GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION OF THE EPIGEIC EARTHWORM, EISENIA FETIDA (SAVIGNY, 1826) CULTURED IN VARIOUS ORGANIC WASTES

Abstract

: The study was carried out to evaluate the influence and suitability of various organic wastes on growth and reproduction of the epigeic earthworm, E. fetida maintained at uncontrolled laboratory environmental conditions. There was a much variation in biomass, growth rate and cocoon production by this earthworm in different organic wastes such as False Ashoka Waste-FAW (Polyalthia longifolia), Parthenium Waste- PW (Parthenium hysterophorus), Cotton Residue Waste- CRW (Gossypium), Lawn Grass Waste- LGW (Agrostis) and Control- Cattle manure-CM used in these experiments. The mean maximum (923.54 ±1122.59) and minimum (481.47±56.13) biomass of worm was observed in PW and FAW respectively. The mean growth rate of worm was 6316.10±529.36, 11836.00±1086.30, 9053.00±807.22, 6969.00±582.42, 10842.00±1011.50 observed in FAW, PW, CRW, LGW and CM (control) respectively. There is a significant variation (P0.05) in both worm biomass and growth rate of worms was observed among all the organic wastes, whereas no significant variation was noticed in between different organic wastes, except between PW & FAW, CM & FAW, LGW & PW and CM & LGW in biomass and between LGW & FAW; CM & PW and CM & CRW in growth rate respectively.

The attainment of sexual maturity and 100% maturity was observed early in Control-CM on 6 th week and 8th week followed by all other organic wastes on 7 th week and 9th week respectively. The maximum cocoon production worm/week was observed in Control-CM with 2.86±0.37 followed by CRW (2.16±0.30), PW (2.11±0.30), FAW (1.95±0.27) and it was least in LGW (1.28±0.18). The cumulative cocoon number (CCN)/worm for 17 weeks was 33.27, 35.95, 36.77, 21.77, and 48.65 in FAW, PW, CRW, LGW, and CM respectively. Significant difference (P0.05) was also noticed in cocoon production among and between different organic wastes, except between PW & FAW, CRW & FAW and CRW & PW. Based on the results, it can be concluded that biomass, growth rate, attainment of sexual maturity and cocoon production of the epigeic earthworm, E. fetida were influenced much by different organic wastes, that inturn affect on the production of quantity and quality vermicompost and worm multiplication during vermicomposting process. This work also suggests that epigeic earthworms are very much choosy in selection of particular type of organic wastes for their growth, development and cocoon production