Investigating the Influence of Three Organic Substrates on Eudrilus eugeniae Cultivation

Purpose: To contribute to the management of organic waste and the improvement of agricultural production, the objective of this study was to assess the effect of three organic wastes on Eudrilus eugeniae cultivation. Method: The experiment was carried out from October 2022 to May 2023 at the University of Yaounde I. The method consisted of collecting and pre-composting organic wastes (kitchen waste: KW, horse dung: HD, and chicken droppings: CD). Epigeic worms, Eudrilus eugeniae were collected and a batch-feeding system was set up in boxes. The experimental design consisting of six treatments replicated three times established with T1=KW+120 worms.kg-1; T2=CD+120 worms.kg-1; T3=HD+120 worms.kg-1; T4=KW+150 worms.kg-1; T5=CD+150 worms.kg-1 and T6=HD+150 worms.kg-1. The physicochemical characteristics of the substrates (pH, Conductivity, Salinity, Total organic matter (TOM), Total organic carbon (TOC), Nitrogen, NH4+, C:N ratio) were measured every 15 days. During the 10 weeks of the experiment, the effect of the substrates on earthworms’ growth and reproduction were determined by physicochemical analyses and correlation test. Results: The results showed that the physicochemical quality of the substrate significantly affected worm’s growth and their reproduction performances. An increase of salinity negatively affected the worm’s weight, the growth rate and the cocoon production. The decrease of C: N, TOM and TOC negatively affected the growth rate This study revealed that the best performances in terms of growth rate, fitness, weight, worm number, and cocoon production were obtained in Kitchen waste (T1: Kitchen waste + 120 worms·kg⁻¹ ). Conclusion: Kitchen organic waste is a suitable substrate for Eudrilus eugeniae cultivation. Highlights · The physicochemical quality of the substrate significantly affected the growth and the reproduction performances of Eudrilus eugeniae · The increase of salinity and conductivity negatively affected the worm’s weight, growth rate and cocoon production · The decrease of C:N, TOM and TOC negatively affected the growth rate of Eudrilus eugeniae · Kitchen organic waste with a stock density of 120 worms.kg-1 showed a higher growth rate, earthworm biomass, and number of cocoons · Too much wood shavings in chicken droppings and horse dung affects the substrate quality and the earthworms’ palatability.