Potential of two epigeic and two anecic earthworm species in vermicomposting of water hyacinth

The potential of two epigeic species (Eudrilus eugeniae Kinberg, and Perionyx excavatus Perrier) and two anecic species (Lampito mauritii Kinberg and Drawida willsi Michaelson) of earthworms was assessed in terms of efficiency and sustainability of vermicomposting water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes, Mart. Solm.). In different vermireactors, each run in duplicate with one of the four species of earthworms, and 75 g of 6:1 water hyacinth:cowdung as feed, vermicasts were produced with steadily increasing output in all the reactors. E. eugeniae was by far the most efficient producer of vermicasts, followed by the other epigeic P. excavatus. The two anecics came next, with D. willsi being the least effective which could generate only about half the quantity of vermicasts achieved in a corresponding time by E. eugeniae. In all the reactors, the earthworms grew well, increasing their weights by more than 250%. The maximum net gain of weight (average 30.7 g) was by E. eugeniae, followed by P. excavatus, L. mauritii and D. willsi. This trend, which followed the efficiency of vermicast production, was also shown in terms of reproductive ability as measured by the number of offspring produced by the four species.     

Towards maximising output from vermireactors fed with cowdung spiked paper waste

Paper waste, spiked with varying proportions of cowdung, was vermicomposted in 'low-rate' and 'high-rate' reactors. The former type of reactors had earthworm populations and feed loading rates similar to ones recommended by previous workers. The 'high-rate' reactors were operated with 12.5 times higher earthworm densities and feed loading rates. All the reactors were studied for six months to assess the vermicast output, survivability, growth and reproduction of the earthworms hence the sustainability of the reactors--for long-term, continuous operation. The studies revealed the viability of the high-rate vermireactor concept. The high-rate reactors consistently produced over 6.5 times more castings per unit digester volume with no adverse effect on the earthworm population, as reflected by (a) absence of mortality, (b) consistent growth in worm zoomass, and (c) normal rate of reproduction. The studies also revealed that an increase in the cowdung fraction in the feed from 14.3% to 20% (4:1 paper:cowdung blends to 6:1 blends) had little positive impact on the vermicast output or earthworm health. This indicated that spiking of paper feed with approximately 14% cowdung, or perhaps an even smaller fraction, might be adequate to support earthworms in the paper-fed vermireactors.     

Composting-vermicomposting of leaf litter ensuing from the trees of mango (Mangifera indica)

Litter of the mango (Mangifera indica) tree leaves was composted and then converted into vermicast by the action of the earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae Kinberg. After over nine months of continuous operation the vermireactors with 62.5 animals l(-1) generated approximately 13.6g vermicast per litre of reactor volume (l) per day (d) whereas the reactors with 75 animals l(-1) produced approximately 14.9 g vermicast l(-1) d(-1). This difference in performance of the reactors operating in duplicate at the two different earthworm densities was statistically significant (> or = 90% confidence level) for most of the nine-month span. The animals grew well in all reactors, increasing their zoomass by approximately 103% and producing approximately 157 offspring. Not a single of the 1100 animals died during the first four months. In the subsequent five months a total of 122 worms died, representing a loss of approximately 2% per month. We attribute this to the normal process of ageing. The ability of the earthworms to survive, grow and breed in the vermireactors fed with composted mango tree leaves, and a rising trend in vermicast output inspite of the death of a few worms after four months of reactor operation, indicate the sustainability of this type of vermireactors. The studies also indicate that even better vermireactor efficiency may be possible by modifying the reactor geometry. Studies on changes in C:N ratio during composting and vermicomposting revealed that whereas composting helped in lowering the ratio due to loss of carbon in bacterial metabolism, vermicomposting had no such effect on the ratio.     

Vermicomposting of Taro (Colocasia esculenta) with two epigeic earthworm species

The bioconversion potential of two epigeic species (Eisenia foetida Sav. and Eudrilus eugeniae Kinberg) of earthworms was assessed in terms of efficiency and sustainability of vermicomposting of Taro (Colocasia esculenta (Linn) Schott in Schott and Endl). In different vermireactors, each run in triplicates with one of the two species of earthworms, and 60 g of 6:1 Colocasia:cowdung as feed, vermicasts were produced with steadily increasing output in all the reactors. E. eugeniae was found to be more efficient producer of vermicasts than E. foetida. In all reactors, the earthworms grew well, increasing their weights and number.     

Vermicomposting of different forms of water hyacinth by the earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae,Kinberg

Six-month long trials were conducted on different vermireactors fed with one of the following forms of water hyacinth: (a) fresh whole plants, (b) dried whole plants, (c) chopped pieces of fresh plants, (d) 'spent' weed taken from reactors after extracting volatile fatty acids (VFAs), (e) precomposted fresh weed and (f) precomposted spent weed. The first four forms were studied with and without cowdung. The experiments revealed three clear trends (i) of the various forms of the weed assessed, the precomposted forms were the most favoured as feed by Eudrilus eugeniae, Kinberg, while the fresh whole form was the least favoured, (ii) the different forms of spent weed were favoured over the corresponding forms of fresh weed, and (iii) blending of cowdung (approximately 14% of the feed mass) with different forms of water hyacinth had a significant positive impact on vermicast output, growth in worm zoomass, and production of offspring relative to the corresponding unblended feed. In all reactors, the 'parent' earthworms steadily grew in size over the six-month span, and produced offspring. There was no mortality. The experiments thus confirm that water hyacinth can be sustainably vermicomposted in any of the forms with E. eugeniae.     

Development of a modified vermireactor for efficient vermicomposting: a laboratory study

Waste has become an index of growth. Utilization of waste materials for productivity purposes is important for both economic and environmental reasons. Vermicomposting is an important aspect as it converts waste to wealth. In this context, a modified vermireactor in place of the conventional vermireactor for efficient vermicomposting has been developed.

In the conventional low- and high-rate vermireactors, the space for vermicomposting is reduced due to the thick layer of vermibed at the bottom of the reactor, thus a small amount of worm casts is produced. In the modified vermireactors there was only a thick moist cloth at the bottom in place of the thick vermibed which allowed a comparatively large quantity of organic waste to be vermicomposted as compared to conventional vermireactors. Laboratory studies showed that the modified vermireactor performed better than the conventional vermireactor in average vermicast produced and mg castings l⁻¹ (digester volume) day⁻¹. The study further showed that only the volume of the vermireactor was responsible for the high yield of worm casts.     

Vermicomposting of the leaf litter of acacia (Acacia auriculiformis): Possible roles of reactor geometry,polyphenols, and lignin

Vermicomposting of the pre-composted leaf litter of acacia (Acacia auriculiformis) was studied in reactors of identical volume but with surface area: height ratios varying from 4 to 250. In separate sets of experiments with these reactors, epigeic earthworm species Eudrilus eugeniae and anecic earthworm species Lampito mauritii were employed at densities of 75 and 150 adult animals per litre of reactor volume.The results reveal that greater the surface area: volume ratio of the reactor, higher is the vermicast output in terms of vermicast output per animal; the more densely populated reactors were comparatively under-productive.Even as the vermicast production remained consistently high in all the reactors, there was significant earthworm mortality throughout the course of the experiments and the worms who survived, steadily lost weight with time. A detailed investigation of the possible causes revealed that, whereas the C:N ratio of acacia compost was comparable with that of other substrates; the polyphenols and lignin content were much higher. Studies by other authors on leaf litter consumption by earthworms in natural or man-made forests have indicated that leaf litter rich in polyphenols and lignin are not preferred by most species of earthworm. This may perhaps be the reason for the high rate of mortality and weight loss in earthworms forced to feed upon acacia in the experiments conducted by the authors.     

Neem leaves as a source of fertilizer-cum-pesticide vermicompost

Vermicomposting of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) was accomplished in "high-rate" reactors operated at the earthworm (Eudrilus eugeniae) densities of 62.5 and 75 animals per litre of reactor volume. Contrary to the fears that neem--a powerful nematicide--might not be palatable to the annelids, the earthworms fed voraciously on the neem compost, converting upto 7% of the feed into vermicompost per day. Indeed the worms grew faster and reproduced more rapidly in the neem-fed vermireactors than in the reactors fed with mango leaf litter earlier studied by the authors (Gajalakshmi et al., 2003). Another set of experiments on the growth, flowering, and fruition of brinjal (Solanum melongena) plants with and without fertilization with vermicompost, revealed that the vermicompost had a significantly beneficial impact.     

Microbial and decomposition efficiencies of monoculture and polyculture vermireactors,based on epigeic and anecic earthworms

Efforts have been made to evaluate the microbial and decomposition efficiency of three different vermireactors: (i) polyculture (introducing equal numbers of anecic and epigeic earthworms), (ii) monoculture (anecic) and (iii) monoculture (epigeic), designed by using earthworms of two different ecological categories i.e. anecic (Lampito mauritii Kinberg) and epigeic (Eisenia fetida (Savigny)). The microbial load of vermireactors was measured through substrate-induced respiration rate (SIR), microbial biomass N content and rate of dehydrogenase activity, while mineralization rate was evaluated measuring some chemical parameters of the substrate. Earthworms caused a decrease (as compared to initial value) in pH (41.9–80.7%), organic C (10.3–14.2%) and C:N ratio (41.9–80.7%) and an increase in total N (29.1–58.8%), NH₄-N (876.1–1485.7%), NO₃-N (29081.8–56792.6%), available P (16–19.4%) and exchangeable K (9.8–13.5%) contents of the substrate. The mineralization efficiency of the reactors was in the order: polyculture (epigeic + anecic) > monoculture (anecic) > monoculture (epigeic). The polyculture reactor showed the maximum rate of SIR (2.91 ± 0.2 mg CO₂ g⁻¹ substrate), microbial biomass N (3108.1 ± 289.2 mg N g⁻¹ substrate), and dehydrogenase activity (2453.3 ± 379.8 μg g⁻¹ substrate 24 h), while in the monoculture (epigeic) the lowest values of the same parameters were observed. It is concluded that the observed differences among reactors were due to different feeding behaviour and niche structures of epigeic and anecic earthworms. Data suggests that burrowing earthworms in waste-decomposing-system not only enhance the microbial efficiencies, but at the same time also accelerate the organic matter mineralization in a vermireactor. However, most of the previous studies were based on monoculture reactors (using epigeic earthworms) which have been recommended for waste decomposition operations, but this study revealed that polyculture vermicomposting (adding of burrowing worms with epigeic earthworms in vermicomposting system) might be beneficial for rapid decomposition of organic wastes.     

High-rate composting-vermicomposting of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes,Mart. Solms)

In an attempt to develop a system with which the aquatic weed water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes, Mart. Solms) can be economically processed to generate vermicompost in large quantities, the weed was first composted by a 'high-rate' method and then subjected to vermicomposting in reactors operating at much larger densities of earthworm than recommended hitherto: 50, 62.5, 75, 87.5, 100, 112.5, 125, 137.5, and 150 adults of Eudrilus eugeniae Kinberg per litre of digester volume. The composting step was accomplished in 20 days and the composted weed was found to be vermicomposted three times as rapidly as uncomposted water hyacinth [Bioresource Technology 76 (2001) 177]. The studies substantiated the feasibility of high-rate composting-vermicomposting systems, as all reactors yielded consistent vermicast output during seven months of operation. There was no earthworm mortality during the first four months in spite of the high animal densities in the reactors. In the subsequent three months a total of 79 worms died out of 1650, representing less than 1.6% mortality per month. The results also indicated that an increase in the surface-to-volume ratio of the reactors might further improve their efficiency.     

Pilot-scale vermicomposting of pineapple wastes with earthworms native to Accra, Ghana

Pineapple wastes, an abundant organic waste in Accra, Ghana, were vermicomposted using native earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae Kinberg) collected from the banks of streams and around bath houses of this city. Triplicate pilot-scale vermidigesters containing about 90 earthworms and three other control boxes with no earthworms were fed pineapple pulp or peels, and the loss of wet mass was monitored over 20 weeks. In a second experiment, a 1:1 mixture of pineapple peels and pulp (w/w) was fed to triplicate pilot-scale vermicomposters and control boxes during a 20 week period. One month after feeding ended, the vermicompost and composted (control) waste was air dried and analyzed. During the first experiment, the vermicomposted pineapple pulp and peels lost 99% and 87% of their wet mass, respectively, indicating the potential for vermicomposting. Fresh pineapple waste exhibited an initial pH of 4.4, but after 24 weeks, the vermicompost and compost had acquired a neutral to alkaline pH of 7.2–9.2. The vermicompost contained as much as 0.4% total N, 0.4% total P and 0.9% total K, and had a C:N ratio of 9–10. A reduction of 31–70% in the Escherichia coli plus Salmonella loads and 78–88% in the Aspergillus load was observed during vermicomposting. The rapid breakdown of pineapple wastes by E. eugeniae demonstrated the viability of vermicomposting as a simple and low cost technology recycling this waste into a soil amendment that could be used by the 2500 vegetable producers of Accra and its surrounding areas.     

蚯蚓和铁处理对苹果根铁营养影响

试验于2007～2009年在河北省永年县曹庄村和中国农业大学曲周实验站进行。在苹果树根际用不同价态的2500、5000、10000、20000mg/kg的铁处理玉米秸秆后接种蚯蚓,研究蚯蚓和铁对苹果根系生长、蚯蚓对铁的富集转移及根质外体铁的影响。结果表明:蚯蚓对铁有很大的富集量,在20000mg/kg(试验所用最高浓度)二价铁和三价铁处理的秸秆中可以成活并把秸秆转化为蚯蚓粪,促进根系生长,提高根的质外体铁含量,蚯蚓对二价铁的适应性高于三价铁。蚯蚓可将有机物料中的铁转移到果树根系内,5000mg/kg铁处理增加蚯蚓体内Fe2+含量和根质外体铁含量效果最好,蚯蚓、蚯蚓粪和根中的全铁含量随铁处理浓度的增加而增加。铁显著促进果树根系生长,没有用铁处理过的秸秆接种蚯蚓诱导的新根量明显少于用铁处理的,两种不同价态的铁都是以5000mg/kg的新根量最多。蚯蚓显著促进根系生长,没有接种蚯蚓的处理新根量显著少于接种蚯蚓的处理。     

Development of a water hyacinth based vermireactor using an epigeic earthworm Eisenia foetida

The aim of this work was to investigate the potential of water hyacinth (WH) spiked with cow dung (CD) into vermicompost. Five vermireactors containing WH and CD in different ratios, were run under laboratory conditions for 147 days. The maximum worm growth was recorded in CD alone. Worms grew and reproduced favourably in 25% WH+75% CD feed mixture. Greater proportion of WH in feed mixture significantly affected the biomass gain, hatchling numbers and numbers of cocoons produced during experiments. In all the vermireactors, there was significant decrease in pH, TOC and C:N ratio, but increase in TKN, TK and TAP at the end. The heavy metals content in the vermicomposts was lower than initial feed mixtures. The results indicated that WH could be potentially useful as raw substrate in vermicomposting if mixed with up to 25% in cow dung (on dry weight basis).     

Redial generations of Fasciola gigantica in the pulmonate snail Lymnaea truncatula.

Lymnaea truncatula, 4 mm in height, were subjected to infection by a single miracidium of Fasciola gigantica, then raised at 23 degrees C until day 60 of the experiment. Histological study of these snails demonstrated a mean redial burden of 34 parasites at day 60, of which one third were degenerating forms. The mean number of living independent rediae did not exceed 5 for the first and second generations. Conversely, in subsequent generations there were as many as 18 rediae per snail at day 60. The first living redia of the first generation in particular gave rise to daughter rediae. Mature rediae appeared at day 35 and especially concerned the first and second generations at day 60. The authors conclude that development of the first and second redial generations occurs during the same period, and that the forms of the first cohort of the second generation are produced from the first redia of the first generation which originated from the sporocyst.     

The effect of negative air ionization on the growth of four generations of laboratory rats

Initial work indicated an inhibition of pre-weaning growth in the first generation of rats born and raised at high negative ion levels. This effect, however, was not carried through to the successive generations. Negative ionization had little apparent effect on post-weaning growth throughout the four generations studied.     

Effect of Temperature Variations on Vermicomposting of Household Solid Waste and Fecundity of Eisenia fetida

Experiments were conducted in winter (October to January) and summer (May to August) seasons to study the effect of seasonal temperature variations on the vermicomposting of household waste using Eisenia fetida earthworms. The prevailing temperatures during experiments were in the range of ?2.7°C to 35.0°C during winter season and 18.0°C to 44.4°C during summer season. Organic matter degradation was higher during winter than summer season. The electrical conductivity (EC) of vermicomposts was increased in the range of 2.3–7.8% in winter season; however, the increase in EC was 0.9–1.8% during summer season for different waste mixtures. There was about 56.2–80% increase in total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) content during winter season, whereas the TKN increase was 23.9–44% during summers. The C:N ratio also decreased remarkably in all the waste mixtures during vermicomposting in both the seasons. However, the C:N ratio reduction was more significant during winter (47–60%) than in summer (31–44%). After the observation period, the net worm biomass achieved was higher during winter than summer season. The temperature variations during winter supported the life activities of earthworms more favourably than in summer. The results indicated that growth and reproductive potential of the earthworms were affected not only by the quality and quantity of the feed but also by ambient temperature.     

Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) Activates Fungal Growth, Triggering Cellulose Decomposition During Vermicomposting

Cellulose is the most abundant polymer in nature and constitutes a large pool of carbon for microorganisms, the main agents responsible for soil organic matter decomposition. Cellulolysis occurs as the result of the combined action of fungi and bacteria with different requirements. Earthworms influence decomposition indirectly by affecting microbial population structure and dynamics and also directly because the guts of some species possess cellulolytic activity. Here we assess whether the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny 1826) digests cellulose directly (i.e., with its associated gut microbiota) and also whether the effects of E. fetida on microbial biomass and activity lead to a change in the equilibrium between fungi and bacteria. By enhancing fungal communities, E. fetida would presumably trigger more efficient cellulose decomposition. To evaluate the role of E. fetida in cellulose decomposition, we carried out an experiment in which pig slurry, a microbial-rich substrate, was treated in small-scale vermireactors with and without earthworms. The presence of earthworms in vermireactors significantly increased the rate of cellulose decomposition (0.43 and 0.26% cellulose loss day⁻¹, with and without earthworms, respectively). However, the direct contribution of E. fetida to degradation of cellulose was not significant, although its presence increased microbial biomass (C_mic) and enzyme activity (cellulase and β-glucosidase). Surprisingly, as fungi may be part of the diet of earthworms, the activity of E. fetida triggered fungal growth during vermicomposting. We suggest that this activation is a key step leading to more intense and efficient cellulolysis during vermicomposting of organic wastes.     

Morphofunctional changes in the midgut of virgin tick females of the genus ixodes (Acarina: Ixodidae) during and after feeding

The midgut epithelium of the virgin females in Ixodes ricinus, L. pacificus, and I. persulcatus is represented by the digestive cells of nymphal phase and stem cells. Digestion of feed is performed by the one generation of digestive cells of nymphal phase and two generations of digestive cells of adult females. The generation of secretory cells and two generations of digestive cells are absent. The feeding of virgin females is not completed but interrupted in the second phase during the period of slow feeding and preparation of the intestine for the third phase.     

基于生物能量学原理构建异育银鲫生长、饲料需求和污染排放模型

为构建鱼类生长、饲料需求和污染排放预测模型, 提高鱼类精准投喂管理水平, 通过收集大量文献中异育银鲫(Carassius auratus gibelio)生长数据(异育银鲫体重0.25—550 g), 运用特定增长率(SGR)、日增长率(DGC)、日均增重(ADG-Linear)、热积温系数(TGC)和校正后的热积温系数(Rev.TGC)等生长模型计算其生长速率, 并通过计算实际观测值和预测值最小残差和法选出最适生长模型。结果发现, 在用TGC模型计算其生长率时, 异育银鲫在其生长周期中含有3个异速生长点, 根据该点的位置, 可以将异育银鲫的生长周期分为3个阶段: 0.25—13.1 g (第一阶段)、13.1—172.8 g (第二阶段)、>172.8 g (第三阶段)。在这3个阶段中调整后的TGC模型比其他模型(SGR、DGC、ADG)可以更好地预测实际养殖中异育银鲫的生长性能。鱼类在不同的生长阶段对饲料的需求量由消化能决定, 通过计算鱼体储积能、基础代谢能、热增能以及尿液和鳃的代谢能, 可以估算异育银鲫的消化能, 从而确定其饲料需求量。经估算, 对于体重为0.25—506 g的异育银鲫, 每生产1 kg鱼, 其消化能需求量约为1.94×104 kJ。在模型验证时, 以粗蛋白分别为43%、37%、31%的饲料投喂不同生长阶段的异育银鲫, 并利用营养物质平衡法估计废物排放量。研究发现, 实测值与模型预测值显著相关。模型可以在异育银鲫实际养殖过程中, 有效预估某个生长阶段异育银鲫的体重、所需要的饲料量以及氮、磷污染物排放量, 有望为异育银鲫差异化上市、节省饲料成本、减少饲料浪费以及养殖场的污染评价提供有效的预判工具。