Studies on Cocoons of Three Epigeic Earthworm Species Perionyx excavatus (Perrier), Perionyx ceylanensis (Michaelsen) and Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg) with SEM Observations

2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 430-440
Author(s):  
P. S. Chaudhuri ◽  
Ruma Datta
Author(s):  
Samrendra Singh Thakur ◽  
Azhar Rashid Lone ◽  
Nalini Tiwari ◽  
Subodh Kumar Jain ◽  
Shweta Yadav

Living organisms are naturally bestowed with unique and imitable qualities for maintaining ecological balance and earthworms are no exceptions. These so-called keystone species of terrestrial ecosystems are equipped with wonderful machinery, allowing them to nurture soil beautifully. Earthworm gut represents a potential microbial reservoir, having a complex interdependence with the host. The study aimed to profile bacterial community structure of three earthworm species belonging to two different life forms; Perionyx excavatus and Eudrilus eugeniae (epigeic), Polypheretima elongata (endogeic) respectively. Diversity analysis using 16S amplicon sequencing revealed that the dominant phyla were Proteobacteria (34.17-77.88) followed by Actinobacteria (13.43-35.54%), Firmicutes (1.69-15.45%) and Bacteroidetes (0.51-8.12%). The alpha diversity indices explicit similar gut microbiota of Perionyx excavatus and Eudrilus eugeniae and while higher alpha diversity was recorded in comparison to Polypheretima elongata gut. The taxonomic to the phenotypic annotation of 16S rRNA metagenomes revealed that dominance of Gram-negative bacterial community in all earthworm species while, Polypheretima elongata comprises higher percentage (78%) of Gram-negative bacterial community to Perionyx excavatus (32.3%) and Eudrilus eugeniae (38.3%). The oxygen requirement phenotypic analysis showed that all earthworm species were abundant with aerobic followed by anaerobic bacterial groups. Furthermore, functional metabolism phenotypic analysis revealed that a high abundance of ammonia oxidizers (29.3-80.2%), the gut microbiomes showed the relative abundance of sulphate reducer (22.6-78.7%), nitrite reducer (19.8-73.2%), dehalogenators (12.6-25.1%), illustrating in the role of these microbial communities in various degradation and bioremediation processes. The present study signifies the intrinsic gut microbiota of earthworm species for intensified biodegradation.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Swati Pattnaik ◽  
M. Vikram Reddy

Major nutrient status of vermicompost of vegetable market waste (MW) and floral waste (FW) processed by three species of earthworms namely,Eudrilus eugeniae, Eisenia fetida, andPerionyx excavatusand its simple compost were assessed across different periods in relation to their respective initiative substrates. Their physical parameters—temperature, moisture, pH, and electrical conductivity—were also recorded. The nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium—increased in the vermicompost and compost while the organic carbon, C/N and C/P ratios decreased as the composting process progressed from 0 to 15, 30, 45, and 60 days. The nutrient statuses of vermicomposts of all earthworm species produced from both the wastes were more than that of the compost and that of their respective substrates. Moreover, the vermicompost produced byE. eugeniaepossessed higher nutrient contents than that ofE. fetida, P. excavatus, and compost. The MW showed higher nutrient contents than the FW. Thus, vermicomposting is the paramount approach of nutrient recovery of urban green waste.


2021 ◽  
pp. 64-68
Author(s):  
Karuna S. Ganiger ◽  
Milind F. Nagannawar ◽  
Soumya R. Patil ◽  
Pulikeshi M. Biradar

As the epigeic earthworms are known to be efcient and potential biodegrades and nutrient releasers, tolerant to wide range of ecological disturbances, aids in litter communication and efcient decomposers. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to nd out the inuence of various organic wastes (such as False Ashoka waste-FAW (Polyalthia longifolia), Parthenium wastePW (Parthenium hysterophorus), Cotton residue waste-CRW (Gossypium), Lawn grass waste-LGW (Agrostis) and Cattle manure-CM) on the production of worm biomass and vermicompost by the epigeic earthworm, Perionyx excavatus along with control compost experiments without worms (in triplicates) to know the potentiality of this worm species in processing of various organic wastes for the production of worm biomass as vermiprotein and vermicompost as biofertilizer. Both compost and vermicompost experimental pots were terminated after 35 and 70 days time intervals. Observations were made with respect to number of old and new adult worms, new sub-clitellates, juveniles, cocoons with their weight were noted to determine the total worm biomass (Gross biomass), biomass ratio (WBR) and Fold Increase in Worm Number (FIWN). Percent compost and vermicompost produced out of different organic waste were also calculated at the end of each experiment at35 and 70 days. The results of the present study revealed that the biomass of Perionyx excavatus such as Gross worm biomass (GWB), Worm biomass ratio (WBR) and Fold increase in worm number (FIWN) increased from 35days to 70 days time intervals in all the organic wastes (FAW, PW, CRW, LGW and CM). It was maximum in CM and minimum in FAW among all the organic wastes. There is a signicant variation was noticed in worm biomass production (GWB, WBR, and FIWN) among and between all the organic wastes except between few organic wastes at 35 and 70 days time intervals. The vermicompost production was more as compared to normal compost in all the organic wastes. Further, both compost and vermicompost production were more in CM followed by LGW, CRW, PW and minimum in FAW among all organic wastes. The signicant difference was also observed in the production of compost and vermicompost among and between different organic wastes except between few organic wastes at different time intervals. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the earthworm, Perionyx excavatus is an efcient epigeic earthworm species, effectively used in vermicomposting for the production of vermicompost and as well as in vermifarming in the production of worm biomass as vermiprotein. Further, earthworm biomass, compost and vermicompost production primarily depends on nature of organic wastes and secondly on the potentiality of earthworm species used in the experimental studies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramachandran Ananthavalli ◽  
Venkatasamy Ramadas ◽  
James Arockia John Paul ◽  
Balan Karunai Selvi ◽  
Natchimuthu Karmegam

2020 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 105678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Folarin Owagboriaye ◽  
Gabriel Dedeke ◽  
Julius Bamidele ◽  
Adeyinka Aladesida ◽  
Patrick Isibor ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 ◽  
pp. 127-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Sudharsan Varma ◽  
Ajay S. Kalamdhad ◽  
Meena Khwairkpam

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 876
Author(s):  
Randy Carlie Pierre-Louis ◽  
Md. Abdul Kader ◽  
Nandakumar M. Desai ◽  
Eleanor H. John

Incorporation of vermin culture in the composting system produces “vermicompost”, an enriched biofertilizer known to improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. It is applied in granular form and/or in liquid solution (vermiwash), and in both open fields and greenhouses. Vermicompost has been shown to contain plant growth hormones, which stimulate seed germination and improve crop yield, the ‘marketability’ of products, plant physiology, and their ability to fight against disease. In recent years, South Pacific island countries (SPICs) have placed an increasing emphasis on the importance of organic agricultural practices as a means of achieving more sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices. However, vermiculture is not practiced in South Pacific island countries (SPICs) largely due to the lack of awareness of this type of application. We consider the inclusion of vermiculture in this region as a potential means of achieving sustainable organic agricultural practices. This study represents a systematic review in which we collect relevant information on vermicomposting and analyze the applicability of this practice in the SPICs based on these nations’ physical, socioeconomic, and climatic conditions. The tropical climate of the SPICs means that they meet the combined requirements of a large available biomass for composting and the availability of earthworms. Perionyx excavatus and Pontoscolex corethrurus have been identified as potential native earthworm species for vermicomposting under the conditions of the SPICs. Eisenia fetida, a well-known earthworm species, is also effectively adapted to this region and reported to be an efficient species for commercial vermicomposting. However, as a new input into the local production system, there may be unforeseen barriers in the initial stages, as with other advanced technologies, and the introduction of vermiculture as a practice requires a steady effort and adaptive research to achieve success. Further experimental research is required to analyze the productivity and profitability of using the identified native earthworm species for vermiculture using locally available biomass in the SPICs.


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