Response of Earthworm (Dichogaster saliens) To Different Feeding Substrates

Compost Science & Utilization, (2006), Vol. 14, No. 3, 211-214

Esperanza Huerta1 and Marcela De La Cruz -Mondragon
El Colegio de la Frontera Sur Unidad Villahermosaa, Villahermosa Tabasco, Mexico

Dichogaster saliens is an epigeic earthworm normally found in tropical agro-ecosystems. Due to its ecological feature, it was hypothesized that this earthworm can tolerate substrates enriched with fresh organic matter. The aim of this study was to test the effect of different substrates on the weight and reproduction of Dichogaster saliens in microcosms, with controlled temperatures of 27ºC and a humidity of 33%. After 90 days of the experiment, substrates with 1.5% Mucuna pruriens var. utilis had the highest individual fresh weight of 360 ± 127 mg, and the highest growth rate of 3.54 ± 5.03 mg day-1. These substrates had cocoons with most biomasses, and casts with the highest content of organic matter (4.81%), N (0.24%), available P (29.3 mg kg-1) and k (2 cmol kg-1). Substrates with 1.5% cow manure had a lower individual fresh weight of 55 ± 49.4 mg. The control treatment (soil without amendment) presented the lowest individual fresh weight. Although it was concluded that D. saliens responded positively to substrates with fresh organic matter, more experiments must be conducted to test the effect of substrates with higher percentages of organic matter.

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