GB2242680A - Processing peat with earthworms - Google Patents
Processing peat with earthworms Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2242680A GB2242680A GB9007850A GB9007850A GB2242680A GB 2242680 A GB2242680 A GB 2242680A GB 9007850 A GB9007850 A GB 9007850A GB 9007850 A GB9007850 A GB 9007850A GB 2242680 A GB2242680 A GB 2242680A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- peat
- earthworms
- value
- processed
- processing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000003415 peat Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 53
- 241001233061 earthworms Species 0.000 title claims abstract description 27
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- VTYYLEPIZMXCLO-UHFFFAOYSA-L Calcium carbonate Chemical compound [Ca+2].[O-]C([O-])=O VTYYLEPIZMXCLO-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 239000002361 compost Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 229910000019 calcium carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 210000003608 fece Anatomy 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910019142 PO4 Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000021317 phosphate Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010979 pH adjustment Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 150000003013 phosphoric acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000008635 plant growth Effects 0.000 claims 1
- IRYJRGCIQBGHIV-UHFFFAOYSA-N trimethadione Chemical compound CN1C(=O)OC(C)(C)C1=O IRYJRGCIQBGHIV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims 1
- 241000361919 Metaphire sieboldi Species 0.000 description 2
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000002386 leaching Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010871 livestock manure Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000015097 nutrients Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 241000243662 Lumbricus terrestris Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000002378 acidificating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009395 breeding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001488 breeding effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007812 deficiency Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002950 deficient Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003450 growing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003898 horticulture Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003864 humus Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 1
- NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-K phosphate Chemical compound [O-]P([O-])([O-])=O NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-K 0.000 description 1
- 239000010452 phosphate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 102000004169 proteins and genes Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 108090000623 proteins and genes Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 241000894007 species Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000013311 vegetables Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
- C05F—ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE
- C05F9/00—Fertilisers from household or town refuse
- C05F9/04—Biological compost
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
- C05F—ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE
- C05F11/00—Other organic fertilisers
- C05F11/02—Other organic fertilisers from peat, brown coal, and similar vegetable deposits
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
- C05F—ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE
- C05F17/00—Preparation of fertilisers characterised by biological or biochemical treatment steps, e.g. composting or fermentation
- C05F17/05—Treatments involving invertebrates, e.g. worms, flies or maggots
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
- Y02A40/10—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture
- Y02A40/20—Fertilizers of biological origin, e.g. guano or fertilizers made from animal corpses
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
- Y02P20/141—Feedstock
- Y02P20/145—Feedstock the feedstock being materials of biological origin
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
- Y02W30/40—Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Tropical Medicine & Parasitology (AREA)
- Insects & Arthropods (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- Biotechnology (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Microbiology (AREA)
- Fertilizers (AREA)
Abstract
A method of processing peat involving adjusting the pH value of the peat to an optimal value, e.g. to from between 5.5 to 6.0 by addition of calcium carbonate, and allowing earthworms to inhabit the pH-adjusted peat to cause the peat to be processed into compost.
Description
A METHOD OF PROCESSING PEAT WITH EARTHWORMS
This invention relates to a method of processing peat using earthworms. In particular the invention relates to the use of earthworms to digest and decompose the peat in order to convert it into a compost rich in nutrients for plant life.
It is already known from US-3654903 and US-3961603 to farm earthworms in a controlled environment. In addition,
US-3654903 discloses a method of leaching compost from the earthworm-containing peat by passing a leaching liquid through the peat and collecting the liquid compost leached from the worm castings or manure produced by the earthworms as a by-product during their growth cycle.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved.
method of peat processing involving earthworms.
According to the present invention a method of processing peat comprises adjusting the pH value of the peat, preferably by increasing it to an optimal value of from 5.5 to 6.0, and allowing earthworms to inhabit the pH-adjusted peat in quantity for a sufficient period of time to cause the peat to be processed into a compost.
The earthworms present in the pH-adjusted peat process the peat into peat vermi-humus, an ideal, virtually weedfree soil for horticulture. In particular, the earthworms digest the partially carbonised vegetable tissue of the peat and return their excrement to the peat. The worm castings or worm manure provides a concentrated source of high-grade plant nutrient. After processing the peat, the earthworms may be harvested for protein feed, fishing, etc..
Preferably earthworms are introduced in quantity into the peat after the pH adjustment of the latter. Typically, by way of example only, the pH-adjusted peat will support a population of from 7 million to 15 million earthworms per hectare in a peat bog. In smaller applications, the peat may be processed in boxes or the like, in which case each box may support up to 1500 earthworms per square metre.
However these numbers of earthworms need not be introduced initially since the habitat provided by the pH-adjusted peat is an ideal breeding habitat and the earthworm population will naturally increase if fewer than the optimum population of earthworms are initially present in the peat.
Preferably the peat is maintained in a moist condition throughout the said period of time.
Peat is normally naturally acidic, typically having a pH value of from 4.0 to 4.5. Earthworms cannot survive in peat of such acidity and the step of adjusting the pH value of the peat, preferably to from between 5.5 to 6.0, is essential for sustaining most earthworms. The pH value of the earth can be increased by the addition of any suitable alkaline material. However calcium carbonate is a convenient, readily available, material which can be employed with advantage. Processing peat in accordance with the invention at the point of production adds value to the finished product which more than offsets the cost of any wormery plant and calcium carbonate.
The period of time required for the earthworms to convert the peat into suitable compost depends to a great extent on the density of earthworms in the peat and the amount of peat to be converted. Typically, however, the period of time may be from several weeks up to several years depending on the original spread of earthworms in the peat and the amount of peat to be processed,.
If production of all species of agriculturally useful earthworms is required, provision should be made for the larger, surface-feeding earthworms such as lumbricus terrestris, by using deep peat beds covered with litter such as chopped hay, shredded newspaper and/or animal dung.
Other materials, e.g. minerals, may be added to the composted material to improve its plant growing properties. For example, peat is usually deficient in phosphate and phosphates can be added to the compost to rectify this deficiency.
In environments where frost is likely to occur, the peat may be heat insulated against frost to prevent the earthworms being killed or hibernating.
Claims (13)
1. A A method of processing peat comprising adjusting the pH value of the peat and allowing earthworms to inhabit the pH-adjusted peat in quantity for a sufficient period of time to cause the peat to be processed into a compost.
2. A A method according to claim 1, in which the pjv value cf the peat is increased to an ptimal value of from 5.5 to 6.0.
A method according t claim 2, In which the pH value of the earth is increased by the addition cf an alkaline material.
4. A method according to claim 3, in which the said alkaline material comprises calcium carbonate.
5. A method according to claim 3 or 5. in which the peat is processed in a peat bog.
6. A method according to any of the preceding claims in which the earthworms are introduced in quantity ite the peat after the pH adjustment of the latter.
7. A method according to any of the preceding claims, in which the peat is maintained in a moist condition throughout the said period of time.
8. A method according to anv of the preceding claims in which the peat is covered with litter such as chopped hay, shredded newspaper and/or animal dung during said prccessing.
9. A method according to any cf the breceding claims comprising heat insulating the peat against frost.
10. A method according to any of the preceding claims including the addition to the oeat of materials having plant growth improving properties.
11. A method according to any of the preceding claims including the addition of phosphates to the eat.
12. A method of processing peat substantialy as hereinbefore described.
13. Peat processed by a method as claimed n an of the preceding claims.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9007850A GB2242680B (en) | 1990-04-06 | 1990-04-06 | A method of processing peat with earthworms |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9007850A GB2242680B (en) | 1990-04-06 | 1990-04-06 | A method of processing peat with earthworms |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9007850D0 GB9007850D0 (en) | 1990-06-06 |
| GB2242680A true GB2242680A (en) | 1991-10-09 |
| GB2242680B GB2242680B (en) | 1993-06-30 |
Family
ID=10674022
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9007850A Expired - Fee Related GB2242680B (en) | 1990-04-06 | 1990-04-06 | A method of processing peat with earthworms |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2242680B (en) |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3654903A (en) * | 1970-10-30 | 1972-04-11 | Morris M Montgomery | Method of growing earthworms and plants and producing compost |
| US3961603A (en) * | 1975-07-31 | 1976-06-08 | Gaddie Sr Ronald E | Habitat for earthworm cultivation |
-
1990
- 1990-04-06 GB GB9007850A patent/GB2242680B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3654903A (en) * | 1970-10-30 | 1972-04-11 | Morris M Montgomery | Method of growing earthworms and plants and producing compost |
| US3961603A (en) * | 1975-07-31 | 1976-06-08 | Gaddie Sr Ronald E | Habitat for earthworm cultivation |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9007850D0 (en) | 1990-06-06 |
| GB2242680B (en) | 1993-06-30 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19950406 |