Influence of Soil Characteristics on Biomass Growth and Reproduction of Earthworm Eisenia fetida

It is known that in vermicomposting soil layer in bedding of the reactor helps in earthworm biomass growth and reproduction but growth is influenced by soil characteristics such as texture, pH, and water holding capacity. The present study was conducted to asses the influence of soils on earthworm biomass growth and reproduction during the vermicomposting of source separated human faeces. The study was conducted by using the earthworm species Eisenia fetida with agriculture, saline and sandy soils. The study utilized reactors with SVFV combination (soil, vermicompost, faeces and vermicompost bottom to top layers). All sets of reactors were examined monthly for four months for growth of earthworms and offspring production. The results of the study indicated that biomass growth of earthworms and offspring production were in the order: sandy soil > agricultural soil > saline soil. The multiplication of earthworm was 3.8-5.5–fold within 4 months. Vermicomposting helped to improve the soil characteristics such as carbon and nitrogen content, pH and conductivity. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________