title: Vermicomposting of Taro (Colocasia esculenta) with two epigeic earthworm species.
abstract: The bioconversion potential of two epigeic species (Eisenia foetida Sav. and Eudrilus eugeniae Kinberg) of earthworms was assessed in terms of efficiency and sustainability of vermicomposting of Taro (Colocasia esculenta (Linn) Schott in Schott and Endl). In different vermireactors, each run in triplicates with one of the two species of earthworms, and 60 g of 6:1 Colocasia:cowdung as feed, vermicasts were produced with steadily increasing output in all the reactors. E. eugeniae was found to be more efficient producer of vermicasts than E. foetida. In all reactors, the earthworms grew well, increasing their weights and number.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala 686 560, India.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kurien
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Ramasamy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019149:Bioreactors; D031060:Colocasia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D012987:Soil