From jim.mcnelly@midwest.orgTue Jan 23 15:29:44 1996 Date: Fri, 12 May 1995 10:34:00 +0600 From: Jim Mcnelly To: sustag-public@ces.ncsu.edu Subject: WORMS Juan writes: References: MR> I am culturing worms (E. foetida), and feeding fish with it. It is a MR> good proteine source. On the other hand I've got pleanty of humus as MR> a result of the worm culture, however I do not know how good it MR> could be as an organic fertlizer? It is made of aquatic plants MR> (Pistia stratiotes) and caw manure. Do somebody knows what to do MR> with this stuff? As a person who has been raising e.foetida for 22 years and with extensive experience marketing worm castings, I recommend using it as a potting soil amendment in rations from 20% to 33%. Of over 1,000 plant growth trials I am familiar with, no container plant tested did not benefit from the worm compost over conventional compost. At studies at the Rothampstead research station in the 1980s conducted by Dr. Clive Edwards now at the Ohio State University, plant growth using worm castings was increased 20% to 200% over controls as measured by increased root mass, numbers of shoots, and size of plant. You can also add it when planting shrubs, flowers, and trees, as well as using it in the garden around the active root zone. Some people market the product as a top dressing for house plants, but the benefits seem to be most pronounced when the castings are in the plant root zone. Mr Compost~~~ Jim~ McNelly Please note new E-mail address compost@cloudnet.com * RM 1.3 02460 * Scotty, I need that power! ------------------============<>=============----------------- Granite City Connection (612) 654-8372 28.8K 3 Lines Email: jim.mcnelly@midwest.org (Jim Mcnelly) ------------------============<>=============-----------------