• S.G. Antony Godson
• S. Gajalakshmi

This paper presents the study conducted on the feasibility of vermicomposting the plant-water clover, Marsilea quadrifolia, in two forms– fresh and soaked— by three-epigeic species of earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae Kinberg, Eisenia fetida Savigny, and Perionyx excavatus Perrier. The reactors were operated in a semi-continuous mode, and the performance was assessed by quantifying the vermicast output, growth, and reproduction of the earthworms over a period of 150 days. The experiments were run in duplicate. In all reactors, vermiconversion rate was higher in reactors with the soaked form of feed than the fresh form of the feed. The highest vermicast output was recorded with E. fetida followed by reactors with E. eugeniae and P. excavatus: The zoomass of E. fetida, P. excavatus increased over time only in the soaked form of feed; E. fetida gained zoomass than P. excavatus while, E. eugeniae did not show any improvement. The reactors' performance regarding vermicast production and zoomass gain amongst different earthworm species did not have a significant difference as per one-way ANOVA. In all the reactors, earthworm mortality occurred, which subdued reactor performance dramatically. Therefore, to improve water clover-fed vermireactor efficiency, the feed was pre-conditioned by soaking for 24 to 48 hours before vermicomposting.

Semi-continuous, E. fetida, reactors, ANOVA, Vermicast output

"FEASIBILITY OF VERMICOMPOSTING WATER CLOVER (MARSILEA QUADRIFOLIA) EMPLOYING THREE EPIGEIC EARTHWORM SPECIES", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no.15-22, May-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1905B03.pdf

"FEASIBILITY OF VERMICOMPOSTING WATER CLOVER (MARSILEA QUADRIFOLIA) EMPLOYING THREE EPIGEIC EARTHWORM SPECIES", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no. pp15-22, May-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1905B03.pdf