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 Earth Worms

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Gemma
Lombok Looney
Gemma


Number of posts : 591
Location : Kuta Lombok / Jimbaran Bali
Registration date : 2008-07-01

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PostSubject: Earth Worms   Earth Worms Icon_minitimeSat Dec 11, 2010 3:40 pm

Sitting on the terrace watching the rain today, I wondered again why I never see earth worms here. In England the rain would always bring them out to the surface and the garden and footpaths would be full of them. I have never even seen a worm while digging in the garden.

Have you seen earthworms or do you know why they are not so obvious here?
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Sempiak Adam
Lombok Lover
Sempiak Adam


Number of posts : 61
Location : Selong Belanak
Registration date : 2010-11-13

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PostSubject: Tropical earthworms   Earth Worms Icon_minitimeSat Dec 11, 2010 6:32 pm

The fact is worms do much better in rich soils. Tropical soils (despite common belief) are very poor, because the nutrients get washed out so quickly with heavy rain (Volcanic soils excepted). For example, the soils in the amazon are red - lateritic - highly impoverished. Tropical soils rely on the very high rate of decay/quick take up - of nutrients/fast growth spurt cycle that is so typical of the tropics.

Java became a success story for 3 times per year rice harvest because of its rich volcanic soil. And is why such a small island (relatively) was able to support so many tens of millions.

Nowadays chemical fertilizers are being used instead, with some good and bad consequences (usually out at sea).

My experience with south lombok soils show me that we are beyond the boundary of volcanic - the soils are poor(very), rocky, crumbly, with a very low organic content, or a very thin layer on top. They dry out very quickly without regular irrigation/rain. Worms have a tough time in this sort of soil.

I too have yet to see a worm, but they must be there somewhere!

I am building a compost system at Sempiak Villas - a basic 3 bin/turn over system. They are big though, cos we have a large area. An enterprising colleague in Bali has (according to him) some amazing worms that work wonders in the composting process. Hope to get some soon kalau bisa!

The plan was to compost as much as we could - paper, cardboard, vacuum cleaner bags, dairy, eggs/shells etc food scraps included - but we have clever monkeys, so will have to install enclosure/roofs for that to work.

Watch this space!
Adam
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outahere
Lombok Looney



Number of posts : 415
Location : nowhere
Registration date : 2008-07-02

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PostSubject: Re: Earth Worms   Earth Worms Icon_minitimeSun Dec 12, 2010 11:27 am

we have plenty of worms in the garden here in Perth but they don't come to the surface when it rains. Perhaps that happened in England due to the saturation of the soil? Here the soil is essentially sand with some organic matter as Perth is on a limestone plain, so rain drains very quickly and the soil is rarely saturated.
Adam are you saying that the monkeys get into your compost? I guess you might need to put a chook shed type enclosure over it?

Another great way to do it is to use buckets with tight fitting lids. That might also help with the monkey problem..
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Gemma
Lombok Looney
Gemma


Number of posts : 591
Location : Kuta Lombok / Jimbaran Bali
Registration date : 2008-07-01

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PostSubject: Re: Earth Worms   Earth Worms Icon_minitimeThu Dec 16, 2010 5:30 pm

Thanks for the for the feedback Adam and Freo - I can now stop my random wonderings Very Happy
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