Abstract
The earthworms (Eiseniafetida) were collected from Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Centerand introduced in cattle manure, paunch manure and cattle manure supplemented with wheat sraw, paunche manuresupplemented with wheat sraw and cattle manure plus paunch manure supplemented with wheat sraw.300 numbers of red worms (Eisenia fetida) were introduced in to each treatment. At the end of vermicomposting, the earthworm populationand vermicompost amounts were examined to assess the effect of feeding materials on multiplication of worms (Eisenia fetida), vermicompost yield and vermicompost qualities. The highest numberof worms (688.3) was achieved in the paunch manureand lowest (333.7) in the cattle manure vermicompost as sole source of feeding material as compared to all treatments. But the amount of vermicompost was found to be highest (9.6 kg) in mixture of paunch manure and wheat straw vermicompost. The vermicompost samples were analyzed for the parameters: pH, EC, total nitrogen, organic carbon, available phosphorus. The laboratory analysis results showed highest total nitrogen (3.03%), organic carbon (31.04%), andavailable phosphorus (1523 mg/kg) were recorded in case of vermicompost prepared paunch manure alone. The C:N ratio of all vermicompost samples was in the optimum range (< 20%) and the EC of vermicompost prepared from paunch manure was in the optimum range and the rest were above the optimum rangeof EC values for plants growth. However, the bedding materials give different results and have their own characteristic on selected physic-chemical parameters, all the vermicompost samples were contains sufficient amount of plant nutrients and optimum pH for the better seed germination, plant growth and best fertility and quality of soil. Therefore, all the vermicompost samples could be used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. But based on its highest number of red worms (Eiseniafetida), highestyield of vermicompost and highest total nitrogen contents, organic carbon andavailable phosphorus, vermicompost prepared from paunch manure as sole source of feeding material was considered as quality vermicompost.
Highlights
Earthworms vermi-compost is proving to be highly nutritive ‘organic fertilizer’ and more powerful ‘growth promoter’ over the conventional composts and a ‘protective’ farm input against the ‘destructive’ chemical fertilizers which has destroyed the soil properties and decreased its natural fertility over the years [2]
This research was aimed to investigate the effect of paunch manure, paunch manure mixed with wheat straw, cattle manure, cattle manure mixed with wheat straw, and paunch manure mixed with cattle manure and wheat straw on yield, quality of vermi-compost, multiplication red worm of (Eisenia fetida)
The difference was insignificant between the treatments, the number of Eisenia Fetida (688.3) and vermicompost yield (9.60 kg) were found to be highest in the vermicompost prepared from PM and PM-WS respectively as feeding material
Summary
Earthworms vermi-compost is proving to be highly nutritive ‘organic fertilizer’ and more powerful ‘growth promoter’ over the conventional composts and a ‘protective’ farm input against the ‘destructive’ chemical fertilizers which has destroyed the soil properties and decreased its natural fertility over the years [2]. Vermi-compost is described as a perfect soil amendment and more eco-friendly as compared to chemical fertilizers. Vermicompost promotes plant growth from 50-100% over conventional compost and 30-40% over chemical fertilizers. In addition to providing soil organic carbon and plant nutrient, vermicompost provides enzymes and hormones which stimulate plant growth [1]. The cost of production of vermicompost is insignificant as compared to chemical fertilizers and its production is an ‘economically productive’ process as it ‘reduces wastes’ at source and saves landfills space. Vermicompost use is an ‘environmentally friendly, Amante Lemma: Multiplication of Red Worms (Eiseniafetida) Using Different Feeding Materials and
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