Formulation of Organic Wastes as Growth Media for Cultivation of Earthworm Nutrient-Rich Eisenia foetida

Inadequate management of solid organic waste can lead to the spread of diseases and negatively affects the environment. Fermentation and vermicomposting of organic waste could have dual benefits by generating earthworm biomass for a source of animal feed protein, and, at the same time, turning the organic waste into readily used compost. This study investigated the effect of an organic waste source (as a sole source or blended with others) totaling 24 media for the cultivation of the earthworm Eisenia foetida. Eight media sources were applied, namely cow manure, horse manure, goat manure, broiler chicken manure, market organic waste, household organic waste, rice straw, and beef rumen content. E. foetida was cultivated for 40 days, then the number of cocoons, earthworms, and the total biomass weight were measured at the end of the cultivation. Results demonstrated that the media source affected E. foetida earthworm cultivation. The most effective media were those containing horse manure that led to the production of the highest earthworms and the highest biomass. The produced cocoons and earthworms were poorly correlated with an r-value of 0.26 and p-value of 0.21. Meanwhile, the number and weight of the earthworms correlated well with an r-value of 0.784 and p-value of <0.01. However, the average numbers and weights of the produced earthworms in the media containing horse manure, cow manure, goat manure, and non-blended organic waste were insignificant. Overall results suggest that blended organic wastes can undergo composting to produce nutrient-rich earthworm biomass while turning the solid organic waste into readily used compost.

Hidden Engineers and Service Providers: Earthworms in Agricultural Land-Use Types of South Tyrol, Italy

Earthworm activities affect the provision of many ecosystem services. Land use can strongly influence earthworm communities and, hence related soil functions. We assessed earthworm biomass, abundance, and species composition on grasslands, apple orchards, and vineyards in the context of an existing sustainability assessment tool in South Tyrol, Italy. A stratified sampling campaign revealed significant differences in earthworm distribution. We found 21 to 700 individuals m−2 in grasslands and surprisingly abundant earthworm communities in apple orchards (14 to 382 individuals m−2). Results for vineyards were ambiguous with no or very low abundance in 47% of the vineyards and a maximum of 396 individuals m−2. Mesohumic endogeic species were the most abundant functional group observed (75% of the biomass in grasslands, 50% in apple orchards and vineyards). Aporrectodea caliginosa was the most abundant endogeic species, Lumbricus rubellus the dominant polyhumic endogeic species in all land-use types. We estimated a total of 34,900 t of earthworm biomass on agricultural areas in South Tyrol corresponding to a total value of EUR 872 million. Although soil quality is a complex concept that cannot be captured with a single indicator, earthworms are suitable and feasible indicators for sustainable soil use at the landscape scale.

PRODUKSI KOKON DAN BIOMASSA CACING TANAH Eisenia foetida PADA BERBAGAI MEDIA BUDIDAYA LIMBAH PETERNAKAN

Livestock waste has a major influence on environmental pollution, if not managed properly, because it will cause a foul odor. Efforts to manage livestock waste have not been successfully carried out completely, so new innovations are needed by utilizing the Eisenia foetida as a reactor to process it into earthworm cultivation medium. Processing of livestock waste with earthworms can produce high economic value cocoon and biomass. To find out the differences in cocoon and biomass production in five types of livestock waste, a research was carried out using a Completely Randomized Design with five treatments and five replications. The results showed that the use of feces of cattle, goats, horses, broiler chickens, and rumen contents as the medium of Eisenia foetida cultivation had a significant effect (P<0.05) on cocoon and biomass production. Duncan's test results showed that the highest cocoon production of 123.0 eggs/nest box obtained on goat feces medium was significantly different (P<0.05) with feces of cattle, horses, chickens and rumen contents. The highest production of earthworm biomass of 1339.0 eggs/nest box obtained in horse feces medium was significantly different (P<0.05) with feces of cattle, goats, chickens, and rumen contents. The conclusion is: 1) to produce the most cocoon using goat feces; 2) to produce the most earthworm biomass using horse feces; 3) to produce the highest weight gain of earthworms using cattle feces; 4) to produce a weight size per head of earthworms using high rumen contents; and 5) the use of feces of broiler chickens is not recommended as a whole (100%) as a medium or feed in livestock waste treatment because it causes all earthworms to die, so they need to be mixed with other medium or feed ingredients.

Using cassava waste of the cassava starch processing as food for raising African Nightcrawler (Eudrilus eugeniae) to obtain vermicomposting and earthworm biomass

The raising earthworms by cassava waste is a useful solution to reduce environmental pollution caused by cassava starch processing. In this study, cassava waste (including cassava peel, cassava pieces and soil) was used as a food source for raising African Nightcrawler (Eudrilus eugeniae) with three experiments: E1, earthworms were raised in crushed cassava waste right after being discharged; E2, earthworms raised in crushed cassava waste that had been incubated with organic matter after decomposing microbiological preparation for the previous two weeks; E3, earthworms were raised in crushed cassava waste that had self-decomposed naturally for the previous two weeks. The cassava waste was decomposed naturally for 4 weeks for control. The results showed that the content of organic matter, humic acid and total nitrogen in organic cassava humus, obtaining from experiments, increased compared to the control; the total organic matter content reached from 10.4%-15.7%, higher than the control (8.2%) from 1.27-1.92 times, humic acid content reached 0.6 - 0.8% and total nitrogen reached 0.3%. Experiment 3 had the highest quality of humus (organic matter content 15.7%, total nitrogen 0.3%, humic acid 0.7% and fulvic acid 0.5%). The experiment 3 also had the highest earthworm biomass (3.6kg), increasing 30.5% compared to experiment 1 and 19.4% comparing to experiment 2. Therefore, experiment 3 was proposed for application in treatment of cassava waste at larger scale. The organic humus obtaining from raising earthworms by cassava waste can be used as raw material for vermicompost production. The earthworm biomass can be used as protein-rich food for domestic animals (such as chicken, tortoise, eel, fish, etc) or used as nutritious fertilizer. Nuôi giun bằng phế liệu sắn là giải pháp hữu ích nhằm giảm thiểu ô nhiễm môi trường do chế biến tinh bột sắn gây ra. Trong nghiên cứu này, bã thải sắn (bao gồm vỏ, đầu mẩu sắn và bùn đất) được sử dụng làm nguồn thức ăn giun đất Châu Phi (African Nightcrawler (Eudrilus eugeniae) với các thí nghiệm như sau: Thí nghiệm 1: Giun quế được nuôi trong bã thải sắn nghiền ngay sau khi được loại bỏ; Thí nghiệm 2: giun đất được nuôi trong bã thải sắn nghiền đã được ủ với chế phẩm vi sinh phân hủy chất hữu cơ trong hai tuần trước đó; Thí nghiệm 3: Giun đất được nuôi trong bã thải sắn nghiền được để tự phân hủy tự nhiên trong hai tuần trước đó. Đối chứng là bã thải sắn để phân hủy tự nhiên trong 4 tuần. Bên cạnh đó, bã thải sắn nghiền còn được ủ bằng chế phẩm vi sinh phân hủy chất hữu cơ trong 4 tuần để cung cấp thêm số liệu so sánh giữa các thí nghiệm (Thí nghiệm 4). Các thí nghiệm được theo dõi trong 4 tuần. Kết quả cho thấy: Kết quả cho thấy: hàm lượng chất hữu cơ, axit humic và nitơ tổng trong mùn sắn hữu cơ thu được từ thí nghiệm đều tăng so với đối chứng: hàm lượng chất hữu cơ tổng số đạt từ 10,4% -15,7%, caohơn đối chứng (8,2%) so với 1,27-1,92 lần, hàm lượng axit humic đạt 0,6 - 0,8% và nitơ tổng số đạt 0,3%. Trong đó, thí nghiệm 3 có chất lượng mùn cao nhất (hàm lượng chất hữu cơ 15,7%, đạm tổng số 0,3%, axit humic 0,7% và axit fulvic 0,5%). Thí nghiệm 3 cũng có sinh khối giun quế cao nhất (3,6kg), tăng 30,5% so với thí nghiệm 1 và 19,4% so với thí nghiệm 2. Do đó, thí nghiệm 3 đã được đề xuất ứng dụng để xử lý phế thải sắn ở quy mô lớn hơn. Chất mùn hữu cơ thu được từ việc nuôi trùn quế bằng phế thải sắn có thể được sử dụng làm nguyên liệu để sản xuất phân trùn quế. Sinh khối trùn quế có thể dùng làm thức ăn giàu đạm cho vật nuôi (như gà, ba ba, lươn, cá ...) hoặc làm phân bón dinh dưỡng.

ANALISIS SINERGITAS TARIK ULUR KEPENTINGAN DALAM PRODUKSI PERTANIAN DAN JASA LINGKUNGAN

Synergi analysis of the tugging of interest in agricultural production and envirometal services. Conversion of land functions into intensive agriculture can cause degradation or declining land capability. This is because farmers' orientation is always on production and ignoring environmental services. Intensive agriculture always causes environmental problems, resulting in a tug of war in agricultural production and environmental services. The purpose of this study is to find out how much intensive land use has resulted in a deterioration of environmental services. This research was carried out on intensive agricultural land (Horticulture) (PI), AF-CK (cloves), AF-KK (cocoa), AF-KM (candlenut), AF-KP (coffee), owned by farmers and AF-HS (forest secondary) in Tn. Kelimutu National. This research uses interviews and exploration methods. The results showed that the level of intensification of horticultural land use in Kelimutu was classified as very intensive with an R-value and an LUI index = 79, the survey results showed that the density of earthworm populations in SPL-AF was as low as the population in SPL-HS, on average only 3 tails m-2, while in SPL-PI the average is only 0.24 m 2. The earthworm biomass in AF is about 69% smaller than the worms found in SPL-HS; earthworm biomass average in SPL-AF 15 g m-2 while in SPL-HS an average of 47 g m-2; and the smallest worm biomass found in SPL-PI averaging about 2.3 g m-2. The diversity of earthworms is significantly different between land uses. The average diversity of earthworms (H ') reaches 0.88; Index R = 0.34; and Index E = 0.92. The four species that dominate are 1). Pontoscolex (endogeik, INP = 48.52), 2). Megascolex (endogeik; INP 44,61), 3). Pheretima (epigeic, INP 35.29), and 4). Lumbricus (epigeic, INP = 13.01)

POPULASI CACING TANAH PADA BERBAGAI KUALITAS SERESAH (C, N, C/N, LIGNIN, DAN POLYPHENOL) (Studi kasus pada lahan Agroforestry di Taman Nasional Kelimutu, Kabupaten Ende)

Population of the Earthworm on Various Litters Quality (C, N, C / N, Lignin, and Polyphenol) (Case study on Agroforestry Field in Kelimutu National Park, Ende Regency). This study aims to evaluate the population of earthworms and the quality of plant organic matter in various agroforestry systems, intensive agriculture and secondary forests. Taking samples of plant organic matter and earthworms conducted in January - July 2016 (in the rainy season) on the land Agroforestry : Clove (AF – CK), Cocoa (AF – KK), candlenut (AF – KM, cofee (AF – KP) compared to intensive farmland (monoculture vegetable crops) and secondary forest (SPL - HS), with 3 x replications. The observed variables in addition to the number of earthworms found and the monolith sampling, also observed the quality of plant organic matter (C (Walkley and black), N (Kjehldahl), Lignin, and Polyphenol (Goering and Van Soest)) (Kuadran). Survey results showed that the earthworm population in SPL-AF was as low as the population in SPL-HS, averaging 3 m - 2, while in SPL - PI averaged only 0.24 m -2. The earthworm biomass in AF is about 69% smaller than the worms found in SPL - HS; average earthworm biomass in SPL - AF 15 g m - 2 whereas in SPL - HS averaged 47 g m - 2; and the smallest worm biomass found in SPL-PI averaged about 2.3 g m-2. The average quality of organic matter of C - org plants in all SPL was 38% to 50%, the highest C - org levels of AF - CK, AF - KP and SPL - HS were significantly different (p <0.05) with C (an average of 39%). Levels of N and lignin levels of all plant organic matter were equal (P> 0.05), the mean of each were 1.36% and 41.13% respectively. C / N ratio in AF - CK and HS was the average of 52.78% or 58 times higher than AF - KK, AF - KM, and AF - KP, the mean of 31.11% Polyphenolic content of different plant organic matter real (p <0.05) between SPL. The largest polyphenol content of 17.5% is found in organic material of plant AF - CK and SPL - HS, while the organic material of the plants on other land is on average 3,4%. Organic plant material with polyphenol content> 2% will be slow weathered.

SOIL WORMS POPULATION IN VARIOUS LITTLE QUALITY (C, N, C / N, LIGNIN, AND POLYPHENOL) (CASE STUDY ON AGROFORESTRY LAND IN KELIMUTU NATIONAL PARK, ENDE REGENCY-INDONESIA)

The agricultural business that is applied to the agroforestry system in Kelimutu National Park causes differences in the quality of organic matter of plants and earthworm populations, which have consequences for soil environmental services. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the earthworm population and the quality of plant organic matter in various agroforestry systems, intensive agriculture, and secondary forests. Sampling of organic matter from plants and earthworms was carried out in January - July 2016 (in the rainy season) in Agroforestry land: Clove (AF - CK), Cocoa (AF - KK), Candlenut (AF - KM), Coffee (AF - KM) ) compared to intensive agricultural land (monoculture vegetable crops) and secondary forests (SPL-HS), with 3 times repetition. Variables observed were in addition to the number of earthworms found and biomass worms (monolith sampling), also observed the quality of plant organic matter (C (Walkley and black), N (Kjeldahl), Lignin, and Polyphenol (Goering and Van Soest)) (Quadrants). The survey results show that the population of earthworms in SPL-AF is as low as the population in SPL-HS, an average of 3 m-2, while in the SPL-PI the average is only 0.24 m-2. Earthworm biomass in AF is about 69% smaller than worms found in SPL-HS; average earthworm biomass in SPL-AF 15 gm-2 while in SPL-HS an average of 47 gm-2; and the smallest worm biomass found in SPL-PI averaging around 2.3 gm-2. The average quality of organic matter of C-org plants in all SSTs was 38% to 50%, the highest C-org content of AF-CK, AF-KP and SPL-HS were significantly different (p <0.05) with C levels that were others (39% on average). The N and lignin levels of all plant organic matter are the same (P> 0.05), the average is 1.36% and 41.13%, respectively. The C / N ratio in AF - CK and HS is the same at an average of 52.78% or 58 times higher than AF - KK, AF - KM, and AF - KP, the average is 31.11% The polyphenolic levels of different plant organic matter significant (p <0.05) between SPL. The highest levels of polyphenols were on average 17.5% found in plant organic matter AF - CK and SPL - HS, while plant organic matter in other fields averaged 3.4%. Plant organic matter with polyphenol content> 2% will slow decay.

Campsites, forest fires, and entry point distance affect earthworm abundance in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Factors controlling the spread of invasive earthworms in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are poorly known. Believed to have been introduced by anglers who use them as bait, invasive earthworms can alter the physical and chemical properties of soil and modify forest plant communities. To examine factors influencing earthworm distribution and abundance, we sampled 38 islands across five lakes to assess the effects of campsites, fire and entry point distance on earthworm density, biomass and species richness. We hypothesized that all three parameters would be greater on islands with campsites, lower on burned islands and would decrease with distance from the wilderness entry point. In addition to sampling earthworms, we collected soil cores to examine soil organic matter and recorded ground and vegetation cover. Campsite presence was the single most important factor affecting sampled earthworm communities; density, biomass and species richness were all higher on islands having campsites. Fire was associated with reduced earthworm density, but had no direct effects on earthworm biomass or species richness. Fire influenced earthworm biomass primarily through its negative relationship to groundcover and through an interaction with entry point distance. Entry point distance itself affected earthworm density and biomass. For islands with campsites, earthworm biomass increased with distance from the entry point.