corethrurus) rarely come to the surface. They inhabit mineral soil horizons, feed
more on soils than organic matter and tolerant to some disturbance. Both endogeic
and anecic have a long life cycle with limited regeneration capacity (Banik and
Chaudhuri 2017). Unlike temperate regions, majority of earthworm species of
tropics are geophagous, i.e. endogeic, and only a few are detritivorous (Lavelle
1978). Both endogeic and anecic earthworms are called soil ecosystem engineers
and provide soil health for over ground crop development. Epigeic earthworms
increase the nutrient content of top soils by soil casting activities.
The dramatic rise in the human population and increased agricultural activities
have generated a large amount of organic wastes, the disposal of which is one of the
major hazards for upkeeping the environment. In recent times, vermicomposting
technology is being developed to recycle organic wastes through the synergistic
action of epigeic earthworms and bacteria to form the organic fertilizer called
vermicompost. The term ‘vermistabilization’ is used when instead of organic wastes
of plant origin municipal solid wastes are acted upon by earthworms to form
nutrient-rich substrates. During the process of vermicomposting, earthworm reproduces, grows, and produces biomass depending upon the quality of organic wastes.
The ultimate product of vermicomposting is organic fertilizer, called vermicompost,
a plant growth medium, rich in plant-available nutrients and earthworm biomass
chiefly containing protein (vermiprotein).
This chapter aims to report on the organic waste degrading earthworms, selective
characteristic of composting earthworms, with short notes on their growth and
reproductive biology.
11.2 Composting Earthworms and their Selective Features
11.2.1 Selective Features of Composting Earthworms
1. Earthworms should have adaptability to environmental factors.
2. Earthworms should be capable of inhabiting high percentage of organic matter.
3. Short incubation period of cocoon.
4. More than one hatchling.
5. They should be prolific breeders (high fecundity) with high hatching success.
6. Earthworms should have quick maturation time (short life cycle).
Earthworm species with potential for waste management under Indian conditions
include Perionyx excavatus (Indian blue), Perionyx ceylanensis, Perionyx
sansibaricus, Eudrilus eugeniae (African night crawler), Eisenia fetida (tiger
worm), Eisenia andrei (European red worm), Lampito mauritii, Polypheretima
elongata, Drawida nepalensis, Drawida willsi, Metaphire posthuma, Dichogaster
bolaui, Dichogaster curgensis, Dichogaster modiglianii, Amynthus cortices,
Bimastos parvus, etc. Among these earthworms, E. fetida, E. andrei, P. excavatus,
and E. eugeniae are widely used in India. Recently, Debnath and Chaudhuri (2019)
11 Growth and Reproductive Biology of Earthworms in Organic Waste Breakdown. . .
181
more on soils than organic matter and tolerant to some disturbance. Both endogeic
and anecic have a long life cycle with limited regeneration capacity (Banik and
Chaudhuri 2017). Unlike temperate regions, majority of earthworm species of
tropics are geophagous, i.e. endogeic, and only a few are detritivorous (Lavelle
1978). Both endogeic and anecic earthworms are called soil ecosystem engineers
and provide soil health for over ground crop development. Epigeic earthworms
increase the nutrient content of top soils by soil casting activities.
The dramatic rise in the human population and increased agricultural activities
have generated a large amount of organic wastes, the disposal of which is one of the
major hazards for upkeeping the environment. In recent times, vermicomposting
technology is being developed to recycle organic wastes through the synergistic
action of epigeic earthworms and bacteria to form the organic fertilizer called
vermicompost. The term ‘vermistabilization’ is used when instead of organic wastes
of plant origin municipal solid wastes are acted upon by earthworms to form
nutrient-rich substrates. During the process of vermicomposting, earthworm reproduces, grows, and produces biomass depending upon the quality of organic wastes.
The ultimate product of vermicomposting is organic fertilizer, called vermicompost,
a plant growth medium, rich in plant-available nutrients and earthworm biomass
chiefly containing protein (vermiprotein).
This chapter aims to report on the organic waste degrading earthworms, selective
characteristic of composting earthworms, with short notes on their growth and
reproductive biology.
11.2 Composting Earthworms and their Selective Features
11.2.1 Selective Features of Composting Earthworms
1. Earthworms should have adaptability to environmental factors.
2. Earthworms should be capable of inhabiting high percentage of organic matter.
3. Short incubation period of cocoon.
4. More than one hatchling.
5. They should be prolific breeders (high fecundity) with high hatching success.
6. Earthworms should have quick maturation time (short life cycle).
Earthworm species with potential for waste management under Indian conditions
include Perionyx excavatus (Indian blue), Perionyx ceylanensis, Perionyx
sansibaricus, Eudrilus eugeniae (African night crawler), Eisenia fetida (tiger
worm), Eisenia andrei (European red worm), Lampito mauritii, Polypheretima
elongata, Drawida nepalensis, Drawida willsi, Metaphire posthuma, Dichogaster
bolaui, Dichogaster curgensis, Dichogaster modiglianii, Amynthus cortices,
Bimastos parvus, etc. Among these earthworms, E. fetida, E. andrei, P. excavatus,
and E. eugeniae are widely used in India. Recently, Debnath and Chaudhuri (2019)
11 Growth and Reproductive Biology of Earthworms in Organic Waste Breakdown. . .
181