Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

POTENTIAL UTILIZATION OF DOMESTIC WASTES AS A SUITABLE EXPERIMENTAL DIET TO ENHANCE THE BIOMASS OF EUDRILUS EUGENIAE IN VARIOUS SEASONS

J. Rathinamala, S. Jayashree and P. Lakshmanaperumalsamy

Abstract

Six different feed combinations with cattle dung as substrate were tested for the production of earthworm Eudrilus eugenioe.The organic wastes such as leaf litters, vegetables, fruits and tea wastes supported the growth and production of earthworms,The mixed feed prepared from cow dung, goat dung and leaf litters in the ratio of I : 1:2 was found to be ideal substrate among the treatments for mass cultivation of earthworms. The growth, cocoon production and biomass were higher particularly in winter season than in other seasons.The worm activity depends on the type of the substrates, season and the environmental factors.