Growth and reproduction of P. excavatusand P. cressiseptatusin different months of throughout the year during vermicomposting

Abstract

Due to their importance in processing the organic materials, enhancing the fertility of soil and their supportive role to the agriculture and due to interest of biologists in the study of animals and plants, earthworms had been subject of attention of several workers. Earthworms constitute a large part of biomass in the soil. They have been recognized as soil movers and conditioners. In this study, efforts have been made to compare the growth and reproductive potential of Perionyxexcavatusand Perionyxcressiseptatusby using a common substrate or culture material such as cattle dung waste that had not been explored extensively in previous studies. The effect of different months on growth and reproduction of Perionyx excavates and Perionyxcressiseptatuswas studied at vermicomposting center. For each month, viz., 50 gm adult earthworms per 5 kg of cattle dung were inoculated and monitored for total biomass gain, cocoons production, sexual maturity. Mortality was not observed in any month. The better performance (% change) with reference to biomass and bio number was agreed by Perionyxexcavatusin the month of July while Perionyxcressiseptatuswas generated in the month of August.