WORM BIOMASS AND VERMICOMPOST PRODUCTION BY THE EPIGEIC EARTHWORM, PERIONYX EXCAVATUS BY USING DIFFERENT ORGANIC WASTES

Abstract

As the epigeic earthworms are known to be efcient and potential biodegrades and nutrient releasers, tolerant to wide range of ecological disturbances, aids in litter communication and efcient decomposers. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to nd out the inuence of various organic wastes (such as False Ashoka waste-FAW (Polyalthia longifolia), Parthenium wastePW (Parthenium hysterophorus), Cotton residue waste-CRW (Gossypium), Lawn grass waste-LGW (Agrostis) and Cattle manure-CM) on the production of worm biomass and vermicompost by the epigeic earthworm, Perionyx excavatus along with control compost experiments without worms (in triplicates) to know the potentiality of this worm species in processing of various organic wastes for the production of worm biomass as vermiprotein and vermicompost as biofertilizer. Both compost and vermicompost experimental pots were terminated after 35 and 70 days time intervals. Observations were made with respect to number of old and new adult worms, new sub-clitellates, juveniles, cocoons with their weight were noted to determine the total worm biomass (Gross biomass), biomass ratio (WBR) and Fold Increase in Worm Number (FIWN). Percent compost and vermicompost produced out of different organic waste were also calculated at the end of each experiment at35 and 70 days. The results of the present study revealed that the biomass of Perionyx excavatus such as Gross worm biomass (GWB), Worm biomass ratio (WBR) and Fold increase in worm number (FIWN) increased from 35days to 70 days time intervals in all the organic wastes (FAW, PW, CRW, LGW and CM). It was maximum in CM and minimum in FAW among all the organic wastes. There is a signicant variation was noticed in worm biomass production (GWB, WBR, and FIWN) among and between all the organic wastes except between few organic wastes at 35 and 70 days time intervals. The vermicompost production was more as compared to normal compost in all the organic wastes. Further, both compost and vermicompost production were more in CM followed by LGW, CRW, PW and minimum in FAW among all organic wastes. The signicant difference was also observed in the production of compost and vermicompost among and between different organic wastes except between few organic wastes at different time intervals. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the earthworm, Perionyx excavatus is an efcient epigeic earthworm species, effectively used in vermicomposting for the production of vermicompost and as well as in vermifarming in the production of worm biomass as vermiprotein. Further, earthworm biomass, compost and vermicompost production primarily depends on nature of organic wastes and secondly on the potentiality of earthworm species used in the experimental studies.