Abstract
Dendrobaena veneta, an earthworm species from Europe, has been reported to have the potential to combat organic waste problems and to be a producer of protein. This study was concerned with the effect of moisture on growth, maturation and cocoon production of this species. Moisture preferences of clitellate worms were studied with the aid of cylindrical moisture towers filled with cattle manure, ground to a particle size of 500 ⩽ 1000 μm and moistened. A moisture gradient was allowed to develop in the towers and after the worms were added they were kept at a temperature of 15°C and a relative humidity of 47.7%. Juvenile worms were exposed to different moisture contents in glass flasks filled with cattle manure medium and kept at 15°C. The highest frequency for clitellate worms was between 77.9 and 78.7% while their moisture preference ranged between 67.4 and 84.3%. For cocoon production the highest frequency was between 73.1 and 79.9%. The optimum moisture content for growth and maturation of juvenile worms was 75%. From the results it appears that this earthworm species could be utilized in organic waste with a relatively high moisture content. However, comparing the reproductive capacity and maturation time with that of other vermicomposting species, D. veneta seems to be a less successful earthworm species for vermicomposting.
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