Growth and reproduction of Perionyx excavatus in different organic wastes

Earthworms have been successfully used in the vermistabilization of urban, industrial and agricultural wastes in order to produce organic fertilizers and obtain protein for animal feed. Although many species could be used for these ends, given their nutritional requirements and reproductive biology, only Perionyx excavatus and Lampito mauritii are widely used. The most effective use of earthworms in organic waste management requires a detailed understanding of the biology of all potentially useful species (Edwards and Bohlen, 1996). P.excavatus is an earthworm found commonly over a large area of tropical Asia (Gates, 1972). This is an epigeic species, which lives in organic wastes, and high moisture contents and adequate amounts of suitable organic materials are required for populations to become fully established and for them to process organic waste efficiently. ISSN: 2319-7692 Volume 2 Number 2 (2013) pp.28 35 http://www.ijcmas.com