Effects of Vermireactor Modifications on the Welfare of Earthworms Eisenia fetida (Sav.) and Properties of Vermicomposts

Grzegorz Pączka,Joanna Kostecka,Mariola Garczyńska,Kevin R Butt,Anna Mazur-Pączka

doi:10.3390/agriculture10100481

Grzegorz Pączka, Joanna Kostecka + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10100481

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Abstract

Vermicomposting is a method that allows for the environmentally friendly management of plant organic waste through the activity of concentrated earthworm populations. As a result of an appropriately conducted process, it is possible to obtain a valuable organic fertilizer, abundant in nutrients for plants as well as the development of a favorable (qualitatively and quantitatively) earthworm population structure. This paper presents the results of the vermicomposting process of waste plant mass with the use of vermireactors with different designs. In conventional no protective substrate (NPS) vermireactors, plant waste was the only habitat for earthworms, whilst protective substrate (PS) vermireactors also had a medium to shield the earthworm population in the event of the accidental introduction of toxic waste to these invertebrates. A positive effect of the PS vermireactor construction in the protection of an earthworm population against the potential use of stressful waste was found, as populations of Eisenia fetida were monitored and the development was noted during the vermicomposting with both methods. The largest differences between the populations (PS vs. NPS vermireactors) were demonstrated after 40 and 50 days and related to the number of immature animals (PS > NPS by 30.7%; p < 0.05) and cocoons (PS > NPS by 34.8%; p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the PS and NPS in the biomass of immature E. fetida and cocoons. The vermicomposts obtained were not significantly different form each other but they were characterized by a higher content of C, N, P, K, Ca and Mg compared to the initial waste biomass. Contents of Cu, Mn, Zn, Cd and Pb in vermicomposts did not prevent their use as fertilizers.

Highlights

Recent decades have been characterized by significant and multi-faceted problems related to environmental degradation
The present study shows that E. fetida individuals in both protective substrate (PS) and no protective substrate (NPS) groups multiplied
This study was carried out to verify whether the use of a protective substrate in the construction of vermireactors can play a positive role in saving the earthworms in the event of the accidental administration of waste—unfavorable for these invertebrates—to vermicomposting; how it would affect the development of E. fetida population and the selected features of the obtained vermicompost

Summary

Introduction

Recent decades have been characterized by significant and multi-faceted problems related to environmental degradation. Their cause was, among others, improperly managed organic waste, a large part of which is related to the agricultural sector. The growing amount of this waste type has led to work on the creation of more effective, but simultaneously more sustainable waste management systems [1]. Vermicomposting has been proposed as one of the methods of organic waste management and is classified as a biotechnological process that uses selected species of earthworms to improve the waste treatment process and obtain a better final product, i.e., vermicompost. The survival of earthworms in vermiculture, their biomass production and reproduction are the best indicators to assess the quality of the vermicomposting process [2].

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