Influence of different cultivating and food sources on growth of earthworm, perionyx excavatus (PERR.)

Abstract

    Earthworm, Perionyx Excavatus, has been studied and the potential of this epigeicearthworm species for processing organic waste is well known. The substrate and feedingmaterial were considered as effector of the growth, life cycle of earthworms. The current studycarried on the evaluation of various cultivating and feeding materials that influenced on growthof earthworms, by calculating biomass, the total number of worms and relative growth rate. Asthe results, the cow manure fed in cultured and feeding materials showed the suitable in thegrowth of earthworm, with significant differences from other group which based on wormmanure as the substrate and feeding materials. For further study, the adding component,including coir, straw and soil have to be studied to find out the better materials in earthwormcultivation.