Culture of Eisenia fetida (Annelida, Lumbricidae) on puffed rice scrap in outdoors and laboratory conditions

Authors

  • Miguel Schuldt División Zoología Invertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fac. de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Alejandra Rumi División Zoología Invertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fac. de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • ‪Diego E. Gutiérrez Gregoric División Zoología Invertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fac. de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Nicolás Caloni Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Nacional de Luján, Luján, Argentina
  • Josefina Bodnar Fac. de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Natalia Revora Fac. de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Victoria Tasso Fac. de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Mariano Valenti Fac. de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Julio Varela Fac. de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Horacio De Belaustegui Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Nacional de Luján, Luján, Argentina

Keywords:

vermiculture, growth rates, reproductive potential

Abstract

Industrial puffed rice scrap increases the carbon/nitrogen ratio in carbon-poor biodegradable organic matter, such as broiler chicken beddings (C/N= 14.6) (droppings + sunflower husks), optimizing the composting process. In Eisenia fetida field experiences (bimonthly sampling) done on cultures managed through self-inoculation (addition of 8-16% scrap to the chicken bedding), the substrate was accepted. Population increase and cocoon production, measured 127 days after the start, were not significantly different from control plots (broiler chicken bedding). Population size expanded with a nominal (nd) and effective (ed) increase of 2.69 and 3.51 times respectively compared to the initial numbers. The carrying capacity of the different organic matter mixtures approximates 30000 worms/bed (2m2) (w/B). The reproductive potential (“R”) showed fluctuations (between 1000 and 10800 w/B) which agree with the dynamics of a population under this management strategy. Humus production was approximately 35 tons from an original 63.9 tons. In laboratory cultures (weekly weight control) with pure scrap, as worm substratum-feed, the following results, compared to home waste compost and rabbit manure (control), were recorded: more sexually mature animals; higher cocoon-per-animal production; average weight (at 17 weeks) a 47% higher than the weight obtained when using other diets.

References

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Published

2005-12-01

How to Cite

Schuldt, M., Rumi, A., Gutiérrez Gregoric, ‪Diego E., Caloni, N., Bodnar, J., Revora, N., Tasso, V., Valenti, M., Varela, J., & De Belaustegui, H. (2005). Culture of Eisenia fetida (Annelida, Lumbricidae) on puffed rice scrap in outdoors and laboratory conditions. Ecología Austral, 15(2), 217–227. Retrieved from https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1468

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 2 (2005)

Section

Articles

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