№77-15
Study of the life cycle of california worm Eisenia fetida
A. Hetta1, O. Kovrov1, V. Fedotov1, V. Gruntova1, Ye. Panova1
1Dnipro University of Technology, Dnipro, Ukraine
Coll.res.pap.nat.min.univ. 2024, 77:161–173
Full text (PDF)
https://doi.org/10.33271/crpnmu/77.161
ABSTRACT
Purpose. Study of the life cycle of California red worm Eisenia fetida and evaluation of the influence of the main biotic factors on the process of vermiculture.
The research methodology is based on the theoretical analysis of vermiculture technologies, the study of the development stages of invertebrates, laboratory studies of the influence of temperature and moisture on the growth of the worm population and the formation of biohumus.
Findings. The life cycle and stages of biomass development of Eisenia fetida worm species were studied, the peculiarities of the influence of temperature regimes on the development of worms and the whole bioproductivity of biomass were determined. The efficiency of the production of worm biomass and biohumus on various vermiculture substrates was evaluated. It has been determined that a mixture of biocompost consisted of straw, manure, fallen leaves and hay is the best suitable for worms’ cultivation. Within 60 days of cultivation and under an optimal temperature of 26–28°С, the amount of biohumus increased by 2600 g, the biomass of worms increased by 236individuals, the substrate decreased from 1800 g to 70 g. The average number of worms of reproductive age in biohumus is 36 at the temperature of 20°С and 48 at the temperature of 28°С, which indicates a significant effect of temperature on the growth of the worm population.
Originality. The practice of vermiculture with elements of monitoring the life cycle of Eisenia fetida worms on two alternative substrates has gained further development. New patterns of worm biomass growth, biohumus production, and biodegradation of the original organic substrate in the process of vermiculture in laboratory conditions were established. The scientific novelty of the results lies in the use of a special composite mixture of straw, manure, hay and fallen leaves, which leads to an increase in the production of biohumus by 61.9% and a decrease in the biomass of the original substrate by 96.7%, which are described by polynomial dependencies.
Practical value. The use of vermiculture products increases soil fertility, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. The practical significance of the research lies in the optimal management of the most influential growth factors of the Eisenia fetida worm population to optimize vermiculture technologies for the production of ecologically clean biohumus.
Keywords: vermiculture, California worm Eisenia fetida, biocompost, biohumus.
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