Vermiculture and waste management: study of action of earthworms Elsinia foetida, Eudrilus euginae and Perionyx excavatus on biodegradation of some community wastes in India and Australia

摘要: The practice of vermiculture is at least a century old but it now being revived worldwide with diverse ecological objectives such as waste management, soil detoxification and regeneration sustainable agriculture. Earthworms act in the aerators, grinders, crushers, chemical degraders biological stimulators. They secrete enzymes, proteases, lipases, amylases, cellulases chitinases which bring about rapid biochemical conversion cellulosic proteinaceous materials variety organic wastes originate from homes, gardens, dairies farms. process odour free because earthworms release coelomic fluids decaying biomass has anti-bacterial properties kills pathogens. species used India were Indian blue (Perionyx excavatus), African night crawler (Eudrilus euginae) Tiger worm (Elsinia foetida). E. foetida was Australia. euginae found to have higher feeding, growth biodegradation capacity compared other two species.