Growth and reproduction of the vermicomposting earthwormPerionyx excavatus as influenced by food materials
- 304 Downloads
- 13 Citations
Abstract
An outdoor study was undertaken using polyethylene containers to assess the suitability of different organic residues, soybean straw (Glycine max L. Merril.), wheat straw (Triticum aestivum L.), maize stover (Zea mays L.), chickpea straw (citer arietinum L.) and city garbage, as food for the tropical epigeic earthwormPerionyx excavatus, and to assess the influence of this earthworm on the decomposition of these materials. Maize stover was found to be the most suitable of the food materials used. Population growth ofP. excavatus was enhanced by addition of these organic materials in the temperature range 24°-30°C, while the population was adversely affected above 30°C in a vermiculture system. Addition of earthworms accelerated the breakdown of residues, which ultimately resulted in a lowering of the C:N ratio, water-soluble carbon and carbohydrates, and increased ash percentage and cation exchange capacity compared with their respective controls.
Key words
Perionyx excavatus Earthworms Feeding activity Plant residues Mineralization Maturity parameters Vermicomposting C/N ratio StrawPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
- Brink RH, Dybar P, Lynch DL (1960) Measurement of carbohydrates in soil hydrolysates with anthrone. Soil Sci 89:157–166Google Scholar
- Edwards CA, Lofty JR (1977) Biology of carthworm, 2nd edn. Chapman and Hall, LondonGoogle Scholar
- Garcia C, Hernandez T, Costa F, Ayas M (1992) Evaluation of the maturity of municipal waste compost using simple chemical parameters. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 23:1501–1512Google Scholar
- Hallatt L, Viljoen SA, Reinecke AJ (1992) Moisture requirements in the life cycle ofPerionyx excavatus (Oligochaeta). Soil Biol Biochem 24:1333–1340Google Scholar
- Kale RD, Bano K, Krishnamoorthy RV (1982) Potential ofPerionyx excavatus for utilizing organic wastes. Pediobiologia 23:419–425Google Scholar
- Lax A, Roig A, Costa F (1986) A method for determining the cation exchange capacity in organic materials. Plant and Soil 94:349–355Google Scholar
- Lee KE (1985) Earthworms: their ecology and relationship with soil and land use. Academic Press, Australia, pp 411Google Scholar
- Morel J, Jacquin F, Gucket A (1979) Contribution a la determination de test de la maturite des composts urbains. C.R. Contrat, 75-124. Ministere de l'Environment et du Cadre de Vie. ENSAIA Nancy, p 32Google Scholar
- Reinecke AJ, Viljoen SA, Saayman RJ (1992) The suitability ofEndocilus eugeniae, perionyx excavatus andEisenia fetida (Oligochaeta) for vermicomposting in Southern Africa in terms of their temperature requirements. Soil Biol Biochem 24:1295–1307Google Scholar
- Waggoner PE (1974) The biochemistry and methodology of composting. Connecticut Agril Exptl Stn Bull 754, p 9Google Scholar
- Walkley A, Black CA (1934) An estimation of the Digtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and proposed modification of chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci 37:29–38Google Scholar