INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT FOOD SOURCES ON GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF COMPOSTING

Abstract. The impact of organic material quality on biomass production and reproduction potential of commercial composting earthworm species: Eudrilus eugeniae, Perionyx excavatus and Perionyx sansibaricus were studied, by using three different type of culture material namely Jbs: (Jowar straw (Sorghum vulgare) + bajra straw (Pennisetum typhoides) + sheep manure) (1:1:2), fym (farmyard manure), and Kw + Ll (Kitchen waste + leaf litter of Magifera indica) (1:1), under laboratory conditions for 150 days. The above substrate or culture materials have different palatability, particle size and physio-chemical composition. Kitchen waste (C-to-N = 26.7) as well as farmyard manure (C-to-N = 27.4) is a high quality material with fast decomposition rates, while crop residues are low quality materials with slow decomposition rates (C-to-N = 45.6). All the three studied earthworm species showed maximum biomass production rate in Kw + Ll culture (E. eugeniae = 9.80 ± 0.01 mg worm-1 day-1, P. excavatus = 3.75 ± 0.01 mg worm-1 day-1, and P. sansibaricus = 3.77 mg worm-1 day-1). Individual cocoon production rate varied drastically, and maximum value (worm-1 week-1) of it was observed in Kw + Ll for E. eugeniae (1.88 ± 0.15) and P. sansibaricus (1.77 ± 0.14), while P. excavatus showed maximum cocoon production rate in Fym (1.79 ± 0.17). The hatchling success of cocoons obtained from different beddings was also observed and cocoon obtained from Kw + Ll culture exhibited maximum hatchling success (%