Effects of types of culture feed on reproduction of African Night Crawler (Eudrilus eugeniae) earthworm and chemical properties of vermicompost

• Main Author: Pongsuda Chanwichaypote
• Format: Article
• Language: Thai
• Published: Mahasarakham University 2019-08-01
• Series: Warasan Witthayasat Lae Theknoloyi Mahawitthayalai Mahasarakham
• Subjects: feed; organic matter; total nitrogen; total phosphorus; african night crawler earthworm
• Online Access: http://journal.msu.ac.th/upload/articles/article2502_86075.pdf

Consequent of the current increase in the amounts of domestic refuse, especially organic wastes, it is desirable to utilize these organic wastes by using them as food supply for feeding African Night Crawler earthworm. The aims of this research were to study the effects of feed on reproduction of the earthworm and the chemical properties of vermicompost after feeding. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was arranged with five different types (and four replications) of feeds: control, dried brewer’s yeast, rice straw, residues from sunflower sprout planting and dried water hyacinth. Each container contained thirty African Night Crawler earthworms that were fed at 20 g per week. A period of earthworm husbandry was taken for 90 days at the worm house, Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, during March - July 2018. The results indicated that feeding with rice straw promoted the maximal number of earthworm population, total earthworm weight and the contents of vermicompost after feeding 90 days (53.75 per container, 6.69 g per container and 25.02 g, respectively), whereas vermicompost from feeding earthworms with dried brewer’s yeast gave the maximal contents of total nitrogen and total phosphorus on 45 and 60 days (0.27 % and 0.021 %, respectively). For agricultural use, vermicompost should be harvested after 15 days of feeding.