Fallen coconut leaves in the coconut garden can be effectively converted into rich vermicompost using the earth worm Eudrilus spp. Vermicompost preparation can be done in cement tanks or in trenches made in the coconut garden. The weathered coconut leaves collected from the garden should be kept for two weeks after sprinkling with cow dung slurry Cow dung should be used at the rate of one tenth of the weight of the leaves. Afterwards earth worms (Eudrilus sp.) are to be introduced at the rate of one kg for one tonne of the material. Care should be taken to provide sufficient moisture for the decomposing material by frequent sprinkling of water. Adequate shade also should be provided to avoid direct sunlight. Vermicompost will be ready in about 2½ - 3 months. Watering should be stopped one week before collecting the compost. On an average, 70 per cent recovery of vermicompost is obtained. Nucleus cultures of the local strain of Eudrilus spp. capable of composting coconut plantation wastes. These worms can be multiplied fast in a 1:1 mixture of cow dung and decayed leaves, mulched properly with grasses.
Composting of coir pith:
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Coir pith, which accumulates as a problematic waste in coir defibering units, can be converted to organic manure by composting. Large scale composting of coir pith can be done either in cement tanks or by the heap method in a shaded place. Coir pith obtained from coir processing units are treated with lime (0.5%), urea (0.5%), rock phosphate (0.5%) and legume biomass (Glyricidia leaves) or cow dung or compost from previous batch (10%) and moistened. The treated coir pith is sprayed with 1 per cent jaggery solution and mixed with fungal inoculums Marasmiellustroyams and Tricoderma spp. at 0.2 per cent level, 15 days after the amendment. Regular watering is done to keep the heap moist. The raw coir pith with a C:N ratio of 108:1 would turn into compost having a C:N ratio of 15:1 and high microbial population within a period of 40-50 days. Composting of coir pith can also be done using poultry manure (10%) and by this method, we can get compost within a period of 50-60 days.
