Effect of different sheep droppings media on the growth and cocoon production of Eisenia fetida

M. Deivanayaki*, R. Nanthini

PG and Research Department of Zoology, Government College for Women (Autonomous), Kumbakonam 612 001, Tamil Nadu, India.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: drdeiva82@gmail.com

Abstract:

The rate of cocoon production of adult epigenic earthworm, Eisenia fetida kept in the 0,25,50,75 and 100 PSR (Percent Substrate Ratio) media prepared from partly decomposed sheep droppings waste with soil for 30 days was determined. The worms kept in 50, 75, and 100 PSR media for 30 days showed a gradual increase in their body weight up to 22 days thereafter, a gradual decline until the termination of this study. However, the worms kept in the same media (50, 75 and 100 PSR) after 30 days showed an increased value in their body weight over their respective initial weight. On the contrary, all the worms kept in 0 and 25 PSR media showed a gradual decrease in their body weight until the termination of this study. The worms kept in soil alone for 30 day though showed 100% survival value, only 2 cocoons were laid during the course of study due to less organic matters in the medium. Though the worms kept in their PSR media for 30 days produced relatively more cocoons. Than the control, the worms in 75 PSR sheep droppings medium is considered to be a good medium for the culture of earthworm, Eisenia fetida.

KEY WORDS: Sheep droppings, Eisenia fetida, Cocoon production.

Introduction:

Vemiculture means artificial rearing or cultivation of earthworms and the technology is the scientific process of using them for the betterment of human beings. Vermicompost is the excretory product of earthworm, which is rich in humus and vermitechnology is a promising technique that has shown its potential in certain challenging areas like augmentation of food production, waste recycling, management of soil waste, etc., (Tripathi et al., 2005). The word vermiculture biotechnology implies a modern technique of harnessing the ecosystem for effective utilization of the organic waste with the help of earthworms, which results into generation of useful organic manure. It helps to avoid the environmental pollution and expenditure of resources to treat the organic waste (Singh, 2004).

Earthworm decomposes all types of organic wastes and animal droppings which can be converted into reproductive plant growth media by earthworms out as vermicompost.

Eathworms are omnivorous but they mostly derive nutrition from dead organic matter, which generally does not occur abundantly in soil. Earthworms serve as bio indicators. The incorporation and degradation of a large proportion of plant and animal residues is a critical requirement in temperate grasslands for maintaining desirable soil fertility and plentiful pasture production. The size of earthworm population has been closely related to pasture productivity in New Zealand (NZ) (Stockdill, 1982). By contrast in soil without earthworms it was concluded that most of the nutrients were locked up in the peaty layer of dung and dead plant materials or organic materials that accumulates at the soil surface. Decomposition was very slow in the absence of Lumbricid earthworms and there was a definite break in the “Fertility cycle”. Epigenic earthworm species efficiently enhance the rate of organic manure production through bio degradation/ mineralization compared to other species. The ideal epigenic category of earthworm used for vermicomposting are; Lampito mauritii, Eudrilus geniae, Eeisenia feida, Perionyx excavates and Dravida willsii (Rajendran, et al., 2008). This technique also helps to conserve the bio diversity, which is the need of the hour. Apart from providing self employment opportunities for the weaker section, it also provides profitable agricultural waste utilization. It will also help in maintaining the environmental/ ecological balance. 1. Effect of sheep droppings waste on the production of cocoon and growth of adult earthworm, Eisenia fetida.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

COLLECTION OF EARTHWORM:

Specimens of adult earthworm, Eisenia fetida were collected in the Periyar manniyammai University Vallam Thanjavur District. They were kept in earthen pots with substrate medium containing 50% partly decomposed Sheep droppings and 50% soil and were maintained under the laboratory condition for five days. Care was taken to see that the worms collected from the site, did not experience any pesticide treatment, an adult worms with the size 6 to13cm in length and 0.13 to 0.92gm in weight were used for the present study.

Collection of soil:

Dry soil was taken from the Karna Kollai Agraharam, Kumbakonam, for present study. It was manually powdered using stone and mortar.

Collection of sheep droppings:

The waste material of sheep droppings were collected from Karna Kollai Agraharam, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District.

Partial decomposition of organic waste:

An earthen pot with size of 54 cm in diameter and 35 cm in height was taken and used for the decomposition of sheep droppings which was free from earthworm invasion. The tanks were filled with sheep droppings waste and poured with sufficient water. The tanks were closed with polythene sheets in order to avoid water evaporation and a possible release of foul smell during decomposition. Water was poured regularly in the tank after removing the polythene sheets and the tanks were closed again with the same polythene sheets for proper decomposition. Once in three days the decomposing materials were thoroughly mixed using wooden rod so as to ensure uniform decomposition. Ideal semi decomposed sheep droppings in the form of wet powder can be obtained only often 30 days decomposition. About 120kg of dry semi composed sheep droppings powder can be obtained during one process. These materials were then manually powdered with particle size then 1 mm as suggested by (Reinecke and Venter 1985) and stored in a polythene bag.

Preparation of substrates for cocoon production:

Six sets if Five media with percent substrate ratios (PSR), 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0% were prepared using dry soil and powdered sheep droppings with volume by volume basis and mixed well. 4kgs of substrate in each percent ratio was taken in an earthen pot and sufficient volume of water was added into it to ensure optimum moisture condition as suggested. To assess the rate of cocoon production in the above said media, 12 adult earthworms were introduced into each pot. Six set of control (soil alone) as substrate experiments with 12 adult earthworms in each were also maintained simultaneously along with these media. Regular watering is a must for this culture study to provide optimum moisture condition to the earthworm cocoons produced by earthworms were collected and recorded once in a weak for about a period of one month (09.12.2015 to 07.01.2015) survival of earthworms was also observed in the above said media during the course of study. Rate of cocoon production was calculated at daily as well as monthly basis.

Calculation:

The rate of cocoon production by earthworm was calculated and comparisons were made between control and experimental data.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Cocoon production study:

The rate of cocoon production and weight gain / loss of the epigenic earthworm Eisenia foetida kept in the 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 PSR (Percent Substrate Ratio) media prepared from partly decomposed sheep droppings waste with soil for 30 days were given in Table 1 and 2 respectively. The worms kept in 50, 75, and 100 PSR media for 30 days showed a gradual increase in their body weight up to 22 days thereafter, a gradual decline until the termination of this study. However, the worms kept in the same media (50, 75 and 100 PSR) after 30 days showed an increased value in their body weight over their respective initial weight. On the contrary, all the worms kept in 0 and 25 PSR media showed a gradual decrease in their body weight until the termination of this study and their respective percent weight loss values were 30.5 and 55.4 (Table 2). The worms kept in soil alone for 30 day though showed 100% survival value, only 2 cocoons were laid during the course of study due to less organic matters in the medium.

Table – 1 Rate of the cocoon production of epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida kept in different Percent Substrate Ratio (PSR) media of partly decomposed sheep droppings and vermicompost of the same for one month.

PSR	Total cocoons collected in 6 pots	Total cocoons / pot	Cocoon /Day	Cocoon /Day / worm
0	23	3.8	0.7	0.001
25	232	38.6	7.7	0.107
50	265	44.1	8.8	0.122
75	280	46.6	9.3	0.129
100	222	37.1	7.4	0.103

Though the worms kept in their PSR media for 30 days produced relatively more cocoons than the control, the worms in 75 PSR medium produced relatively more cocoons (9.3 cocoon/ day/worm or 0.129 cocoons/ month/worm) than the worms kept in other PSR media (7.7 to 8.8 cocoon /day /worm or 0.107 to 0.122 cocoon / month/ worm) (Table 1)

Table-2 Values showing the changes of earthworm weight (gm) during cocoon production of Eisenia fetida kept in different percent substrate (PSR) media of partly decomposed sheep droppings waste and vermicompost of the same for one month.

PSR	0 DAY	8^TH DAY	15^TH DAY	22^ND DAY	30^TH DAY
0	47.2	48.1	43.4	30.5	22.6
25	46.5	56.2	47.0	55.4	50.3
50	47.2	61.3	70.6	78.5	62.2
75	46.6	78.1	80.4	85.6	79.4
100	47.3	70.4	83.6	88.2	83.1

The rate of the cocoon production observed in the present study irrespective of PSR media used was not in consistence with the results observed by Ramalingam (1997), Sathya and Deivanayaki (2015) and Bakthavathsalam and Ramakrishnan (2004) in the same species respectively cultured exclusively under press mud medium and 50 PSR cow dung medium, where they found higher values of cocoon production with ± 0.4 and 0.15 cocoon /worm /day respectively. Kale et al., (1981) have also observed greater production of cocoons by Perionyx excavates using different organic wastes such as cow dung, sheep dung, horse dung, poultry manure and sludge from bio gas plant. Cocoon production of Eisenia fetida is usually high as in other species of Dravida Willsii and Octochaetona surensis due to their surface dwelling nature and their activity confined to 20 cm depth during winter and 30 cm during summer” season (Dash and Senapati, (1980) Evans and Guild (1948) noted the production of 42- 106 cocoons in one year by surface dwelling. Under laboratory conditions. Evans and Guild (1947) found that Lumbricus terrestris produced cocoons at the rate of 3.7 cocoon/ worm/ month and suggested that L. terrestris and endemic earthworm species could be induced to produce cocoons throughout the year. The present study demonstrated that Eisenia fetida can also reproduce throughout the year as suggested (Meinharlt, (1974).

The earthworm culture study made by Subramaniyan and (2009) using paddy straw waste showed relatively very low cocoon production value 0.122 cocoon/ worm/ day) over our present study with the sheep droppings. The current results proved beyond any doubt that the culture medium containing sheep droppings was the best one as far as cocoon production and growth of earthworm are concerned.

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Received on 20.06.2016 Modified on 16.07.2016

Research J. Science and Tech. 2016; 8(3):Page 142-144.

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2988.2016.00020.6