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<p><i>Perionyx excavatus</i> is an important earthworm species used in waste management, nutrient enrichment, and plant growth. However, due to lack of fundamental knowledge on their biology and its associations with other microbes, the efficiency of <i>P. excavatus</i> for circular economy cannot be ascertain. Therefore, under a limited supply of food (cow dung, rice straw, and kitchen scrap), a laboratory experiment was conducted to study their reproduction performance, including an assessment of phosphate solubilizing bacteria in their body. The study was conducted in an earthen pot of 2.5 L capacity. The bedding was prepared with a 7:3:1 ratio of soil, organic substrates (rice straw and kitchen scrap) and cow dung. Results show maximum biomass was observed in T1 (320.33 ± 39.87&#xa0;mg), T2 (415.66 ± 63.31&#xa0;mg), and T3 (256.40 ± 12.07&#xa0;mg) with a cocoon production of 0.23 ± 0.08 cocoon/worm/day, 0.26 ± 0.01 cocoon/worm/day, and 0.2 ± 0.07/worm/day. Total cocoon production and biomass gain were significantly higher (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) in T2 than in T3. On average, 0.92 ± 0.28 hatchlings were produced per worm, and the emergence of hatchlings from the cocoon took about 25.77 ± 5.44&#xa0;days. Soil nutrient (nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium) enhancement through earthworm activities was further confirmed by phosphate-solubilizing bacteria. Four bacteria colonies were found positive for phosphate solubilization. The isolates’ phosphate solubilization index (PSI) ranges from 11.1 to 16.8&#xa0;mm, and all the colonies were positive for IAA productions. With a high reproduction rate under different food substrates, soil nutrient enhancement, and harboring beneficial bacteria, it was concluded that <i>P. excavatus</i> is the preferred earthworm species that can potentially be used in eco-friendly practices of vermitechnology.</p>

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Evaluation of reproductive performance of the epigeic earthworm (Perionyx excavatus Perrier, 1872) and the capability of its associated bacteria to solubilize phosphate

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月4日

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  • Lirikum Jing,
  • Patricia Kiewhuo,
  • Zhapuno Jacinta Ngusanyu,
  • Bendang Ao,
  • L. N. Kakati

摘要

Perionyx excavatus is an important earthworm species used in waste management, nutrient enrichment, and plant growth. However, due to lack of fundamental knowledge on their biology and its associations with other microbes, the efficiency of P. excavatus for circular economy cannot be ascertain. Therefore, under a limited supply of food (cow dung, rice straw, and kitchen scrap), a laboratory experiment was conducted to study their reproduction performance, including an assessment of phosphate solubilizing bacteria in their body. The study was conducted in an earthen pot of 2.5 L capacity. The bedding was prepared with a 7:3:1 ratio of soil, organic substrates (rice straw and kitchen scrap) and cow dung. Results show maximum biomass was observed in T1 (320.33 ± 39.87 mg), T2 (415.66 ± 63.31 mg), and T3 (256.40 ± 12.07 mg) with a cocoon production of 0.23 ± 0.08 cocoon/worm/day, 0.26 ± 0.01 cocoon/worm/day, and 0.2 ± 0.07/worm/day. Total cocoon production and biomass gain were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in T2 than in T3. On average, 0.92 ± 0.28 hatchlings were produced per worm, and the emergence of hatchlings from the cocoon took about 25.77 ± 5.44 days. Soil nutrient (nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium) enhancement through earthworm activities was further confirmed by phosphate-solubilizing bacteria. Four bacteria colonies were found positive for phosphate solubilization. The isolates’ phosphate solubilization index (PSI) ranges from 11.1 to 16.8 mm, and all the colonies were positive for IAA productions. With a high reproduction rate under different food substrates, soil nutrient enhancement, and harboring beneficial bacteria, it was concluded that P. excavatus is the preferred earthworm species that can potentially be used in eco-friendly practices of vermitechnology.