The growth and fecundity of Eisenia fetida (Savigny) in cattle solids pre-composted for different periods

Summary The growth and fecundity of Eisenia fetida , in separated cattle solids, that had been composted for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks, was followed in laboratory microcosms. These were 12 × 12 × 6 cm plastic boxes with perforated lids, each containing 150 g (wet weight) of manure inoculated with five earthworms, replicated three times. There was no clear pattern of the effect of pre-composting on the growth of earthworms, although limited pre-composting appeared to favor earthworm growth. There was a consistent trend for fewer cocoons to be produced with increasing times of pre-composting, but there was no clear pattern of effect of pre-composting on the numbers of earthworm hatchlings produced. The C/N ratio of the bedding fell from a range of 29.0-51.5 to 14.8-17.9 during the six months of the experiment. Changes in NH 4 and NO 3 during vermicomposting were very variable.

[1]  David L. Kaplan,et al.  Materials supporting weight gain by the earthworm Eisenia foetida in waste conversion systems , 1980 .

[2]  Clive A. Edwards,et al.  Breakdown of animal, vegetable and industrial organic wastes by earthworms , 1988 .

[3]  C. Edwards,et al.  Earthworms in Waste and Environmental Management , 1990 .

[4]  D. L. Dindal.  Soil biology guide , 1990 .

[5]  A. Reinecke,et al.  The influence of worm density on growth and cocoon production of the compost worm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta) , 1990 .

[6]  U. Reeh.  Influence of population densities on growth and reproduction of the earthworm Eisenia andrei on pig manure , 1992 .

[7]  Clive A. Edwards,et al.  Biology and Ecology of Earthworms , 1995 .

[8]  Marthe Vinceslas-Akpa,et al.  Organic matter transformations in lignocellulosic waste products composted or vermicomposted (eisenia fetida andrei): Chemical analysis and 13C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy , 1997 .

[9]  Clive A. Edwards,et al.  Effects of stocking rate and moisture content on the growth and maturation of Eisenia andrei (Oligochaeta) in pig manure , 1997 .

[10]  R. M. Morris,et al.  Combining vermiculture with traditional green waste composting systems , 1997 .

[11]  B. R. Eastman,et al.  The Effectiveness of Vermiculture in Human Pathogen Reduction for USEPA Biosolids Stabilization , 2001 .

[12]  A. J. Reinecke,et al.  The influence of feeding patterns on growth and reproduction of the vermicomposting earthworm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta) , 1990, Biology and Fertility of Soils.