Growth and reproductive performance of Eisenia foetida in cow manure, cow manure + sugarcane bagasse, and cow manure + sawdust waste

Abstract

Accumulation of sawdust and sugarcane bagasse can cause serious problems for the environment. In this study, we examined the growth and reproductive performance of Eisenia foetida in cow manure, cow manure + sugarcane bagasse (4:1, V/V) and cow manure + sawdust (4:1, V/V) waste and its effects on CO2 evolution. The results showed that the weight gain for E. foetida (live weight) per gram of dry weight of the feed source in cow manure + sugarcane bagasse (39 ± 0.66 mg/g) and cow manure waste (37 ± 0.36 mg/g) were greater than in cow manure + sawdust waste (34 ± 1.05 mg/g). The number of cocoons produced per earthworm per day in different wastes was in the order: cow manure + sugarcane bagasse > cow manure + sawdust > cow manure. After adding earthworms to cow manure, cow manure + sugarcane bagasse, and cow manure + sawdust, CO2 emissions rapidly decreased after 15 days. Statistical analysis showed that after 90 days, vermicompost wasn't significantly different (p = 0.05) from compost in terms of production of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and pH level. Our experiments presented vermicomposting using E. foetida as an alternative technology that can be used to recycle S and SB in laboratory conditions.