Evaluation of Production Parameters of Earthworms Eiseniella tetraedra Sav. in a Laboratory Culture

摘要

Use of earthworm Eiseniella tetraedra in vermiculture was tested for the first time. The structural parameters of its natural and laboratory populations under constant hydrothermal conditions were determined together with the production parameters such as the rate of weight gain, cocoon production, and duration of embryonic development. The mean weight gain was 84% of the baseline within 6 weeks, the rate of cocoon deposition was 0.8 per week, and the incubation duration was about 3 weeks, which provided for population doubling within 3 months. The obtained data demonstrated a good adaptation of Eiseniella tetraedra to the culture conditions with an artificial organic substrate.