VERMICULTURE OF NATIVE EARTHWORM Perionyx ceylanensis IN DIFFERENT EXPERIMENTAL DIETS
Perionyx ceylanensis is a newly discovered epigeic species with promising vermicomposting ability. Being a native vermicomposting earthworm species, it is necessary to know about detailed biology of this species so that it can be used in vermiculture based biotechnology. But literature is scanty regarding its growth and reproduction in different organic wastes. Our present study deals with the growth and reproduction of P. ceylanensis in different experimental diets. Growth and reproduction of native epigeic earthworm species, P.ceylanensis was studied in different experimental diets mixtures such as CD: cowdung; CB: cowdung bamboo leaf litter (1:1 w/w) CRB: cowdung rice bran (1:1 w/w) under laboratory conditions in order to select best diet for the vermiculture of P. ceylanensis. Earthworms were weighed and searched for juveniles on weekly basis. Highest rate of growth of the species was recorded in CB (12.91 2.03mg/ worm/ day) which was significantly (P .05) among CB (8.925 1.48 juveniles/ worm/ week) and CRB (11.39+ 2.21 juveniles/ worm/ week).The maximum weight gain was observed in CB (616.25 106.2) diet. Percent increase in biomass was highest in CB (215.81+ 25.71) followed by CRB (101.38 15.18) and lowest in CD (85.72 17.81) Percent increase in biomass was also significantly (P<.05) higher in CB diet than CRB and CD. Authors recommend bamboo leaf litter as food additive among the chosen three experimental diets for vermiculture of P. ceylanensis.