• MILIND F NAGANNAWAR
• KARUNA S. GANIGER
• PULIKESHI M. BIRADAR

Abstract : Climate has a direct influence on earthworm biology and their life cycle, while their habitats and feeding activities are indirectly related to climate. Hence, the present study was undertaken to know the influence of seasonal environmental factors on different life activities by the epigeic earthworm E. fetida cultured in cattle manure at uncontrolled laboratory conditions. Five fresh cocoons of E. fetida were isolated (in triplicates) from the stock culture and kept them in a culture box containing cattle manure. Incubation period (IP), percent hatching (PH), and number of hatchling/cocoon (NH/C), juvenile weight at the time of hatching (JWH) were all noted during three seasons (i.e. monsoon, winter, and summer). In continuation, five fresh juveniles of E. fetida were isolated (in triplicates) from previous experiments and cultured in a pot size of 11cm diameter and 10cm height containing a stabilized cattle manure after noting their weight in all three seasons. The stabilized food and moisture content of the cultures were maintained. Weekly observations with respect to attainment of sexual maturity (WWM), hundred percent maturity (HWMW), worm biomass at maturity (WWM) and start of cocoon production (SCPW) were made during all three seasons. The seasonal environmental factors such as temperature, %relative humidity (RH) and rainfall (RF) were noted regularly throughout the experimental period during three seasons. The results of our studies revealed that the IP, WMW, HWMW and SCPW were early in monsoon and winter seasons as compare to summer seasons. Whereas pH, NH/C and WWM were comparatively more in monsoon and winter seasons followed by summer seasons, whereas JWH was less in monsoon and winter than that of summer season. There is a significant difference among three seasons was noticed with respect to all life activities like IP, NH/C, WMW, HWMW, WWM except pH and JWH. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the life activities of epigeic earthworms not only influenced by quality and quantity of food, density of worms but also strongly influenced by the prevailing abiotic and seasonal environmental factors such as ET, %RH, and RF for effective vermiculture and vermicomposting for organic waste management.

Earthworm, life activities, seasonal environmental factors, E. fetida

"LIFE ACTIVITIES OF THE EPIGEIC EARTHWORM, EISENIA FETIDA DURING DIFFERENT SEASONS", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 3, page no.b242-b249, March-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2503127.pdf

"LIFE ACTIVITIES OF THE EPIGEIC EARTHWORM, EISENIA FETIDA DURING DIFFERENT SEASONS", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 3, page no. ppb242-b249, March-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2503127.pdf