Earthworm breeding

Abstract: The invention regards a vermicomposting breeding plant consisting of several frames (10) to receive the material to be transformed into humus and where each frame has a waterproofed bottom and sides so as to avoid infiltration of liquids into the ground underneath. The bottom of the frame is made to slope either towards one side or into the center and at the lowest part of the bottom there is a micro slotted drainage pipe (16) which travels the whole length of the frame the task of which is to collect the water percolating through the bedding and to pipe it to a tank.

Description: The present invention refers to the earthworm breeding sector and in particular to a vermicomposting frame plant. As is well known, earthworm breeding or also vermicomposting consists in a transformation of organic liquid, muddy or solid waste by earthworms into humus to be used as a compost. The waste to be treated can be mud from civil, farm and food cleaners, breeding farm waste, green plant trimmings, industrial waste from textile, dyeing and paper plants etc. besides urban waste. According to the most widespread techniques, earthworm breeding can be carried out in silos or in containers having a perforated inner base as disclosed, for example, in WO-A-93/10060. But, most frequently earthworm breeding is conducted in horizontal frames placed on the earth outside or indoors. These frames may be enclosed using small prefabricated walls or lateral enclosures, earth banks or the like and usually separated by service lanes. However they have the problem of eliminating water from the atmosphere and liquids which form during breeding. The earth under the layer of bedding is not always capable of absorbing this liquid and often the fict that this liquid is able to penetrate regularly into the earth is not acceptable. Furthermore, if the liquid stagnate in the bedding it may limit or compromise the efficacy of the vermicomposting process. The document DE-A-3331381 discloses a method of hydroculture using single transportable troughs, which are loaded of culture loam and which are provided with pipes for both drainage and imgation. This document, however, does not discloses nor suggest any technique of earthworm breeding, even if the troughs are provided with drainage pipes. The aim of this invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to create the best conditions in vermicomposting breeding plant which ensure collection and drainage of the liquids from the bottom of the bedding layer, despite the earth below being permeable or not. According to this invention, this aim is reached with the use for a vermicomposting breeding operation of a plant in accordance with the claim 1, and accordingly: by waterproofing the bottom and the sides of each frame to avoid infiltration of liquids into the earth below and by sloping the bottom at one end least; by laying a micro-slotted drainage pipe in the lowest side of the bottom and along the whole length of the frame; by covering the drainage pipe with gravel; and by connecting the drainage tube to an end manifold which drains into a collection tank. Further details of the invention will become more obvious from the rest of the description formulated in reference to the drawings enclosed, in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic top view of a vermicomposting breeding plant with several frames; Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of a frame along the II-II line in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 shows a blown-up detail of Fig. 2. In these drawings, 10 indicates the various frames of a vermicomposting breeding plant and arranged to receive the bedding mentioned above to be transformed into humus. The frames 10 are enclosed on each side by low walls, prefabricated elements 11, enclosures, embankments or some such other means and separated by service lanes 12. Along each frame 10 bases 13 may be provided for poles 14 to support a possible greenhouse type roofing 14' The bottom 10' of each frame is sloping to one side or, as shown in the drawing, towards the center and is waterproofed. Waterproofing may be achieved by placing a layer of pressed clay or some other waterproofing material on the bottom, by cementing the bottom or as shown in the diagram using a waterproof sheet 15 which is laid so as to cover the sides of the frame as well. When used, the waterproofed sheet 15, can be made of polyethylene some other plastic material or suitable non woven fabric acting as a base for collecting the water which sifts through the bedding layer. In the lowest part of the sloping area on the bottom of the waterproofed bottom 10' there is a micro-slotted drainage pipe 16 which travels longitudinally along the whole length of each singular frame. The pipe 16 is covered by a layer of gravel 17 and is used to collect and evacuate the water which accumulates and runs off the sloping waterproofed sheet. Therefore, the water percolating through the bedding of each frame and the layer of gravel covering the drainage pipe is collected and evacuated by the pipe itself and piped to the tank or catch basin. All this without the water coming into contact and sifting into the earth underneath.

Claims: The use for a vermicomposting breeding operation of a plant consisting of several frames (10), enclosed laterally either by small walls, prefabricated elements (11), enclosures, embankments or the like and arranged to receive the bedding to be transformed into humus, wherein each frame has bottom and sides waterproofed to avoid infiltration of liquid into the ground underneath and the bottom of the frame either slopes to one sides or towards the center, wherein in the lowest part of said waterproofed bottom at least one micro slotted drainage pipe (16) is laid which travels longitudinally along the whole length of each singular frame; and wherein each drainage pipe (16) is covered by a layer (17) of gravel. The use for a vermicomposting breeding operation of a plant according to claim 1, where the drainage pipe (16) of the frames are connected to an end manifold to evacuate the drainage water into a tank or catch basin. The use for a vermicomposting breeding operation of a plant according to claims 1 and 2, where the bottom (10') of each frame is waterproofed by creating a layer of pressed clay or other insulating material or a cement surface with the drainage pipe (16) laying on this layer or surface. The use for a vermicomposting breeding operation of a plant according to claims 1 and 2, where the bottom and sides of each frame is covered by a waterproofed sheet (15) and the drainage tube (16) is placed an this sheet.

Inventors: FACCHI FERDINANDO, FACCHI, FERDINANDO
Applicants: ECOFLOR S R L, ECOFLOR S.R.L.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A01K67
IPC codes: A01K67, C05F17