Physicochemical requirements in the environment of the earthworm Eisenia foetida

Kaplan, David L.; Hartenstein, Roy; Neuhauser, Edward F.; Malecki, Michael R.

doi:10.1016/0038-0717(80)90008-5

Cited by 114 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The results on the biological background of the vermicomposting process (Table 3) agree with those reported by Hartenstein et al (1979) and Kaplan et al (1980). These authors indicate the greatest biomass and maximum weight gain of earthworms in domestic dung or activated sludge to be achieved at temperatures of 20-29°C and at moisture levels of 70-85%.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Influence of earthworms on organic waste composting and characterisation of vermicompost end products

Castillo

Benito²,

Iglesias³

2005

Span. j. agric. res.

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The aim of this work was to study the influence of earthworms on the composting process. Selected waste mixtures pine sawdust + poultry litter (M1), cotton industry waste + poultry litter (M2), shredded paper + horse manure (M3), and cotton industry waste + horse manure (M4) were composted for 85, 64, 60 and 60 days respectively in plastic boxes. The temperature variations during this process followed the typical three-phase pattern. At the end of this process 95, 80, 75 and 95 g of Eisenia andrei were added to each treatment respectively to initiate vermicomposting. Together, the composting and vermicomposting processes took between 105 and 175 days. Earthworm biomass decreased in M1 and M2, and increased in M3 and M4. The physical, chemical and biological variables measured, such as time to compost maturity, the changes in earthworm population, the C/N ratio, and the availability of nutrients, showed that M3 was the best medium for earthworm activity, and that M4 had the best chemical and physical properties as an organic manure. Mixtures containing poultry litter were not suitable for vermicomposting. However, M1 was the best mixture in a test involving the growth of ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Weterwald); compared to controls, a 120% dry weight yield was obtained.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Influence of earthworms on organic waste composting and characterisation of vermicompost end products

Castillo

Benito²,

Iglesias³

2005

Span. j. agric. res.

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“…The biology of composting earthworms had been investigated in terms of their certain fundamental requirements, for instance the temperature [17,23,28,37], pH [17,31], density or stocking rate [16,30], substrate [4,7], and moisture content of the substrate [13,29]. The effect of bedding substrate on biological parameters such as biomass production, cocoon numbers, hatchling success in popular composting earthworms is still unanswered.…”

Section: Review Of Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…World-wide spread E. fetida was and still remains a favoured earthworm species for vermicomposting operations due to their wide range of tolerance for environmental variables. The growth patterns E. fetida in number of different organic waste resources have been investigated by various authors in laboratory culture [9,12,18,17]. However, in tropical and sub-tropical conditions earthworm: P. excavatus, P. sansibaricus, and E. eugeniae appeared as best vermicomposting species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Different Food Sources on Growth and Reproduction Performance of Composting Epigeics: Eudrilus Eugeniae, Perionyx Excavatus and Perionyx Sansibaricus

Suthar¹

2007

Appl Ecol Env Res

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Abstract. The impact of organic material quality on biomass production and reproduction potential of commercial composting earthworm species: Eudrilus eugeniae, Perionyx excavatus and Perionyx sansibaricus were studied, by using three different type of culture material namely Jbs: (Jowar straw (Sorghum vulgare) + bajra straw (Pennisetum typhoides) + sheep manure) (1:1:2), fym (farmyard manure), and Kw + Ll (Kitchen waste + leaf litter of Magifera indica) (1:1), under laboratory conditions for 150 days. The above substrate or culture materials have different palatability, particle size and physiochemical composition. Kitchen waste (C-to-N = 26.7) as well as farmyard manure (C-to-N = 27.4) is a high quality material with fast decomposition rates, while crop residues are low quality materials with slow decomposition rates (C-to-N = 45.6). All the three studied earthworm species showed maximum biomass production rate in Kw + Ll culture (E. eugeniae = 9.80 ± 0.01 mg worm -1 day -1 , P. excavatus = 3.75 ± 0.01 mg worm -1 day -1 , and P. sansibaricus = 3.77 mg worm -1 day -1 ). Individual cocoon production rate varied drastically, and maximum value (worm -1 week -1 ) of it was observed in Kw + Ll for E. eugeniae (1.88 ± 0.15) and P. sansibaricus (1.77 ± 0.14), while P. excavatus showed maximum cocoon production rate in Fym (1.79 ± 0.17). The hatchling success of cocoons obtained from different beddings was also observed and cocoon obtained from Kw + Ll culture exhibited maximum hatchling success (%) in all the three species studied. The cocoons of both E. eugeniae and P. sansibaricus, obtained from Fym culture showed the highest number of hatchlings (cocoon -1 ) i.e. 1.59 ± 0.04 and 1.81 ± 0.10, respectively, whereas cocoons of P. excavatus showed the highest hatchling number (1.77 ± 0.06) in Kw + Ll. In this present study, there was a consistent trend of decreasing individual biomass as well as cocoon production rate, followed by their peak values with ageing of the culture materials. The relationship between different earthworm parameters and N-content or C-to-N of culture material was also evaluated. The biomass production rate and hatching success in all the three species studied showed direct correlation (p<0.05) with N-content of the culture material. However, beddings' N-content did not affect the individual cocoon production rate, except to P. sansibaricus (r = 0.987, P<0.001). The number of hatchlings per cocoon for P. sansibaricus, showed good correlation (r = 0.935 p<0.01) with N-content of organic material used for worm culture. Results clearly show a possible relation between hatchling success/number of hatchlings per cocoon, and chemistry of culture substrate.

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“…For bacteria the same could be observed with exception of SMC that had no effect on AM soil. The improved conditions of the earthworms can be partially ascribed to improved pH conditions (especially in the case of DGC soil) since the earthworms used prefer a pH between 5.5 and 8 [10]. The major factor increasing earthworm health is likely to be the increased amount of soil organic matter caused by the addition of compost.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of composts on the leaching of metals from contaminated soils

Herwijnen¹,

Laverye²,

Ouki³

et al. 2006

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 94

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Compost is often proposed as a suitable material for the remediation of contaminated brownfield sites intended for soft end-use. In addition to vitalising the soil, it is also supposed to immobilise metals and so break contaminantreceptor pathways and reduce the ecotoxicity of the contaminants. However, some research has demonstrated contradictory effects between composts on metal immobilisation. In our study, five different composts were tested to examine both their metal retention and toxicity reduction capabilities on three different metal contaminated soils. Leaching tests, a plant growth test with Greek cress (Lepidium sativum), an earthworm (Eisenia fetida) survival and condition test and a bacterial toxicity test using Vibrio fischeri were carried out. The batch leaching tests results showed that spent mushroom compost caused an increase in metal concentration in the leachates while LimeX70 compost caused a decrease. The variation in behaviour between different composts for each soil was somewhat random, so a generic conclusion could not be drawn. Toxicity tests showed significant reduction of metal bioavailability and toxicity. Our results also suggest that more rigorous tests should be undertaken to understand the mechanisms involved in metal complexation using different compost types, in order to optimise the use of compost for remediation.

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Physicochemical requirements in the environment of the earthworm Eisenia foetida

Cited by 114 publications

References 7 publications

Influence of earthworms on organic waste composting and characterisation of vermicompost end products

Influence of earthworms on organic waste composting and characterisation of vermicompost end products

Influence of Different Food Sources on Growth and Reproduction Performance of Composting Epigeics: Eudrilus Eugeniae, Perionyx Excavatus and Perionyx Sansibaricus

The effect of composts on the leaching of metals from contaminated soils

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