The agricultural world is developing rapidly, and food scraps may not necessarily be useless. Nowadays, there are various ways to utilize food scraps for beneficial agricultural use. One of these ways is through composting.
Many worm farm enthusiasts will be curious if the bokashi compost is the best choice for their worm farms. However, there are different types of composts. Your goal should be to identify which compost will give you the best results.
In this piece, we'll be comparing two compost methods: worm castings vs. bokashi. Our analysis will help you decide which is best for your composting needs.
Worm castings refer to the poop that worms produce. Alternatively, it is known as vermicast. The casting is used in a composting method called vermicomposting, whereby specific worms transform organic material into humus-rich content.
Vermicomposting requires a compost bin, worms, and food wastes. Since the process occurs in a compost bin, it is ideal for a small amount of organic material. Unlike the bokashi method, vermicomposting requires enough oxygen flow.
For this method, you should put your worms in a warm place during cold days to get good results.
Bokashi, also known as bokashi fermentation or bokashi composting, is another standard composting method. It involves converting household food waste into useful soil additives. It's a reliable way to reuse household yard waste.
The system requires using a bokashi bin with a tightly-covered lid, some bokashi mix, and organic waste materials. After that, mix everything. Next, replace the bokashi bucket lid when the scraps you add reach the top of the bokashi bucket.
After that, place the bin under room temperature. You should leave it to settle for a few weeks. After a few weeks, you can now spread it in your garden. Alternatively, you can store it in an aerated compost bin.
There's a controversy that fermented bokashi isn't a proper form of composting. Even though the end product is a soil fertilizer, bokashi undergoes fermentation instead of decomposition. Furthermore, after fermentation, the substance still undergoes composting using a proper compost method.
Both processes of composting involve an enclosed system. Furthermore, you can practice both methods in a small enclosure. They're also faster to complete than more traditional composting methods. Furthermore, both produce liquids in the process, which you can utilize as a fertilizer.
In addition, both are indoor processes you can easily practice at home. Except the bran can be challenging and time-draining. During both methods, the quantity of compost is not much.
Overall, both composting methods are not suitable for garden waste (prunings and lawn clippings). The processing lasts for a shorter time than traditional composting methods.
Finally, the two approaches to composting are pretty affordable. Worm castings and the bokashi process don't produce any foul smell when done appropriately. You can practice these methods throughout the year.
Vermicomposting is an aerobic process, while bokashi is an anaerobic process. In other words, the former requires oxygen while the latter does not. Also, bokashi can process all kitchen scraps like meat trimmings and dairy scraps. Meanwhile, vermicomposting is ideal for organic garden waste and can’t process kitchen waste.
Bokashi involves using an initial outlay on bokashi bins or a bokashi bucket and bran mix. In contrast, vermicomposting requires an outlay on bedding, composting worms, and a worm enclosure.
However, vermicomposting is faster than the traditional bokashi method of composting. Vermicomposting stays about two weeks before it becomes adequately degraded organic matter. In addition, vermicomposting has more nutrients and consumes less space than traditional compost.
Bokashi doesn't involve an anaerobic process. However, traditional composting and worm castings methods involve an aerobic process. Traditional composting doesn't need an outlay unless you are using a compost bin. We do it outdoors. Also, this method is ideal for most gardens.
Additionally, worm casting and bokashi take a slightly longer process to complete. On the other hand, traditional composting requires a shorter time. Asides from this, an incorrect approach may cause a foul odor.
Furthermore, the conventional method produces more significant amounts of finished compost. You can add both kitchen and garden organic waste to your traditional compost. However, there's the exclusion of food waste like meat and dairy scraps for worm casting and bokashi. In addition, it's easy to build traditional compost, and the decomposition process slows down during cold periods.
There's parity between carbon and nitrogen ingredients in traditional compost. Also, it's suitable for high temperatures. Due to this factor, the traditional method uses different decomposers, including heat-loving bacteria. In addition, anyone can do traditional composting. You can easily make the compost bin without having professional composting knowledge.
How about a combination of both methods? Many people are now combining both methods on their farms. This combination may seem illogical due to the effect of acidic content on the worms. Still, it is possible as long as you properly introduce the new components. Also, closely observe your worms to see if they adjust in the casting correctly.
Although the bokashi process accommodates a broader range of organic kitchen waste, a combination of vermicomposting and bokashi is an effective strategy for the proper recycling of food scraps.
So, you might still be debating between worm castings vs. bokashi. The bokashi method is suitable for most food scraps not typically recommended for your compost bin. At the same time, worm castings don’t require organic matter, which is good because it won’t attract pests or birds.
Depending on your preference, it's essential to know that each compost method has pros and cons. Overall, worm castings are more popular because the chances of getting better results are higher.
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