GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION OF NEWLY REPORTED NATIVE EARTHWORM, PERIONYX CEYLANENSIS IN DIFFERENT AGRO RESIDUES

摘要

The growth and reproductive efficiency of newly reported earthworm species i.e., Perionyx ceylanensis in four different agro-residues was assessed over a period of 100 days. The results on the growth studies indicated that during the first week the growth was slow, after that, it reached maximum during 60-70 days. The maximum of biomass obtained while the termination of the experiment was in the order of 200.3, 173.0, 147.5 and 121.9 mg for pressmud (PM), leaf litter (LL), straw waste (SW) and coirpith (CP), respectively. Maximum reproduction of P.ceylammis was also observed in cowdung amended with the pressmud. The mean age of clitellum development was 17 days. The rate of cocoon production, was 0.88 cocoons/worm/day in pressmud. Due to short life cycle and high biomass production the newly reported indigenous worm could be used as an alternate source of protein for poultry and aquaculture.