Multiplication of Red Worms (<i>Eiseniafetida</i>) Using Different Feeding Materials and Its Effect on Yield and Quality of Vermicompost

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.