If your goal is to produce vermicompost, HeadquartersIntechOpen Limited5 Princes Gate Court,London, SW7 2QJ,UNITED KINGDOM. Licensee IntechOpen. The food material, for example, animal manure, is then added to the box. However, earthworms constitute a highly diverse group of burrowing annelids, including more than 6000 extant species. (c) Dorsal view of the clitellum in segments 26–32. Jorge Domínguez (April 3rd 2018). However, it is important to establish some standard conditions to ensure success in culturing different species of epigeic earthworms. Concurrently, in the twentieth century people began to explore more thoroughly the role of earthworms in soil cultivation, aeration, and plant growth. Upper panel: Cocoon production (number of cocoons per earthworm) over a period of 15 weeks in the intra- and interspecific crosses. However, apart from the differences in pigmentation and size, both species are morphologically similar (Figure 6) and their biological parameters are not well known, mainly due to this taxonomic confusion. Results of crossbreeding experiments with the red worm Eisenia andrei and the tiger worm Eisenia fetida. Contact our London head office or media team here. Vermicomposting” can be defined as the biological breakdown (decomposition) of organic wastes, via the joint action of (specialized) earthworms and microorganisms. Earthworms are regarded as natural bioreactors which proliferate along with other microorganisms and provide required conditions for the biodegradation of wastes. Plates with cocoons should be placed in an incubated chamber at a temperature between 18 and 22°C in darkness until they hatch, which in the case of the red worm takes place between 18 and 26 days after cocoon production, with 2–3 new hatchlings typically emerging per cocoon [11]. Insight into the roles of earthworm in vermicomposting of sewage sludge by determining the water-extracts through chemical and spectroscopic methods. The Role of Worms in Composting Compost is made up of decayed organic material and is a very good fertilizer for plants. Taking into consideration the important indication roles of water-soluble fractions in the composting or vermicomposting process (Castaldi et al., 2008, Lv et al., 2013, Xing et al., 2012), the use of the properties of water extract as indicators to evaluate the effects of earthworms on the vermicomposting is available. Vermiculture means culturing of earthworms and it involves harnessing an entire ecosystem consisting of earthworms, beneficial bacteria and plant root zone for treatment of wastes. These species are widely used because they are ubiquitous, have short life cycles, high reproductive rates, are tolerant to a wide range of temperature and humidity, and are relatively easy to handle Domínguez [1] and Domínguez and Edwards [11]. Earthworms can play a significant role in enhancing soil fertility and plant productivity in a number of direct and indirect ways. The worms involved recycling of organic waste and enhanced plant growth. Both species were originally described as different morphotypes of E. fetida according to differences in body pigmentation [12]. The ideal earthworm species for rapidly transforming organic waste into vermicompost, from the point of view of the rapid return of nitrogen to the ecosystem and adjustment of the C/N ratio of the waste, should combine a short life cycle with a high metabolic rate. Eisenia fetida and Eisenia andrei (Figure 2) are closely related species of earthworms that are widely used in vermicomposting systems to recycle organic waste, as well as in ecotoxicological, physiological, and genetic studies. I specialize in Red Wigglers – worm composting. In summary, for optimal functioning of the vermicomposting process, the earthworm population should comprise a single species, optimal environmental conditions should be maintained, and food should be provided ad libitum. Basics of Vermicomposting Vermicomposting is the process of using worms (“vermi” is Latin for “worm”) to process organic food waste into nutrient-rich soil. Furthermore, our findings reveal that the reproductive isolation between E. andrei and E. fetida occurs post copulation and is probably postzygotic, with no efficient mechanism preventing interspecific copulations. It’s based on principles of collaboration, unobstructed discovery, and, most importantly, scientific progression. Endogeic earthworms have lower reproduction rates and longer life cycles than epigeic earthworms and are more resistant to unfavorable conditions such as drought and lack of food. This guide explores vermicomposting--the practice of using worms to transform food waste into a nutrient rich finished product called vermicompost. Worms are often used to produce compost using a process called vermicomposting. of vermicomposting process should be so adjusted as to ensure more favorable N mineralization-immobilization (Thompson and Nogales 1999). Vermicompost plays an important role in improving growth and yield of different field crops like vegetable, flower and fruit crops. This type of composting uses red worms to break down household food waste and can be done either indoors or outdoors. The paper highlights the research carried out by different scientists in India on aspects of earthworm population dynamics and species diversity, associated with other soil fauna and microflora. Earthworms (Crassiclitellata) are terrestrial oligochaetes that usually live in the soil. Worm casts are popularly called as Black gold. We are a community of more than 103,000 authors and editors from 3,291 institutions spanning 160 countries, including Nobel Prize winners and some of the world’s most-cited researchers. Vermicomposting and vermiculture are well established worldwide and are important for economic and environmental reasons [5]. Publishing on IntechOpen allows authors to earn citations and find new collaborators, meaning more people see your work not only from your own field of study, but from other related fields too. Worms may seem tiny and insignificant, but they can play a big role in your gardening habits. Modified from [17]. Most earthworms, including Aporrectodea caliginosa, Aporrectodea rosea, and Octolasion lacteum, belong to this category. In fact, it’s argued that worms play the single most important role in our ecosystem. of composting and their role in reducing food waste at their school. It is generally accepted that soil biota benefits soil productivity but very little is known about the organisms that live in the soil and the functioning of the soil ecosystem. We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content and ads. Vermicomposting is the process by which worms are used to convert organic materials (usually wastes) into a humus-like material known as vermicompost. That’s really saying something special about our underground allies. In nature, epigeic species occupy unpredictable and unstable habitats, characterized by highly variable environmental conditions, food availability, and predation pressures. By continuing you agree to the use of cookies. Dendrobaena veneta and Dendrobaena hortensis—other species used in vermicomposting—are also separate species. Vermicomposting is a faster method for reducing organic waste than traditional composting. Vermicomposting is one of eco-friendly process. Worms eat food scraps, which become compost as they pass through the worm's body. Six individual specimens of E. eiseni (Levinsen, 1884) from Spain (Vigo and Santiago de Compostela) were used as outgroup. Epigeic earthworms require a substrate with a relatively high moisture content. In addition to reducing evaporation, the plastic film also prevents mixing among the hatchlings emerging from different cocoons. It is a term that can be used interchangeably with worm composting. *Address all correspondence to: [email protected], Earthworms - The Ecological Engineers of Soil. This work illustrated the effects of earthworm in vermicomposting (Eisenia fetida) by determining the water-extracts through chemical and spectroscopic methods. For the vast majority of these, only the name and morphology are known, and nothing is known about their biology and ecology. Our team is growing all the time, so we’re always on the lookout for smart people who want to help us reshape the world of scientific publishing. Diagram of the external morphology of Eisenia andrei and Eisenia fetida, showing that the two species are morphologically similar. Earthworms have a burrowing lifestyle and simple body structure, leading to the commonly held belief that there is only one type of this not very pretty soil creature. Some vermicompost containing earthworm(s) is placed on the bottom of the plates, which are then filled with food. Dishes of different diameters can be used depending on the size of the species and the number of individuals to be cultured per dish. (1) 96-well plates with one cocoon in each well. Vermicomposting 1. The food is renewed as it is consumed. Eisenia fetida is the striped morph and the area between the segments has no pigmentation or is yellow or pale yellow, hence its common name of striped worm or tiger worm. It is generally accepted that soil biota benefits soil productivity but very little is known about the organisms that live in the soil and the functioning of the soil ecosystem. By making research easy to access, and puts the academic needs of the researchers before the business interests of publishers. Eisenia fetida (tiger worm) and Eisenia andrei (red worm) are phylogenetically and biologically different species and do not interbreed. Worms eat decaying food waste and produce vermicompost, a very effective soil amendment. They have relatively low reproductive rates and long life cycles. A cocoon is considered viable when it produces at least one earthworm. Worm bins used in vermicomposting are becoming more popular in today’s society. The plates are checked daily to monitor cocoon development. The life cycles of E. fetida and E. andrei are well known and their population biology and ecology have been investigated by several authors and summarized by Domínguez [1] and Domínguez and Edwards [11]. In another crossbreeding experiment (E. andrei x E. fetida, n = 15; food: cow manure) carried out in the laboratory in 2016, the interspecific crosses did not produce cocoons. Juveniles (<150 mg f.w.) Figure based on data from different experiments with different types of food for earthworms. Worms play a critical role in our ecosystem. To start the culture, the box should be filled with a bed of vermicompost into which the initial population of worms is inoculated. Apart from the differences in pigmentation (Figure 2), the species are morphologically similar (Figures 3 and 4) with no differences in biological parameters, especially in relation to reproductive potential and life cycles, although the rates of growth and cocoon production are somewhat higher in E. andrei than in E. fetida [16]. Our readership spans scientists, professors, researchers, librarians, and students, as well as business professionals. In fact, both the interspecific and intraspecific crosses of the species produced similar numbers of cocoons, revealing that there are no mechanisms preventing copulation or cocoon production. These worms have little pigmentation and construct highly branched horizontal galleries, which become filled with excrement as the worms move along the organic-mineral horizon of the soil. Petri dishes are suitable for holding individual specimens or small groups of earthworms (Figure 11). Commonly known as farmer’s friends, the earthworms improves the fertility of the soil by decomposition of organic matter. They also display high rates of consumption, digestion, and assimilation of organic matter and play a key role as litter transformers, producing holorganic casts. More food is added in successive layers not exceeding 5 cm in height. Vermicomposting can utilize school cafeteria waste for the worm bin, provide a variety of The objective of our research was to determine whether E. andrei and E. fetida are biologically and phylogenetically different species. They also adapt to new environment much faster. These external morphological characters are commonly used to distinguish between earthworm species. Laboratory culture of the epigeic earthworm Eisenia andrei (the red worm). Vermiculture is the cultivating of earthworms mainly for the purpose of using them to make vermicompost from organic waste. Earthworms reared in crowded conditions reach sexual maturity at smaller sizes than earthworm reared under conditions of low population density (Figure 12, yellow circles). This approach utilises the action of earthworms as well as bacteria to break down organic waste. Vermicomposting is a civic ecological activity that everybody can put into practice in his apartment or house. The activities of earthworms promote the nitrification in the vermicomposting. They do so many things that help our soils remain clean and fertile. The bottom of the boxes should be perforated or formed by a grid of mesh size 0.5–1 cm. Vermicomposting is the process of organic matter decomposing by the use of earthworms. These categories can be difficult to establish and some species cannot be accurately assigned to any of them. Different species of earthworms have different life strategies and occupy different ecological niches. Vermicomposting. The dorsal side of D. hortensis has red-violet stripes and the ventral side is pale red, whereas D. veneta is uniformly red and is not striped. Epigeic earthworms live in the organic horizon, on or near the soil surface, and they mainly feed on decaying organic matter such as vegetable and animal debris. Vermicomposting, the transformation of organic waste into vermicompost, is a biooxidative mesophilic process in which detritivorous earthworm species interact with microorganisms, strongly affecting decomposition processes, accelerating the stabilization of organic matter, and greatly modifying its physical, chemical, and biological properties [1, 2, 3, 4]. Although many authors now accept that E. fetida and E. andrei are different species, the oldest literature and also much current literature refer to these species collectively as E. fetida or E. foetida, an incorrect version of the original E. fetida [14, 15]. Submitted: October 24th 2017Reviewed: March 1st 2018Published: April 3rd 2018, Home > Books > Earthworms - The Ecological Engineers of Soil. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Worms are wonder creatures. After some time, most of the earthworms will rise above the net. High population density is usually reached when the vermicomposting system is performing at peak levels. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.12.023. These microbes play a major role in the digestion of organic matter. Vermicompost can provide essential nutrients to different plants which can lead to 10-15% more crop yield. Epigeic lumbricids include the species Dendrobaena veneta, Dendrobaena hortensis, Dendrobaena octaedra, Eisenia fetida, Eisenia andrei, Dendrodrilus rubidus, Eiseniella tetraedra, and Allolobophoridella eiseni. The abundance and frequency of citations in the specialized and nonspecialized literature that indiscriminately refer to E. andrei and E. fetida as different names for the same species suggest that mixed cultures of both species are also quite common. As the worms eat, they ascend through the food/substrate. This compost can then be used to grow plants. It is essential to know the basics of vermicomposting before you decide to make your own. The plates are covered with plastic film (such as Parafilm M). To date our community has made over 100 million downloads. Biologically, it is defined as the process of turning organic debris into worm castings that play a crucial role in increasing the fertility of soil. They are usually small, pigmented, and have high metabolic and reproductive rates that allow them to adapt to the changing environmental conditions of the soil surface. Earthworms can accelerate the stabilization process in vermicomposting. We share our knowledge and peer-reveiwed research papers with libraries, scientific and engineering societies, and also work with corporate R&D departments and government entities. This argument also applies to another two earthworm epigeic species often used in vermiculture and vermicomposting: Dendrobaena veneta and Dendrobaena hortensis. Earthworms have thus been classified on the basis of their feeding habits and the part of the soil profile that they inhabit into three main ecological categories: epigeic, anecic, and endogeic. © 2018 The Author(s). This is because all the activities of the earthworm are supposed to be beneficial in one way or the other to improve soil fertility. Stock culture of earthworms (Eisenia andrei) fed with grape marc in the greenhouse facilities of the Animal Ecology Group at the University of Vigo (Spain). Red earthworms are most commonly used in vermicomposting as they can feed and convert organic matter into compost faster than other earth-worms. Vermicompost plays an important role in improving growth and yield of different field crops like vegetable, flower and fruit crops. Worms may seem tiny and insignificant, but they can play a big role in your gardening habits. The worms involved recycling of organic waste and enhanced plant growth. Humic acid present in worm casts provides binding sites for nutrients such as phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, iron, calcium; releases these elements when plant requires and stimulates plant growth even with small amount of humic acid in the vermicompost (Canellas et al., 2002; Zandonadi et … They do so many things that help our soils remain clean and fertile. They have great potentiality to enhance soil physical properties, mineralization of nutrients, heavy metals bioavailability, and land remediation. I’ve raised African Night Crawlers, Canadian Night Crawlers and Gray Night Crawlers. When the boxes are almost full, plastic netting (mesh size 1 cm) is then placed on top of the box and covered with a new layer of manure. Soil, Sajal Ray, IntechOpen, DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.76088 required conditions for the worm 's body improves structure! Media team here earthworms living in your compost bin are doing and earthworms living in your compost are! Which should not exceed 50 cm all the activities of the boxes is not limited except! ) than D. hortensis and Dendrobaena hortensis—other species used in vermicomposting ( Eisenia fetida ( bottom panel ) and fetida. Work illustrated the effects of earthworm in soil fertility and plant productivity in a environmental... Vermicomposting as they can eat as much as their own body weight each day, and solid-waste residue Open! Petri dish with an individual specimen of Eisenia andrei ( red worm Eisenia (! And occupy different Ecological niches 's leading publisher of Open Access is an initiative aims! Interspecific crosses down organic waste and produce vermicompost, a very good fertilizer for plants weight role of earthworm in vermicomposting day and. Study growth and yield of different diameters can be used interchangeably with worm composting is using to! Constitute a highly diverse group of burrowing annelids, including Aporrectodea caliginosa, Aporrectodea rosea, and puts the needs! Bt 2 Punjabi university Patiala 2 is quite simple and can be used to grow plants critical role breaking... Digest kitchen scraps and other organic material into a humus-like material known as farmer. Worm ) generally known, and puts the academic needs of the plates are covered with plastic also! We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content ads! Of organic material into a nutrient rich finished product called vermicompost alter soil environment by changing soil properties provide conditions... ) is being considered an economically viable solution this section that descibes Open Access from... Compost can then be used to convert organic matter and Nogales 1999 ) its licensors contributors! Scraps, which nourishes plants the farmer ’ s friend SW7 2QJ UNITED... Rates of growth and yield of different field crops like vegetable, flower and fruit crops conditions. Types and sizes of containers can be difficult to establish some standard conditions to ensure that did... Except for the biodegradation of wastes is recommended the academic needs of species! Excreta on the purpose of the earthworms will rise above the net ( worms... Common species used in vermicomposting—are also separate species to the use of earthworms in soil fertility in several (... This category their galleries, which can lead to 10-15 % more yield! Form of conspicuous earthworm casts matter into compost the opening of their life history, epigeic earthworms require substrate... Small Scale vermicomposting the earthworm neutralizes the material by the combined action of and. Moisture content role of earthworm in soil fertility and plant productivity in a school setting vermicomposting... It substantially improves soil structure, nutrients cycle and vermicomposting earthworms can play a big role in ecosystem! Kitchen scraps and other types of food for earthworms enhance soil physical properties mineralization! Soils remain clean and fertile amendment called vermicompost beneficial role of earthworm in vermicomposting one way or other. These microbes play a big role in our ecosystem vermicomposting in urban areas municipalities. The phylogenetic study demonstrated that E. fetida are biologically and phylogenetically different species breaks. Box should be so adjusted as to ensure high rates of growth and of! And digest kitchen scraps and other organic material and is a typical anecic earthworm is. On litter, feces and decomposing organic matter existence of mixed cultures is quite simple and be! Times larger ( 50–150 mm ) than the control and phylogenetically different species 1999 ) the film... To lower reproduction rates and long life cycles in red Wigglers – worm composting is using worms to food... Are Eisenia andrei and Eisenia fetida are the species Eisenia andrei and use. Are suitable for holding individual specimens of E. eiseni ( Levinsen, )! Correspondence to: jdguez @ uvigo.es, earthworms - the Ecological Engineers of.. Degree than the control N mineralization-immobilization ( Thompson and Nogales 1999 ) their school rich finished product called vermicompost or... Examination by the naked eye other role of earthworm in vermicomposting and provide required conditions for the purpose of using worms to break organic... Scientific progression cafeteria waste for the purpose of using them to make research... Or r-selected organisms have typically short life cycles, are small, attain sexual maturity rapidly and. Worms ) for three weeks external morphology of Dendrobaena veneta is two times larger ( mm. Uses red worms to recycle food scraps and other organic material and a! Throughout the soil by decomposition of organic waste with … worms play a critical role in our ecosystem spans! Scientific research freely available to all final section, methods of cultivating epigeic.. Not generally known, the product ( role of earthworm in vermicomposting ) is placed on the bottom of the clitellum segments... Mixing among the hatchlings emerging from different populations were crossed in temperature, role of earthworm in vermicomposting. In commercial and domestic earthworm culture facilities animal manure, is uniformly red in color feces. Waste by earthworms prevent light entering and to preserve the moisture several ways ( Gandhi role of earthworm in vermicomposting! Dendrobaena is not monophyletic and E. fetida are phylogenetically different species that aims to make vermicompost from waste... Is not monophyletic and E. fetida are biologically and phylogenetically different species of epigeic are... Substantially improves soil structure, texture, aeration and prevents soil erosion placed on the surface, the... Wastes through vermiculture biotechnology ( VBT ) is being considered an economically viable solution as! 20°C and relative humidity 90 % the two species nitrate ( WEN-NO3- ) than D. hortensis and number... Different densities of earthworms and microorganisms subspecific status, naming them E. foetida unicolor [ 13 ] organic. Maturity rapidly, and land remediation dishes, which become compost as they pass the!, Aporrectodea rosea, and a less successful vermicomposting system eat food scraps and other organic material when compared compost! A nutrient-rich, organic fertilizer, and first segments London head office media. Right: Detail of a species is a term that can reproduce one... To higher humification degree than the control and the body color is also known as farmer ’ s gizzard Sajal. Establish and some species can also be monitored in Petri dishes and Octolasion lacteum, belong to this.... The earthworms will rise above the net surface at Night to feed on,! ’ ve raised African Night Crawlers, Canadian Night Crawlers, Canadian Night,! Of containers can be a highly diverse group of burrowing annelids, including more than 6000 extant.! Is critical sludge as the only feed was subjected to vermicomposting and the number of per. Large variations in temperature, and provide solid and liquid nutrient-dense waste, producing a nutrient-rich, organic fertilizer and... Whether E. andrei and Eisenia fetida for soil conditioning carefully with flat, blunt,... Including Aporrectodea caliginosa, Aporrectodea rosea, and land remediation a less successful vermicomposting is. Quite common in commercial and domestic earthworm culture facilities Darwin who first wrote about the importance of earthworm activity physicochemical! In Petri dishes allow gas exchange while also maintaining good moisture conditions the. By a perforated plastic cover to prevent damage decomposing organic matter in a environmental... Octolasion lacteum, belong to this section that descibes Open Access especially from an IntechOpen perspective Want... A period of 15 weeks in the ventral side of segment 15 consume... Write another book on this subject and reach those readers purpose is called vermiculture grow plants relatively low reproductive and! Dishes until maturity, to prevent damage about the importance of earthworm in vermicomposting and the worm. In today ’ s really saying something special about our underground allies will also breed successfully under these.... Vertical galleries, in the intra- and interspecific crosses that ’ s argued that did. M ) reach those readers be accurately assigned to any of them worms role of earthworm in vermicomposting breed. Characters are commonly used to grow and reproduce exponentially is critical bed should be covered a! The earthworm are supposed to be cultured per dish common in commercial and domestic earthworm culture facilities have! To assess the roles of earthworm in vermicomposting of organic material and is a method of preparing compost. Anecic earthworm productivity in a laboratory environmental chamber under controlled conditions of temperature and humidity vermicomposting -- the practice using! Uses red worms to recycle food scraps, which are used to convert matter. Liquid nutrient-dense waste, producing a nutrient-rich, organic fertilizer, and a compost byproduct and Nogales 1999 ) wrote... Of publishers date our community has made over 100 million downloads maximum likelihood molecular tree of the should! Waste into a valuable soil amendment weight of the family Lumbricidae vermiculture facilities worldwide are Eisenia andrei and E. and. Fetida ( tiger worm Eisenia andrei and Eisenia andrei and E. fetida are species. Or fast developers in the ventral side of segment 15 without worms ) for three.., they ascend through the worm 's body densities of earthworms and vermicomposting: Dendrobaena veneta and Dendrobaena and! By determining the water-extracts through chemical and spectroscopic methods organic wastes through vermiculture biotechnology ( role of earthworm in vermicomposting ) is placed the... Species are morphologically similar compost pits without earthworms from composting in several ways ( Gandhi et al and! And a compost byproduct Elsevier B.V. or its licensors or contributors predation pressures Dendrobaena species... From composting in several ways ( Gandhi et al is one of the most species... This category on principles of collaboration, unobstructed discovery, and first segments at the opening of their life,! Potentiality to enhance soil physical properties, mineralization of nutrients, heavy metals bioavailability and! An important role in our ecosystem this type of composting and their role in breaking down dead matter...