Design and evaluation of vermicompost-based fertilizers for commercial horticulture

合成肥料生产是能源密集型的，会导致温室气体排放和环境退化。 随着石油价格上涨，对合成生产的石油基化肥的依赖将继续对粮食价格造成压力。 肥料、堆肥和其他有机废物副产品等非区域性肥料来源可以减少对进口合成肥料的需求，从而减少碳足迹，优化当地资源利用。蚯蚓堆肥是一种已经研究了几十年的方法来管理市政和农业有机物。 这种堆肥技术利用不同种类的蚯蚓来帮助有机材料的降解和稳定。 随着合成肥料价格的上涨，出现了一个利用废弃副产品和蚯蚓堆肥等加工技术设计和开发商业园艺替代肥力来源的机会。 这项拟议的研究将支持当地企业，如特鲁特尔的特殊蠕虫农场和J & C草皮农场，开发替代肥料产品，使用纽芬兰和加拿大大西洋地区不同行业的一系列原料，用于高价值温室，园艺和草坪草生产系统。 将特别强调蠕虫铸造生育产品的有机认证机会。 业界与学术界的伙伴关系将为特鲁特的特殊蠕虫农场和加拿大大西洋地区的其他类似企业提供新的机会，以销售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.