Species of earthworms inVermiculture.pptx

local and exotic species used in vermiculture

1. Vermiculture

2. Vermiculture Vermiculture , the cultivation of earthworms to decompose organic food waste and convert it into nutrient-rich material capable of supplying necessary nutrients to plants, relies on various species of earthworms. These earthworms are typically categorized into local (native) and exotic (introduced) species

3. Types of Earthworms used in Vermiculture Earthworms are crucial in decomposing organic waste in the soil, making it fertile for agricultural use. In other words, earthworms recycle organic waste produced by various life forms to create humus, enhancing the soil quality required for cultivation. Earthworms are divided into four categories (ecotypes) depending on their feeding and burrowing patterns in the vermiculture process. 1) Epigeic earthworms: These kinds of earthworms reside in the top layer of the soil. These aren’t digging earthworms; instead, they feed on soil litter to stay alive. These earthworms are quite small. They are crimson to red-brown and are not stripped. 2) Endogeic earthworms: These are burrowing. These worms dig horizontal burrows and eat organic stuff beneath the soil surface. Endogeic are little and feed on rich soil. These earthworms are not colored and appear to be pallid. 3) Anecic : These earthworms feed on soil litter by burrowing into the soil in permanent vertical deep holes. As a result, these earthworms can be found in both shallow and deep soil burrows. Worms’ castings can commonly be found in meadows. These earthworms are enormous and have dorsally colored bodies. The head portion is red or brown, and the tail is light compared to the head portion.

4. Species of earthworms # Local (Native) Species 1. ** Lumbricus terrestris (Common Earthworm or Nightcrawler )**    - **Appearance**:It is large and reddish-brown worm up to 14 inches in length.    - **Habitat**: It Prefers temperate regions, often found in gardens and agricultural soil.    - **Behavior**: It is a burrowing species, digs deep into the soil and is beneficial for aerating and mixing the soil layers.    - **Use in Vermiculture **: It is less commonly used due to its deep burrowing habits, which are not ideal for typical composting systems. 2. ** Eisenia foetida (Red Wiggler or Redworm )**    - **Appearance**: It is a small red earthworm typically 2-3 inches long.    - **Habitat**: It is found in decaying organic matter, compost piles, and manure heaps.    - **Behavior**: It is epigeic species (lives on the surface) and is very efficient in breaking down organic material.    - **Use in Vermiculture **: It is highly favored for vermicomposting due to its rapid reproduction rate and ability to process large amounts of organic material quickly.

5. Exotic species ### Exotic (Introduced) Species 1. ** Eisenia andrei (Red Tiger Worm)**    - **Appearance**: It is similar to Eisenia foetida but distinguished by its stripes and slightly different coloration.    - **Habitat**: It thrives in decomposing organic matter and similar environments to E. foetida .    - **Behavior**: It is also epigeic and feeds on the surface. Therefore it is also effective in composting.    - **Use in Vermiculture **: It is also popular for composting due to its efficiency and ease of cultivation, though it is less common than E. foetida . 2. ** Eudrilus eugeniae (African Nightcrawler )**    - **Appearance**: It is large, dark purple or brown worm. It can reach lengths of 6-8 inches.    - **Habitat**: It prefers tropical and subtropical climates and is found in rich and moist soils.    - **Behavior**: It is surface dweller and is known for its high processing capability and rapid growth rate.