Effect of Different Organic Substrates on Reproductive Biology, Growth and Offtake of the African Night Crawler Earthworm (Eudrilus eugeniae)
Loading...
Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Saly Portudal, Senegal
Abstract
Rapid growth and high fecundity of Eudrilus eugeniae makes it a commercial
vermicomposting agent. The worm is also a rich protein source (50-70%CP) in
livestock diets. The major question, however, is how do we promote earthworm
production as a strategy for ecological livestock intensification and integration
with crops through earthworm domestication as a source of protein and
vermicompost. Reproduction characteristics, growth and offtake of E. eugeniae
were studied using four organic substrates including abattoir waste (AW), cattle
manure (CM), soya bean crop residue (SBCR) and a mixture of cattle manure and
soya bean crop residue (CM+SBCR) aged 15 days. Irrespective of the substrate,
length and biomass of earthworms increased at a decreasing rate between the 1st
and 8th weeks. Clitellum appearance was initiated at 31.5±2.4, 32.8±3.2,
33.7±3.3 and 35.5±2.4 days for AW, CM,CM+SBCR and BCR, respectively,
while cocoon initiation was at 69.0±1.4 (AW), 54.9±2.3 (CM), 51.7±1.7
(CM+SBCR) and 60.0±2.4 (SBCR) days. Organic substrate used affected
reproductive biology,
Description
Keywords
Clitellum, Cocoon initiation, Earthworm biomass, Hatchlings, Vermibeds
Citation
Kabi, F., Kayima, D., Kigozi, A., Mpingirika, E. Z., Kayiwa, R., & Okello, D. (2018). Effect of different organic substrates on reproductive biology, growth and offtake of the African night crawler earthworm (Eudrilus eugeniae). In Ecological and Organic Agriculture Strategies for Viable Continental and National Development in the Context of the African Union's Agenda 2063. Scientific Track Proceedings of the 4th African Organic Conference. November 5-8, 2018. Saly Portudal, Senegal (pp. 37-42).