The Effect Of Earthworm and Media Type on The Quality of Organic Fertilaizer.
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The Earthworms role to Improve Soil Quality
Ni Luh Kartini
Dosen PS. Agroekoteknologi, Fakultas Pertanian, Universitas Udayana, Bali
Email: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Earthworm is one of the soil microorganisms that have a very important role maintaining soil quality. Lumbricus Rubellus is one of the thousands species of earthworms that live on the surface of the soil under litter. This type of worm has the ability to very high degradation of organic material that can take organic materials as heavy as its own body every day. Vermicompost is fermented earthworm
excrement containing nutrients required by plants and can be directly incorporated. Slurry very low content of nutrients and microbes. Vegetable waste is intractable problem. Vermicompost fertilizer production is influenced by the type of media due to the speed of decay. This study aims to determine the type of media that is most flattering used to improve the quality of Vermicompost fertilizer.
Research using randomized block design with two factors, factors worm population and types of media. The results showed significant up to highly significant interaction of treatment. And, here we show that Vermicompost quality is the best in the study of cow slurry medium which added with 25% rice straw, with 25% vegetables waste and with 60 earthworms.
Keywords
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earthworms, Lumbricus Rubellus, cow slurry, rice straw, vegetables waste, and vermicompost
I. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Earthworm (Lumbricus Rubellus) is often called the earth stomach because all of the beneficial
microorganisms is in the stomach of earthworms. Earthworms look very weak, but they have the power that exceeds all the power on earth. It is the power to transform all forms of organic matter into a fertile soil and other forces. Earthworms including species of mollusks in nature are 1800 species, but only a fraction can be utilized. Earthworm animals are very complex because each type of earthworm has a specific habitat. This causes any kind of earthworms survive in each habitat. Earthworms can live well at pH of 6 to 7.2, moisture of 12.5 to 17.5 and a temperature of 15°C to 31°C. Earthworm is one of the soil microorganisms that have a very important role in maintaining soil quality on a sustainable basis.
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Lumbricus Rubellus one of earthworm species that live on the surface of the soil under litter, have the ability to consume organic material with the same weight of his own body every 24 hours. Vermicompost (organic fertilizer) is fermented earthworm excrement containing nutrients required by plants and can be directly incorporated. Nutrients contained in vermicompost are complete both macro and micro nutrients and are available in a form that is easily absorbed by plants (Atiyeh et al. 2000). The worms eat the dead organic matter of crop residues. Organic materials are eaten then expelled as feces excretion result, the fermentation process and decomposition of organic material in the worms’ stomach produce aggregates granular form that contain many nutrients readily available to plants. The addition of organic matter to the soil increases the ability to retain water so that the soil's ability to provide water to increase plant growth. Water conditions are available more easily absorbed by the plant and automatically water content in plants is increased so that the net weight of the plant be increased.
According to Lavelle (1988), earthworms’ activity in performing decomposition of organic matter in addition to affecting the physical properties also affect the chemical properties due to the process of mineralization and organic materials carried by microorganisms assisted by earthworms. The role of earthworms in the mineralization process is speeding up the process together with the microorganisms, resulting in more nutrients available to plants (Albanell et al. 1980). Nutrients accumulated in
vermicompost both macro and micro nutrients, is a reflection of the nutrient content of organic matter as the main food source of earthworms.
Vermicompost fertilizer production is influenced by the type of medium, because the more appropriate medium may produce vermicompost fertilizer quality is better. Some media are often used as a medium of vermicompost manure is cow dung, pig dung and pig slurry or cow slurry.
Among the types of manure, cow manure that have high fiber content such as cellulose, it is evident from the results of measurements of parameters of the C/N ratio is high enough > 40. The high content of C in cow manure directly to inhibit the use of agricultural land as tapping the main plant growth. Suppression of growth occurred because of microbial decomposers using the N available to decompose the organic material so that the main crop shortage N. To maximize the use of composting piles of cow must be done in order to be composted cow manure with C/N ratio under 20. Besides the issue of C/N ratio, utilization of cow manure also directly related to the high water content. Farmers generally refer to it as cold fertilizer. When manure with a high water content is applied directly, more energy is required to process the release of ammonia in progress.
Pig manure utilization in Indonesia is only found in certain locations adjacent to the pig farm. Manure of pig has a texture that is soft and liquid increases when mixed with its urine. Pig farmers have learned how to separate the urine with the solids, then to accumulate somewhere to be decomposed
beforehand. Pig manure nutrient composition is influenced by its age. In countries such as China,
Thailand, and many countries in Europe have differentiated types of pig manure with its age. However, in general manure of pork contains enough P nutrients but low Mg.
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One result of the anaerobic fermentation process in the biogas plant is the formation of liquid waste in the form of slurry. Waste biogas, the manure that has lost its gas (slurry) is an organic fertilizer that is rich with elements needed by plants. In fact, certain elements such as proteins, cellulose, lignin and others cannot be replaced by chemical fertilizers. Slurry COD decreased by 90% from the initial material conditions and the ratio of BOD/COD slurry at 0:37. This value is smaller than the ratio of BOD/COD effluent of 0.5. The slurry also contains fewer pathogenic bacteria, making it safe for use as a fertilizer (Widodo et al. 2007 in Prariesta and Winata, 2009). According to Suzuki et al. (2001) and Oman (2003), semi-solid slurry that comes from a very good biogas to be used as fertilizer because it contains a variety of elements needed by plants as P, Mg, Ca, K, Cu and Zn. Nutrient content in the waste (slurry) biogas production results are complete although few in number. Some research suggests the use of a liquid organic fertilizer have a positive impact on plant growth.
1.2 Problem Formulation
Problems that can be formulated based on the above description is how far the interaction between the number of earthworms with the type of medium in improving the quality of organic fertilizer
(vermicompost)?
1.3 Objectives
This study aims to determine the effect earthworms and media type media type to quality organic fertilizer (vermicompost).
This study aims to determine the effect of the earthworms’ number and the medium type to the quality of organic fertilizer (vermicompost).
II. RESEARCH METHODS
2.1 Study Design
The design of this study using a randomized block design (RAK) factorial pattern. The first factor is the Media Earthworm (B) and the second factor is the population of earthworms (C) as follows:
1. Media Worms
B1: pig slurry + 25% rice straw B2: cow slurry + 25% rice straw
B3: pig slurry + 25% rice straw + 25% vegetable trash B4: cow slurry + rice straw + 25% + 25% vegetable trash 2. The population of worms
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P1: 20 earthworms P2: 40 earthworms P3: 60 earthworms
Both these factors, obtained 16 treatment combinations, each combination treatment was repeated 3 times so that the required 48 bucket experiment.
2.2 Time and Place of Research
This study was conducted in May 2013 to July 2013. The research was conducted at the Sari Cargo 2, no. 8 Br. Umasari, Ubung Kaja Village, Denpasar.
2.3 Research Variables
Parameters measured are: (1) the speed of decay, C-organic, the number of earthworms, the number of earthworm eggs, P-available, Population Microorganisms (SPK g-1 x 10 8), pH and N-total
2.4 Materials and Devices Research
Materials used in this study are: cow slurry, pig slurry, rice straw and vegetable waste.
2.5 The tools of Research
The tools used in the study are: hoe, plastic bags, paper labels, buckets, analytical balance, oven, stationery, and tools used for analysis in the laboratory.
2.6. Implementation of Research
The materials are collected, each weighted according to the percentage of the overall weight of 2 kg. Straw and vegetables trash cut into pieces with a size of approximately 2 cm, inserted into the bucket to ferment for 2 weeks. Fermentation done by closing the bucket with a cloth, pieces of straw and
vegetable stir every 3 days to keep the humidity 50%. After 2 weeks of earthworms ready to be placed in this medium.
Earthworms selected that are similar in size and in good health. Seed worms placed on the surface of the media allow the worms get into the media. Maintenance by stirring every three days and keep humidity 50%. Harvesting is done when the media blackish brown.
2.7 Data Analysis
Data were analyzed statistically which includes the analysis of variance (ANOVA) according to a randomized block design simple. When the results obtained show the real effect or very real, then continued with LSD (Least Significant Difference) level of 5%. To see the relationship between the parameters of the observations made correlation analysis (Gomez, 1995).
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III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Research
Based on the results obtained by statistical analysis of the significance of media influence worms (B) and a population of earthworms (C) and their interactions (B x C) of the observed variables (Table 1).
Interaction between the media worm (B) and a population of earthworms (C) (B x C) very significant effect on variable C-organic, Population Earthworm, earthworm eggs, population of microorganisms, pH media worms, as well as significantly affected the speed decay. While the effect of the other variables are not real. Media type worms (B) significant effect on C-Organic, the population of earthworms, earthworm eggs, P-available, and pH. Earthworm population (C) very significant effect on all study variables.
Table 1. The significance of the effect of Earthworm (C) and Media Type (B) on several parameters observed
No Variabel of Observation
Factor
B C BXC
1 Decay rate (%) * ** *
2 C-Organic (%) ** ** **
3 Earthworm populations ** ** **
4 Earthworm Eggs (pieces) ** ** **
5 P-Available (ppm) ** ** Ns
6 Population of Microorganisms (spk g-1 x 10 8) Ns ** **
7 pH ** ** **
8 N-Total (%) Ns ** Ns
Description:
Ns : No real effe t P≥0.05
* : Significant (P<0.05) ** : Very significant (P<0.01)
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Table 2. Effect of Earthworm and media earthworms to the P-available and N-total organic vermicompost fertilizer
Treatment P-Available N Total
Slurry
B1 899,50 a 1,35 a
B2 841,30 a 1,34 a
B3 922,30 a 1,34 a
B4 894,01 a 1,38 a
Earthworms
C0 794,41 d 1,18 d
C1 867,37 c 1,32 c
C2 919,47 b 1,34 a
C3 975,87 a 1,38 a
Description: The average value followed by the code that is similar to the factor and the same column indicate that no real differences in LSD 5%.
P-available analysis result in treatment (B3), pig slurry + 25% rice straw + 25% vegetables waste contain higher P-available is 922.30, while the Slurry (B2), cow slurry + 25% rice straw contains lower P -available are 841.30, but it is not the same on the analysis results of N-total in which the treatment of slurry (B4), cow slurry + 25% rice straw + 25 vegetable waste contains higher N-total at 1.38 which is different from other treatments.
P-available analysis on vermin treatment as much as 60 earthworms (C3) contains higher P-available at 975.87 and for treatment without the vermin contains the lowest P-available at 794.41 which is
significantly different from other treatments. The same thing on the results of the N-total analysis of 60
earthwor ’s treat e t (C3) contains higher N-Total at 1.38 and the lowest one with the treatment
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Table 3. Effect of Earthworm and the Media to Total Earthworms
Treatment B1 B2 B3 B4
C0 0a
A 0a A 0a A 0a A
C1 24.23b
A 30.32b A 26.09b A 32.15b A
C2 39.39bc
A 43.52b A 41.90b A 49.30b A
C3 51.70d
A 63.88c AB 64.01c B 75.20c B
Description: The average value followed by the same letters towards the same row and column shows the different influences, not real on LSD 5%. Uppercase (A) are read horizontal and lowercase (a) is read vertically.
Number of earthworms with treatment (B4C3) Slurry cow + 25% rice straw + 25% of the waste
vegetables with 60 earthworms contains the most is 75.20, whereas with treatment (B1C0) pig slurry + 25% rice straw with no worms, the results are no earthworms.
Table 4. Effect of Earthworm and the Media to weathering (%) at harvest
Treatment B1 B2 B3 B4
C0 23.01a
A 28.82a A 24,05a A 29.48a A
C1 41.29b
A 49.87b A 43.15b A 54.24b A
C2 46.67b
A 58.29b B 48.59b A 62.29b BC
C3 58.3012b
A 70.67c B 61.29c A 84.32c C
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Description: The average value followed by the same letters towards the same row and column shows no significant influence on LSD 5%. Uppercase (A) are read horizontal and lowercase (a) is read vertically
Effect of Earthworm and Media to weathering by treatment (B4C3) Slurry cow + 25% rice straw + 25% vegetable waste with 60 earthworms speed decay faster is 84.32%, while the treatment (B1C0) pig slurry + 25% straw rice with a worm treatment without undergoing a process of decay lower at 24.23% which is significantly different from other treatments
Table 5. Effect of Earthworm and Media on C-Organic (%) at harvest organic fertilizer
Treatment B1 B2 B3 B4
C0 13.53a
A 14.68a A 14.81b A 15.08b A
C1 14.35a
A 15.47ab A 15.43ab A 15.56ab A
C2 15.28a
A 13.03ab A 14.78ab A 14.82a A
C3 14.91a
A 14.65a A 15.65a A 16.55b B
Description: The average value followed by the same letters towards the same row and column shows no significant influence on LSD 5%. Uppercase (A) are read horizontal and lowercase (a) is read vertically. Effect of Earthworm and the Media to C-Organic-treated (B1C0) pig slurry + 25% rice straw without worm contains organic C higher at 18:53%, compared to the treatment (B2C3) cow slurry + 25% rice straw with 60 earthworms contains a lower C-Organic is 11:55%.
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Table 6. Effect of Earthworm and Media type of the amount of worm eggs
Treatment B1 B2 B3 B4
C0 0a
A 0a A 0a A 0a A
C1 11.93b
A 12.90b A 13.46b A 19.70b B
C2 16.56b
A 20.97b A 25.01c AB 29.77b B
C3 22.13c
A 23.58bc A 29.97c AB 31.51bc B
Description: The average value followed by the same letters towards the same row and column shows the different influences, not real on LSD 5%. Uppercase (A) are read horizontal and lowercase (a) is read vertically.
Effect of Earthworm and the Media to amount earthworm eggs with treatment (B4C3) cow slurry + 25% rice straw + 25% vegetable waste with 60 earthworms has the highest number of worm eggs, namely 31.51 grains, whereas the treatment without using earthworms there are number of earthworms eggs. Tabel.7 Effect of Earthworm and Media Types Total Population to Microorganisms (spk g-1 x 108)
Treatment B1 B2 B3 B4
C0 13.6a
A 12.22a A 12.02a A 11.65a A
C1 29.58b
A 42.01b B 32.36b A 42.80b B
C2 72.45c
A 89.53c A 99 .34c A 110.67c B
C3 129.27d
A 133.62d A 121.81d B 145.20d C
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Description: The average value followed by the same letters towards the same row and column shows no significant influence on LSD 5%. Uppercase (A) are read horizontal and lowercase (a) is read vertically.
Effect of earthworm and media of the total soil microorganisms with treatment (B4C3) cow slurry + 25% rice straw + 25% vegetable waste with 60 earthworms has a total microorganisms highest of 145.20 spk g-1 x 108, while the treatment (B1C0), pig slurry + 25% rice straw without worms treated with
microorganisms having the lowest total is 13.6 spk g-1 x 108 which is significantly different from other treatments.
Tabel.8. Earthworm and media influence on the pH of Organic Fertilizer
Treatment B1 B2 B3 B4
C0 6.39a
A 6.41a A 6,37a A 6.47a A
C1 6.92a
A 7.13a A 7.03a A 7.14a A
C2 7.14a
A 7.20a A 7.14a A 6.96a A
C3 7.35b
A 7.25b B 7.38a A 7.56b B
Description: The average value followed by the same letters towards the same row and column shows no significant influence on LSD 5%. Uppercase (A) are read horizontal and lowercase (a) is read vertically
Effect of Earthworm and the Media to pH organic fertilizer produced by treatment (B4C3) cow slurry + 25% rice straw + 25% vegetable waste with 60 earthworms has a pH of highest 8:56, while with
treatment (B1C0) pig slurry + 25 % of rice straw with a worm treatment without having the lowest pH is 6:39 which is significantly different from other treatments.
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3.2 Discussion
Earthworms and media greatly influence the quality of the organic fertilizer produced. The higher number of earthworms on different types of media gave a different effect on the quality of compost. All parameters were observed as real effect until very real, the interaction except at P-available and N-total in Vermicompost.
Based on the research results show that a single media type does not cause any change in the P-available Vermicompost as well as N-total vermicompost. This happened because the content of each type of organic media materials which contain P and N are almost similar. The number of worms in a single treatment can increase P-available and N-total Vermicompost. The increasing of P-Available occurs because the body of earthworms are collaborated with a wide variety of microorganisms that can produce phosphatase enzyme that works to increase the P-availability as phosphate solvent microbial. Phosphate solvent bacteria is capable to break the phosphate bonds previously unavailable become available. Increased N-total in the casting due to Azotobacter in the intestines of earthworms that can bind to the N-free in the air.
4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 Conclusions
Based on the research results earthworms and media influence on the quality of Vermicompost, the conclusions are:
1. The number of earthworms and media types interact together from significant up to very significant against weathering, C-organic, the number of earthworms, worm eggs, the population of microorganisms and pH Vermicompost;
2. The highest weathering occurred in the treatment of 60 earthworms with cattle slurry + vegetables + rice straw;
3. The best quality of Vermicompost take place in the treatment of 60 earthworms with medium of cow slurry + rice straw + vegetables waste.
4.2 Suggestions
Based on the research’ results, I suggest to try various types of media with varying numbers of earthworms.
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REFERENCE
Anonimus,
Cornel University, 2010,
Vermicompost: a Living Soil Amendment, Department of Plant
Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, 334 Plant Science, Ithaca, NY 15853, College of Agr and Life
Sciences, Retrieved fromhttp://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/vermi-compost.htm
Anonimus, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2014 VermicomposRetrieved from https://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermicompost
Atiyeh, R.M., J. Dominguez, S. Subler, and C.A. Edwards. 2000. Changes in biochemical properties of cow manure during processing by wearthworm (Eisenia andrei) and the effects on seedling growth. Pedobiologia 44:709-7724.
Albanell, E., Plaixats, J. and T. Carbero. 1988. Chemical Changes During Vermicomposting (Eisenia foetida) of Sheep Manure Mixed with Cotton Industrial Waste. Biol. Fertil. Soil. 6: 266-269. riljan, H. S. Pemanfaatan Crotalaria retusa L. da Kas i g “e agai Pupuk Orga ik U tuk “ayura
Selada (Lactuca sativa). Agroteknolgi Fakultas Pertanian Unsika. Majalah Ilmiah Solusi Unsika. Vol. 10 No. 20
Keith Addison, Journey to Forever Website, 2001,
Vermicomposting, Retrieved from http:/
/journeytoforever.org/compost_worm.html
Lavelle, P 1988. Earthworm Activities and the Soil System. Biol. Fertil. Soil 6: 237-251.
Palungkun, R. 1999. Sukses Beternak Cacing Tanah Lumbricus rubellus. Jakarta: Penebar Swadaya.
Soni Cochran, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 2015Vermicomposting: Composting with Worms
Retrieved from http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/vermicompost107.shtml
Rhonda Sherman, Bio & Ag Engineering, 2015, Vermicomposting, NC State University, North California,
Retrieved from http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/vermicomposting/
Yudiarsa a I.M., 2009. Pe garuh Dosis Pupuk Kas i g da Jarak Ta a Terhadap Pertu uha da
Hasil Tanaman Nilam (Pogostemon cablin Benth) di Laha Keri g tesis . De pasar: Universitas Udayana.
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3.2 Discussion
Earthworms and media greatly influence the quality of the organic fertilizer produced. The higher number of earthworms on different types of media gave a different effect on the quality of compost. All parameters were observed as real effect until very real, the interaction except at P-available and N-total in Vermicompost.
Based on the research results show that a single media type does not cause any change in the P-available Vermicompost as well as N-total vermicompost. This happened because the content of each type of organic media materials which contain P and N are almost similar. The number of worms in a single treatment can increase P-available and N-total Vermicompost. The increasing of P-Available occurs because the body of earthworms are collaborated with a wide variety of microorganisms that can produce phosphatase enzyme that works to increase the P-availability as phosphate solvent microbial. Phosphate solvent bacteria is capable to break the phosphate bonds previously unavailable become available. Increased N-total in the casting due to Azotobacter in the intestines of earthworms that can bind to the N-free in the air.
4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1 Conclusions
Based on the research results earthworms and media influence on the quality of Vermicompost, the conclusions are:
1. The number of earthworms and media types interact together from significant up to very significant against weathering, C-organic, the number of earthworms, worm eggs, the population of microorganisms and pH Vermicompost;
2. The highest weathering occurred in the treatment of 60 earthworms with cattle slurry + vegetables + rice straw;
3. The best quality of Vermicompost take place in the treatment of 60 earthworms with medium of cow slurry + rice straw + vegetables waste.
4.2 Suggestions
Based on the research’ results, I suggest to try various types of media with varying numbers of earthworms.
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REFERENCE
Anonimus
,
Cornel University, 2010,
Vermicompost: a Living Soil Amendment
, Department of Plant
Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, 334 Plant Science, Ithaca, NY 15853, College of Agr and Life
Sciences, Retrieved fromhttp://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/vermi-compost.htm
Anonimus, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2014 VermicomposRetrieved from https://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermicompost
Atiyeh, R.M., J. Dominguez, S. Subler, and C.A. Edwards. 2000. Changes in biochemical properties of cow manure during processing by wearthworm (Eisenia andrei) and the effects on seedling growth. Pedobiologia 44:709-7724.
Albanell, E., Plaixats, J. and T. Carbero. 1988. Chemical Changes During Vermicomposting (Eisenia foetida) of Sheep Manure Mixed with Cotton Industrial Waste. Biol. Fertil. Soil. 6: 266-269. riljan, H. S. Pemanfaatan Crotalaria retusa L. da Kas i g “e agai Pupuk Orga ik U tuk “ayura
Selada (Lactuca sativa). Agroteknolgi Fakultas Pertanian Unsika. Majalah Ilmiah Solusi Unsika. Vol. 10 No. 20
Keith Addison, Journey to Forever Website, 2001,
Vermicomposting
, Retrieved from http:/
/journeytoforever.org/compost_worm.html
Lavelle, P 1988. Earthworm Activities and the Soil System. Biol. Fertil. Soil 6: 237-251.
Palungkun, R. 1999. Sukses Beternak Cacing Tanah Lumbricus rubellus. Jakarta: Penebar Swadaya.
Soni Cochran, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 2015Vermicomposting:
Composting with Worms
Retrieved from http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/vermicompost107.shtml
Rhonda Sherman, Bio & Ag Engineering, 2015,
Vermicomposting
, NC State University, North California,
Retrieved from http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/vermicomposting/
Yudiarsa a I.M., 2009. Pe garuh Dosis Pupuk Kas i g da Jarak Ta a Terhadap Pertu uha da Hasil Tanaman Nilam (Pogostemon cablin Benth) di Laha Keri g tesis . De pasar: Universitas Udayana.
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