Earthworm humus or vermicompost is much more than a garden fertilizer, in fact, in addition to providing nutrients, it improves the characteristics of the soil. It is an organic substance (vegetable residues and manure) transformed by earthworms and so miraculous for vegetable growing that it is called “black magic” in the United States.
It is produced by breeding earthworms, which feed on organic waste and animal droppings and release this wonderful fertilizer.
Below are the main advantages that make humus a very useful product for gardeners, especially if you want to use organic farming methods, rejecting chemical fertilizers.
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Benefits of humus
Fertilize the soil. Humus is also (but not only) an excellent fertilizer for the garden. It contains the nutrients necessary for the development of vegetables ready to be assimilated by plants because thanks to the work of earthworms all the necessary chemical and microbiological transformations have been carried out.
It is 100% organic. Composed entirely of plant residues and manure transformed by earthworms, it does not use any chemicals and is an entirely organic and natural fertilizer, authorized in organic farming. Therefore, it can be used in the garden without fear.
It improves the soil structure. The soil conditioning effect of earthworm humus is surprising, it makes the soil lighter and softer and therefore easier to work, reducing on the one hand the fatigue of the horticulturist in the various soil works (weeding, weeding, transplanting, …) and on the other hand to facilitate the life of the plants which can take root more easily and more deeply.
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It doesn’t smell . In addition, humus is an odorless fertilizer: it does not smell of manure, pollen or compost, but just has a good smell of damp earth, like that found in weeds. It is therefore particularly suitable in an urban context of market gardening or balcony cultivation, where it would be problematic to store and use products generating unpleasant odors.
Avoid transplant shock. The use of humus in the garden is especially useful when transplanting seedlings, putting a small amount of humus in the hole helps the plant to take root and creates the right conditions for it to adapt immediately to the ground, it also helps to prevent fungal diseases.
retains moisture . Humus has a high water-holding capacity, which is why it helps the soil not to dry out and to maintain the correct humidity level. If the soil is soaked with worm castings, it will be less necessary to water.
It is a fertilizer that does not “burn” the plants. If its use is exceeded, many fertilizers end up burning the plant, often damaging it beyond repair. be used without concern.
Hummus in detail: composition
Let’s see an indicative analysis of this extraordinary organic fertilizer and soil conditioner, to better understand the nutrients present. These data refer to the percentages of the substance on the total dry matter, referring to vermicompost from cattle and horse manure.
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Organic nitrogen (N): 1.5%
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Total Nitrogen (N): 2.1%
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Organic carbon (C) of organic origin: 20%
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C/N ratio: 9.5
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Organic matter: 40%
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Extractable organic matter as a percentage of organic matter: 6%
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Humified organic matter as a percentage of extractable organic matter: 10%
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pH: 7.5%
To see how to use humus in the garden, we recommend this article that we have produced with precise indications on the quantities and how to use vermicompost to better fertilize your crops.