Culturing earthworm in different substrates

  San Th y
santhysimon@yahoo.com

 Abstract

 A 2x3 factorial arrangement with 4 replications per treatment was used to study culturing conditions in plastic baskets of earthworms (Eisenia foetida) originated from Colombia and a local Cambodian breed (mean weight 0.32 and 0.13 g respectively). Three on farm available substrates: cow manure (organic matter 72.4% and pH 7.48), goat manure  (organic matter 82.8% and pH 7.48) and pig manure (organic matter 83.5% and pH 6.86) were mixed with soil and poultry litter (organic matter 27.4%) at a constant rate of 3:2 in dry basis weight.

 Average initial substrate amounts for earthworms culture indicated that average cow, pig and goat manure was 4.33, 4.64 and 2.73 kg/basket for cow, pig and goat manure respectively. Soil plus litter and earthworms were 2.5 kg (DM 59.0%) and 122 g/basket respectively.

 There was not significant effect (P = 0.91) of genotype on mean biomass yield after 21 days of culturing although Cambodian earthworm yield was high as compared to the Colombian breed (0.72 and 0.55 g/100g manure). Average crude protein content was 79.6% in dry basis.

 A significant effect (P = 0.02) was observed of type of substrate on mean biomass yield (1.22 and 0.29, 0.40 and 1.88, 0.55 and 0.52 g/100g manure respectively if Cambodian or Colombian earthworm were cultured on cow, goat and pig manure.

 It is suggested that the best on farm earthworms culturing in conditions such as those herein described could be if the Cambodian earthworm and pig manure could be employed. Further studies are suggested in order to improve the role of earthworms in manure transformation in integrated farming systems.

 Pig manure is not good to apply for earthworm culture in fresh state, should study in longer time. High protein of earthworm is good for poultry feed in small-scale strategy

Pig manure is good for bio digester feed, and may be good for earthworm by through fly larvae fermented state

Cow manure could be used for worm and also bio digester. Goat manure could use as fertilizer or worm nutrition directly

 Key words: earthworms, pig manure, cow manure, goat manure