The study of weight and growth indices of earthworm (Eisenia foetida) in vermicomposting of different organic fertilizers

Vermicompost technology is one of the most important tools for processing and converting organic wastes into biological fertilizers. The study intended to determine the best substrate for breeding earthworm species Eisenia foetida in a completely randomized design with 10 treatments and four replications in a three-month period. Various substrates along with the remains of organic wheat straw and alfalfa in different ratios (25, 50, 75 and 100) were investigated in Year 2013 at the University of Gonbad-e Kavous. In this study, some characteristics of worms such as weight of adult worms, young, newborn, cocoon weight and final weight of earthworms, E. foetida, and growth rate, specific growth rate of the number of babies per generation and survival rates were studied. The results of analysis of variance showed that there were statistically significant differences among all studied treatments from gain weight of adult worms, young, newborn and growth indices point of view except in survival rates. The most weight gained with adult worms was found in the 1:1 ratio of sheep manure along with alfalfa residues. However the greatest weight in young worms were obtained from sheep manure with straw treated in the ratio of 1:3. The maximum weight of the baby worm and final weight were obtained from the worms in the straw mixed with sheep manure in the ratio of 1:1. The results also showed that treatment of sheep manure with straw and alfalfa wastes had the greatest increase in worm weight.