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

Mashur Mashur, Muhammad Roil Bilad, Hunaepi Hunaepi, Nurul Huda and Jumardi Roslan
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Mashur Mashur: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Mataram 83126, Indonesia
Muhammad Roil Bilad: Faculty of Integrated Technologies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong BE1410, Brunei
Hunaepi Hunaepi: Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika, Mataram 83126, Indonesia
Nurul Huda: Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia
Jumardi Roslan: Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: biomass; protein source; Eisenia foetida; vermicomposting; organic waste; cultivation media (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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