Template:Chapter 4.13

4.13 - Treating seeds with urine

Dylan P. Harding, University of Guelph, Canada

Introduction

Livestock populations are declining in many developing nations, and with them the supply of manure. Animal manure is an important source of nutrients that will improve yields when applied to the soil. Where little or no animal manure is available, worms can be intentionally introduced to compost piles to help break down food waste and crop residue. This process, known as “vermicomposting” creates biologically active compost that will benefit soils in a similar manner to animal manure, especially in terms of providing organic matter and micronutrients. Vermicomposting has been demonstrated by several studies to improve the quality of the final compost product in comparison to regular composting by improving mineral availability and concentration (Arancon, Lee, Edwards, & Atiyeh, 2003; Bhattacharya & Chattopadhyay, 2002; Ndegwa, Thompson, & Das, 2000; Suthar, 2009).

Worms can be broadly classified according to their habitat. “Epigeic” worms are those that live on the Earth’s surface in decomposing materials and do not have permanent underground burrows (Munroe). Epigeic worm species such as Red Wrigglers (Eisinia fetida), African Night Crawlers(Eudrilis eugeniae), and Perionyx excavatus are the most commonly used species for vermicomposting because a compost pile is very similar to their natural habitats. Epigeic worm species will predominate in untended compost or other decaying plant matter, so these are generally good places to collect worms to use for vermicomposting. Most epigeic worm species can reproduce rapidly, because this is necessary for competition in the wild (i.e. they must quickly grow in number when food becomes available) (Munroe). With this in mind, worm species found in an untended compost pile will probably have naturally good growth and reproduction rates, and therefore will likely be suitable for vermicomposting. More information on find an appropriate worm species is included below under Feeding and Caring for the Worms.

Defense Against Moisture and Chemicals

Moisture blocking is a way gloves can prevent your skin from drying out and from getting too wet and dehydrating farmer's hands. By keeping the moisture from the hands inside the gloves they will prevent the skin from cracking and becoming infected (Schaffner, 2013). As well when working in wet conditions your hands can shrivel and become dehydrated if they are constantly in contact with water.

Pesticides can be absorbed by your skin and become harmful to the body, gloves provide an extra barrier to block them from entering in a farmer's body (Furlong, et al., 2015). Fertilizers such as nitrogen can also be caustic, and these are usually spread through broadcasting by hand. Mud can get under your nails and into cracked or cut skin and can infect a farmer's hands. Gloves will keep the mud out and keep hands clean. Both liquid pesticides and dry fertilizers can irritate skin if they come into contact with it (Kim, et al., 2013). Wearing the proper gloves, rubber ones in this case, can save their hands from becoming itchy (Keeble et al., 1996). Human skin can also absorb the pesticides which are harmful to your body, wearing gloves would prevent the pesticides from ever touching your skin.

Wearable

Comfortable gloves help farmer's work longer because their hands will not hurt from completing your task. Sizing is very important when finding comfortable gloves (Melco, 2016). Make sure gloves are the proper length and width, as not to restrict movement. There will be less pain from pulling weeds and they will be able to pull more weeds because they would not have to wait a long for the pain to subside between pulling each weed, because there will be no pain if wearing gloves (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2016). If farmer's find they are working hard and their hands start to sweat the gloves should be removed , dry your hands, and put on a new pair. Cloth gloves are more breathable then rubber ones, using them is another way to prevent hands from getting sweaty. The cloth gloves can also be softer and easier to clean, but are more restricting to movement due to their durability and tougher material. Since children will also be farming, smaller glove sizes can be found. Gloves are designed to fit a farmer's hand snugly, so children should not wear adult sized gloves when working.

Constraints To Adoption

Gloves are very useful to farmers, but there can still be some drawbacks. Possible culturable taboos might vary from location to location. Gloves might seem feminine and not easily adopted by men in the community. Gloves act as a second, tougher skin, but they are not a farmer's skin and can slide around while working. This may feel odd and uncomfortable but farmers can get used to the new feeling over time. Gloves can come in many colours and thicknesses, which may make a farmer's hands look funny or larger. Human skin is very stretchy and flexible, while glove materials tend to be tougher than skin and will reduce movement, but not enough to hinder work. Rubber gloves can stretch well, but make hands sweat, while cloth gloves are breathable but reduce dexterity.

Farmers can find gloves to use and get started from local vendors (European Commission For The Control Of Foot-And-Mouth Disease, 2016). Once you have completed your work for the day you can clean them are reuse them, or dispose of them if they were ripped or torn (Kim, et al., 2013). You can get gloves made of rubber and like materials as well as ones made of durable cloths. The thin rubber gloves tend to be made for a single use only. A trick that the European Commission For The Control Foot-And-Mouth Disease mentions that you can wear two pairs of rubber gloves at the same time for extra protection (European Commission For The Control Of Foot-And-Mouth Disease, 2016).

Helpful Links To Get Started

Here are websites to find more information about how to obtain gloves:

Alibaba

Indiamart

Store Nzfarmsource

Adenna

Farmcity

Crazystore

Usefull Images

References

Espasandín-Arias, M., & Goossens, A. (2014). Natural rubber gloves might not protect against skin penetration of methylisothiazolinone. Contact Dermatitis, 70(4), 249-251. doi:10.1111/cod.12221

European Commission For The Control Of Foot-And-Mouth Disease. Suggested FMD PPE guidelines - Food and Agriculture, (2016) Food and Agriculture Organization. Rural women in household production: Increasing contributions and persisting drudgery. (2016).

Furlong, M., Tanner, C. M., Goldman, S. M., Bhudhikanok, G. S., Blair, A., Chade, A., . . . Kamel, F. (2015). Protective glove use and hygiene habits modify the associations of specific pesticides with Parkinson's disease. Environment International, 75, 144-150. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2014.11.002

Keeble, V. B., Correll, L., & Ehrich, M. (1996). Effect of Laundering on Ability of Glove Fabrics to Decrease the Penetration of Organophosphate Insecticides Through in vitro Epidermal Systems. J. Appl. Toxicol. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 16(5), 401-406. doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-1263(199609)16:53.3.co;2-6

Kim, J., Kim, J., Cha, E., Ko, Y., Kim, D., & Lee, W. (2013). Work-Related Risk Factors by Severity for Acute Pesticide Poisoning Among Male Farmers in South Korea. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 10(3), 1100-1112. doi:10.3390/ijerph10031100

Melco, M. (2016). Gardening Gloves. Retrieved from Garden Lovetoknow

Schaffner, A. D. (2013). Minimizing Surgical Skin Incision Scars with a Latex Surgical Glove. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 37(2), 463-463. doi:10.1007/s00266-013-0071-y