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Why only 10% worm castings?
4 posters
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Why only 10% worm castings?
I did a search on using worm castings but while the 10% figure is used frequently I didn't find out why that figure. Would someone clear it up for me....
Missed-Em-
Posts : 35
Join date : 2012-03-22
Location : Missouri, SW of Springfield
Re: Why only 10% worm castings?
Missed-Em wrote:I did a search on using worm castings but while the 10% figure is used frequently I didn't find out why that figure. Would someone clear it up for me....
Interesting question, there. The 10% number seems to come from two trains of thought: 1) Worm castings are very rich in nutrients and microbial life, so not much is needed; and 2) Worm castings are expensive and need to be used conservatively to keep costs down.
This info from BioSoil Farm seems to sum it up pretty well:
While there is no “standard application rate” for worm castings two things are true:
- A little can go a long way.
- Too much will not harm your plants.
Plenty of studies show that there is a point of diminishing returns when worm castings exceed 20% of total soil volume. It makes sense if you think about it… worm castings work, not by being a source of food alone, but by breaking the soil’s nutrients down so that the nutrients are easily accessible to the plants. Worm castings alone can properly feed a plant but worm castings at a rate of up to 20% of soil volume will do the best.
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
sanderson likes this post
Re: Why only 10% worm castings?
Is this 10%/20% rule 10% to 20% of the total overall mix, or of the compost mix (which in itself is a 1/3rd of the mix)?
deonb- Posts : 17
Join date : 2021-02-13
Location : Redmond, WA
Re: Why only 10% worm castings?
10% of the entire mixture is adequate. As the article I quoted earlier indicates, more will not hurt anything, but it reaches the point of diminishing returns.
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
Re: Why only 10% worm castings?
sanderson wrote:10% of the 1/3 compost part of Mel's Mix, or 3.3% of the Mel's Mix.
Ok, but 20% is fine though right? Ironically, worm castings is the cheapest pure compost I can find where I live.
deonb- Posts : 17
Join date : 2021-02-13
Location : Redmond, WA
Re: Why only 10% worm castings?
deonb wrote:sanderson wrote:10% of the 1/3 compost part of Mel's Mix, or 3.3% of the Mel's Mix.
Ok, but 20% is fine though right? Ironically, worm castings is the cheapest pure compost I can find where I live.
"While there is no “standard application rate” for worm castings two things are true:
- A little can go a long way.
- Too much will not harm your plants.
Plenty of studies show that there is a point of diminishing returns when worm castings exceed 20% of total soil volume."
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
Re: Why only 10% worm castings?
Found an interesting short article on the value of worm castings for farming & gardening that goes along with this thread as well. It was published by the Soil Analyst Cooperative, along with a host of other informative articles.
The article can be read here: Humus and Worm Castings
The article can be read here: Humus and Worm Castings
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
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