Design and evaluation of vermicompost-based fertilizers for commercial horticulture

合成肥生产是能源密集型的，会导致温室气体排放和环境退化。随着油价的上涨，对合成生产的石油基肥料的依赖将继续给食品价格带来压力。获取区域肥力来源，如粪便、堆肥和其他有机废物副产品，可以减少对进口合成化肥的需求，从而减少碳足迹，并优化当地资源利用。蚯蚓堆肥是一种几十年来一直被研究的管理市政和农业有机物质的方法。这种堆肥技术利用不同种类的蚯蚓来帮助降解和稳定有机材料。随着合成肥料价格的上涨，利用废物副产品和蚯蚓堆肥等加工技术为商业园艺设计和开发替代肥力来源的机会正在出现。这项拟议的研究将支持当地企业，如特劳特的特殊蠕虫农场和J&C草皮农场，利用纽芬兰和加拿大大西洋地区不同行业的一系列原料，开发替代生育产品，用于高价值温室、园艺和草坪生产系统。将特别强调对虫媒生育产品进行有机认证的机会。产业界和学术界的合作将为特劳特的特殊蠕虫农场和大西洋加拿大地区的其他类似企业提供新的机会，以营销针对当地园艺和景观行业的新产品。

Synthetic fertilizer production is energy intensive and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. Reliance on synthetically produced, petroleum-based fertilizers will continue to place pressure on food prices as oil prices increase. Accessing regional sources of fertility, such as manures, composts, and other organic waste by-products, can reduce the need for importation of synthetic fertilizers, thereby reducing carbon footprints, and optimizing local resource use. Vermicomposting is one approach that has been studied for several decades to manage municipal and agricultural organics. This composting technique utilizes different species of earthworms to aid in the degradation and stabilization of organic materials. An opportunity to design and develop alternative sources of fertility for commercial horticulture using waste by-products and processing techniques such as vermicomposting is emerging with the rising prices of synthetic fertilizers. The proposed study will support local enterprises, such as Trouter's Special Worm Farm and J&C Sod Farm, to develop alternative fertility products, using a range of feedstocks from different industries across Newfoundland and Atlantic Canada, for use in high value greenhouse, horticultural, and turfgrass production systems. A particular emphasis will be placed on the opportunities for organic certification of the vermi-cast fertility products. The industry - academic partnership will open new opportunities for Trouter's Special Worm Farm and other similar enterprises in the Atlantic Canadian region to market new products targeted for local horticultural and landscape industries.