Selective preferences for agricultural organic wastes under multiple choice by epigenic earthworms.

Abstract

Clitallate earthworms of E. eugeniae, E. fetida and P. excavatus were cultured for 21 days (at room temperature of 28-30 degrees C) in individual tgroughs with partifioned four culture beds of blackgram pod husk (BlgpH), redgram pod husk (Rdg pH), redgram grain husk (RdgGH) and bengalgram grain husk (BngGH) mixed with cow manure in 1 : 1 ratio to find out their selective preference for wastes under multiple choice as their food. Preference as judged by number of cocoons in each waste has been : E. eugeniae - BngGH (44.11%) > BlgPH (43.62%) > RdgGH (9.0%) > RdgPH (2.45%); E. fetida - BlgPH (44.21%) > BngGH (34.73%) > RdgGH (21.05%); P. excavatus - RdgPH (69.11%) > BlgPH (30.88%). The ratio between initial weight and final weight of adult worm (rate of cocoon production/worm/week) over 21 days period have been E. eugeniae - 1 : 1.97 (4.53); E. fetida - 1 : 2.11 (2.11) and P. excavatus - 1 : 1.42 (1.51).