Compost: Vermicompost

Compost is part of the natural cycle. It is a result of mi-crobial decomposition of dead organic matter under the influence of oxygen (aerobic conditions). Apart from thermophilic compost, which can generate temperatu-res of 65 °C and more, vermicompost is produced at ambient temperatures using epigeic earthworms (fig. 1), key organisms for the production of high quality com-post. This method mimics nature and results in a com-post with a diverse microbial community, which would otherwise be killed through the temperatures occurring in thermophilic compost heaps.