as a "miracle pill,' a panacea for
better soil and crop yields, but as an integral part of intelligent organic
soil management practices. As earthworms are dependent upon organic matter
for food, and mulches for protection from heat, cold, and drought, so do
growing plants depend upon the earthworm, in combination with bacteria and
other microorganisms, to maintain and improve soil structure and fertility.
When earthworms are seen as part of a living soil, existing in and
contributing to a vital ecosystem, then the question of "whether earthworms
create good soil, or good soil creates earthworms" becomes essentially
meaningless. Our aim is to improve our soils and grow higher yields of
healthy crops, not to banter about academic questions. In this pursuit, the
earthworm has-beyond doubt-found a treasured place in the organic scheme of
gardening and farming." [Minnich, 1977]
References
Buchanan, M.A., et. al., "Chemical Characterization and Nitrogen
Mineralization Potentials of Vermicomposts Derived from Differing Organic
Wastes," Earthworms in Waste and Environmental Management, The Hague,
Netherlands, SPB Academic Publishing, 1988.
Camp, Dresser, McKee, Inc., Compendium on Solid Waste Management by
Vermicomposting, Cincinnati, OH, Municipal Environmental Research Lab, EPA,
1980.
Dominguez, Jorge; "Testing the Impact of Vermicomposting," BioCycle, April
1997.
Dominguez, Jorge; Edwards, Clive; and Subler, Scott; "A Comparison of
Vermicomposting and Composting," BioCycle, April 1997.
Edwards, Clive, "Historical Overview of Vermicomposting," Biocycle, June
1995.
Edwards, Clive, ed., "Breakdown of Animal, Vegetable and Industrial Organic
Wastes by Earthworms," Earthworms in Waste and Environmental Management, The
Hague, Netherlands, SPB Academic Publishing, 1988.
Edwards, Clive, and Lofty, J.R., Biology of Earthworms, Chapman and Hall,
London, 1977.
Frank, Richard, et. al., "Metal Transfer in Vermicomposting of Sewage Sludge
and Plant Wastes," Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 1983.
Haimi, J. and Huhta, V., "Capacity of Various Organic Residues to Support
Adequate Earthworm Biomass for Vermicomposting," Biology and Fertility of
Soils, Spring-Summer, 1986.
Harris, George, et. al., "Vermicomposting in a Rural Community," Biocycle,
Jan. 1990.
Loehr, Raymond, et. al., Waste Management Using Earthworms: Engineering and
Scientific Relationships (final project report), Washington, DC, National
Science Foundation, 1984.
Minnich, Jerry, The Earthworm Book, Rodale Press, Emmaus, PA, 1977.
Riggle, David and Holmes, Hannah, "New Horizons for Commercial
Vermiculture," BioCycle, October.
Scott, Margaret, "The Use of Worm-Digested Animal Waste as a Supplement to
Peat in Loamless Composts for Hardy Nursery Stock," Earthworms in Waste and
Environmental Management, The Hague, Netherlands, SPB Academic Publishing,
1988.
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Subject: earthworm castings
From: William Evans
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 11:03:04 -0800
Personal experience--many more blooms on plants w/ castings than w/o.
How about 13 ears of corn on one plant????
It tried anyway; the ears were way under developed..History of
particular garden plot was just weeds grown on a cut granite
pad...basically subsoil DG(southern california), couldnt dig w/ pick
more than 4"...no earth worms, just a few weeds.very hard DIRT!
"Soil"(yuk), was ammended w/ 4" layer of bedding (worm), so was
eveerything;;,,worms, castings, bedding.Some kelp was added as welll as
some dolomite. Many plants had tillers and multiple ears,, was first
season under cultivation.SeEd used was third generation seed saved from
"RED INCA" OP seed thru "seeds of change".
bill evans
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Subject: Re: earthworm castings literature search
From: "Ted Ground"
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 13:28:59 -0600
Donna,
Thanks so much for your contribution on earthworm literature
I will keep this for some time, I am sure.
Ted.
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Subject: earthworms
From: "Donna Fezler"
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 16:23:43 -0600
I am in awe at how much can be recycled through earthworms. In the two
months since I have started seriously collecting earthworm food and bedding
materials I have amassed almost a full car space in the garage of corrugated
boxes, junk mail, feed bags and newspapers just from my family alone
(Christmas makes TRASH). The prospect of turning this trash into a very
valuable resource is exciting.
I intend to sell the castings, along with other farm produce at our large
farmers' market in the spring and summer. Towards this end I have set up a
simple, portable, and hopefully graphic demonstration of the value of
castings. 2 Meter long Kmart plastic window boxes, one filled with compost
and one with compost +10% castings sown with lettuce and radishes. I saw
slides of a similar setup with marigolds that showed extremely vigorous
plants with many more leaves and dramatically different root systems. I
will keep you posted.
Donna
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Subject: earthworm seminars
From: "Donna Fezler"
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 16:27:44 -0600
I went to one of these seminars in November and it was excellent. No hype,
just good solid information and dedicated people.
>From Jim Jensen:
I am also sending you the following invitation to a series of workshops in
which I am participating this spring. They promise to be helpful to many who
are investigating worm-related enterprises.
Thanks,
Jim
You Are Invited
You are cordially invited to attend one or both these upcoming workshops.
Also, thanks in advance for providing news of these workshops to anyone else
who you think may be interested.
A new surge in interest in the use of vermicomposting to recycle organic
residuals at homes, farms, schools, and institutions, and in the development
of large-scale vermicomposting operations is fueling a series of workshops
being conducted on the West Coast. The first workshop, held in Lacey, WA,
on Nov. 7, 1998, drew 90 participants-more than 4 times the expected
number-from 8 states and Canada. Two new workshops have been scheduled for
early 1999.
Sat., Feb. 6, Portland, OR
On Saturday, Feb. 6, a full-day workshop and tour will be held in Portland,
OR, at the Silver Cloud Inn (airport). The workshop will include updated
presentations by Peter Bogdanov, Jim Jensen, and Kelly Slocum, plus 3 new
speakers, including Dr. Scott Subler, an expert in the use and marketing of
earthworm castings from Ohio State University; Zorba Frankel, editor of Worm
Digest; and Al Eggen, developer of the Vermi-Organic Digester from
Toronto,Canada.
A tour of the large-scale, continuous-flow vermicomposting system in
commercial use at Oregon Soil Corporation in Portland will be one of the
day's highlights. Already, many state recycling coordinators and
individuals from as far away as Indonesia and Canada have registered.
Sat.-Sun., Mar. 6-7, Stockton, CA
On Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7, a two-day workshop in Stockton, CA, will
preceed the 1999 West Coast BioCycle conference. Nearly one dozen speakers,
including the world's leading authorities on the use of earthworms in waste
management, will provide a comprehensive training in vermicomposting
methods.
Dr. Clive Edwards, who directs vermicomposting and soil ecology research at
Ohio State University, and Mary Appelhof, renowned author of Worms Eat My
Garbage, will be joined by nearly 10 other vermicomposting experts. The
workshop tour, at American Resource Recovery, features one of the largest
commercial operations in the nation. This is certain to be one of the most
significant gatherings of vermicomposting experts on the West Coast this
year.
For complete details, please contact the workshop sponsors: Peter Bogdanov
at VermiCo (541) 476-9626; email: vermico@vermico.com or Jim Jensen at Yelm
Earthworm & Castings Farm (206) 352-9565; email: yelmworms. You can
also visit theworkshop website at http://www.vermico.com/workshop.html.
Please register early to reserve your space and save money.
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