EFFECT OF DIFFERENT BIODEGRADABLE INSTITUTIONAL SOLID WASTES ON THE GROWTH OF EISENIA FOETIDAA.K. Sannigrahil and Mahuya SamadderAbstract The vermicomposting experiment conducted in earthen pots during June - August, 2004 with one kg each of different institutional wastes like dry grass, dry leaves, paddy straw, waste paper and wood powder mixed with two kg cow dung showed that both multiplication and growth of Eisenia foetida varied differently in different. wastes. The increasing rate of earthworm population was found higher in cow dung and lower in dry leaves of Sins tree (Albizzia lebbek) at 30 days after release while at 60 days after release the increasing rate was in the order : Paddy straw > dry grass > saw dust > paper waste > cow dung > dry leaves. Less availability of food due to slow decomposition might be the reason of lowest increasing rate of earthworm population in dry leaves. Growth of earthworm as recorded by taking weight and volume was found highest in cow dung but lowest in dry leaves. This was obvious as earthworm favoured much the cow dung as palatable food in comparison to slow decomposed dry leaves.
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