Effect of Different Combinations of Feed Materials on the Reproduction and Development of Earthworm Eisenia fetida during Vermicomposting

The exotic species Eisenia fetida have been known to useful in management of different organic wastes and for production of organic fertilizer. The result deals with the period of initiation of development of clitellum and formation of first cocoon; and number of hatchlings emerged out of cocoons of Eisenia fetida in tertiary combinations of buffalo dung (BD) combined with different agro-wastes (Rb=rice bran, Ws=wheat straw, Bb=barley bran, Gb=gram bran, Bp=banana peel). The tertiary combination of BD+Bp+Gb important for development of clitellum in Eisenia fetida. In tertiary combinations of buffalo dung with different agro-wastes, development of clitellum was significantly faster and specific combination of BD+Ws+Bb showed significant period of initiation of cocoon. There was no significance difference in period of cocoon formation and incubation period of cocoon. Significantly high number of cocoon productions was observed in combination of BD+Ws+Rb (26.00±1.71 cocoon/worm). The higher number of hatchlings were observed per worm produced in BD+Ws+Rb (47.58 hatchling/worm) and sowed maximum growth rate (7.29±0.03 mg /worm/day) of Eisenia fetida was observed in combination of BD+Ws+Gb. The combination of buffalo dung with Ws and Gb is a best feed materials combination for better growth and development of Eisenia fetida.