Date Received: 04-02-2020 / Date Accepted: 14-05-2020
This study was undertaken to assess the biology and effects of 2 types of the concentrated feed in the diet on growth, reproductive performance and efficiency of organic waste degradation of African nightcrawler (Eudrilus Eugeniae) by a batch production on the tray vermiculture system with compound feed supplement. The breeding earthworms were kept in plastic trays (15 worms/tray) added with a substrate made of dried cow dung (550g/tray) under the laboratory conditions (temperature 23-28C, humidity 55-65%). The experiment was designed by 2 groups with 2 different concentrated feed in the diet (rice flour and yellow maize flour) and 3 replicates. The breeding earthworms were separated from the substrate every 10 days after laying. The cocoons were hatched and the growth of hatchlings was assessed up to 4 weeks of age. Results showed that the African nightcrawler had a big size and weight of both its body and cocoon that were appropriate for the intensive vermiculture by the tray system. Supplement of 2 types of concentrated feed in the diet resulted in high and equivalent efficiency of worm growth and reproductivity. After 4 weeks, each breeding earthworm produced 89.22-90.97 newly born hatchlings, equivalent to 8.11g dry matter of worm biomass, and the conversion ratio from solid waste to worm mass was 9.86:1-10:1. However, in the production condition, the indoor climate should be adjusted appropriately to the earthworm physiology, and the cost-benefit analysis should be conducted in order to achieve the highest performance and economic efficiency.
