Pooja Yadav1 and Sudesh Rani2

1Department of Zoology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak-124001 (India) E mail: sudesh_zoology@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT

Accumulation of sugarcane bagasse can be a cause of serious problems for the environment if not treated properly. So this study was planned to feed this organic waste to the earthworm, Eisenia fetida, and observe its growth and reproduction. Hence, three treatments, T1, T2, and T3 were designed in a total of 15 pots and each has five replicates. For bedding soil, manure and sugarcane bagasse were used in different ratios. The soil-to- sugarcane bagasse ratio in T1 was 3:1, the soil-tomanure- to- sugarcane bagasse ratio in T2 was 1:2:1, and the soil-tosugarcane bagasse ratio in T3 was 3:1. Maximum growth (Specific growth rate (SGR %), live weight gain, % gain in body weight and survivability) was recorded in T2 and T3. All these parameters were recorded, with minimal in T1, where soil and sugarcane bagasse were mainly used in treatment. Also, high reproductive potential was recorded in treatments T2 and T3 as compared to T1. Hence, the sugarcane bagasse is considered to be good food for E. fetida, which increased growth and reproduction of this worm and hence earthworm can act as a good agent to convert organic waste material into a useful one.

Key words : Earthworm, growth, reproduction, sugarcane bagasse

Download FullText