• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.52-64
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• 2008

Aged sewage sludge with food waste leachate sludge or paper mill sludge was fed to earthworm (Eisenia fetida) populations and the effect of it on feeding and growth rate of earthworm population was investigated. Feeding rate of earthworm population on sewage sludge aged with food waste leachate sludge for 30 days was higher than that aged for 10 and 20 days. At 90 days after feeding, the density of earthworm population decreased regardless of aging period. And earthworm population growth to next generation was blocked by sewage sludge. The feeding rate and the density of earthworm population aged with paper mill sludge for 20 days were higher than that on sewage sludges aged for 10 and 30 days. Until 90 days after feeding, the density of earthworm population increased regardless of aging period of sewage sludge, however, since then decreased. There were comparatively higher feeding rate and growth rate of earthworm population on the sewage sludge which had been mixed with paper mill sludge and aged for 20 days, which rendered the probable pretreating method for vermicomposting sewage sludge.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.104-112
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• 2006

Population growths of earthworm were investigated when the earthworm populations with different levels of initial densities per unit area were fed with cow dung mixed with paper mill sludge. The tested levels of earthworm densities were as follows; $1kg/m^2$, $2kg/m^2$, $3kg/m^2$, $5kg/m^2$. There were no significant differences in population growth rates 60 and 90 days after feed supply among the tested densities of earthworm. Therefore, it was suggested that initial densities of earthworm populations per unit area higher than $3kg/m^2$ should not be favorable because of the cost for purchasing earthworm. Vermicomposting rates of earthworm on feed were also investigated when different amounts of feed were supplied repeatedly to unit area of nursery bed with $5kg/m^2$ of initial densities earthworm populations. The tested amounts of feed at each supplying time were as follows; $16kg/m^2$, $24kg/m^2$, $32kg/m^2$, $40kg/m^2$. The more the amount of feed at each supplying time, the higher vermicomposting rate and population growth rate. Therefore, it should be more favorable for earthworm breeders to supply more than $40kg/m^2$ of feed at each supplying time, because it would reduce time and labor cost.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.66-78
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• 2003

The effects of several factors such as heavy metals, living microorganims, high molecular conglomerator in sewage sludge were analysed. And the effects of the sewage sludges which were mixed with other organic waste such as paper mill sludge or night soil sludge upon the feeding rate and biomass of earthworm population were also estimated. The earthworm populations could not survive when newly produced sewage sludges were fed without any pretreatment. The contents of heavy metals were under the levels that could inhibit earthworm's growth. The living microorganisms and the high molecular conglomerator in the sewage sludge had no relations with ecotoxicological effects of sewage sludge upon the earthworm population. Sewage sludge which had been mixed with paper mill sludge and aged for more than 21 days showed no ecotoxicological effects on tiger worm(Eisenia fetida) population. And the feeding rate of earthworm population and the turnover rate of earthworm biomass were higher in those sewage sludges than in the sewage sludges pretreated by other ways.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.93-99
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• 2007

Vertical distribution of tiger worm(Eisenia fetida) population in the earthworm rearing bed was investigated with feeding paper mill sludge. More than 50% of larva and adult population of Eisenia fetida lived within the depth of 5 cm from the surface of rearing bed. And more than 96% of the population of larva, adult and cocoon lived within the depth of 20 cm. Percental vertical distribution of Eisenia fetida population in the rearing bed was not much influenced by the changes in the height of rearing bed or density of earthworm population.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.98-106
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• 2005

Population dynamics in the vermicomposting bed was investigated. And harvesting efficiencies of earthworm attracting traps with different attractants, mesh sizes of net and covering materials was evaluated. Peak density of earthworm population was $5kg/m^2$ and therafter its desity kept $4.4{\sim}5.0kg/m^2$. It was evaluated that suitable mesh size of the net was 7mm and proper covering materials of the earthworm attracting trap was cotton quilt. The earthworm harvesting efficiency of trap with attractant was much higher than that of trap without attractant. With more amount of attractant in the trap and with longer setting period of trap onto the vermicomposting bed, the earthworm attracting trap harvested more earthworms. Crushed pear-peel attracted much more earthworms than paper mill sludge, but it was difficult to supply enough amount of crushed pear-peel for practical need. Sugar solution(10%) with tab water was proven to be an alternative to crushed pear-peel because its attracting effect on earthworm was as high as crushed pear-peel and it was easy to prepare and supply in large quantity.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 1995

This experiment was carried out to the effects of population density and C/N ratios of feed on the growth, reproductive effciency and cast producation of the earthworm(Eisenia foetida). The population densities of 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 individuals of the earthworm fed with different C/N ratios of 25, 35, 45 and 55 cow manures were studied in rearing box($6,400cm^3$), and at the fertility stage during a period of 60 days. The results were summarized as follows; The survial rate(SR), increasing rate(IR), reproductive efficiency(RE) and cast production of the earthworms showed highest values in C/N ratio of 25. These results may indicate that C/N ratio of 25 is a very favourable feed for the growth of the earthworms. The survial rate(SR) indicated significant positive correlation with reproductive efficiency(RE) in different C/N ratios of feeds. The survial rate(SR) showed highest values in population densities of $50{\sim}100$ worms/$6,400cm^3(64.0{\sim}128.0cm^3/worm$). On the contrary, increasing rate(IR) tended to decreased with the increased population densities. The survival rate(SR) indicated significant negative correlation with reproductive efficiency(RE) in different population densities of the earthworms. The cast production estimated were $31.6mg{\sim}67.4mg/day/worm$ grown in optimum population densities($50{\sim}100\;worms/6,400cm^3$). The earthworm casting are an excellent soil conditioning material or organic fertilizer sources with a high chemical composition and their physical properties.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.259-266
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• 1993

This experiment was carried out to the effect of population densities on the growth reproduction, cast production of the earthworm and chemical composition of worm casts. The population densities of 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 individuals of the earthworm fed with cow manure was studied in rearing box($6,400cm^3$) and fertility stage during a period of 60 days. The results were summarized as follows 1. Survival rates(SR) of the earthworms had significantly positive correlated with increasing rate(IR). But, survival rates(SR) and increasing rate(IR) had significantly negative correlated with reproductive efficiency(RE). 2. The ranges of optimum population densities estimated were $42.7cm^3-128.0cm^3/worm$. 3. The cast production estimated were 36.5mg-80.9mg/day/worm grown in optimum population densities(50-150 worms/$6,400cm^3$). 4. The earthworm castings are an excellent soil conditioning material with a high chemical composition and their physical properties.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.112-118
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• 2004

Laying hens' excrement from eating food wastes was mixed with paper mill sludge, aged for 21 days and then provided to the juvenile earthworms(Eisenia fetida) for 10 weeks. Biomass of earthworm population decreased by 5.7% of initially introduced population. Very few juvenile earthworms developed into the clitellates and clitellated earthworms could not produce cocoons at all, which was supposed to be caused by inhibition effects of salts in laying hens' excrement upon the sexual development of Eisenia fetida. But there was no significant effect on the survivorship of earthworm population.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.45-53
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• 2010

Feeding rate and growth rate of earthworm population on the variously pretreated spent materials of the agaric-mushroom cultivation were investigated. When the spent mushroom substrates with different aging periods were supplied to earthworm, feeding rate and growth rate of earthworm population on spent mushroom substrates aged less than 10 days were higher than that on spent mushroom substrates aged more than 20 days. Feeding rate and growth rate were not increased when the spent mushroom substrate mixed with vermicasts or nitrogenous fertilizer was supplied. Feeding rate and growth rate on the ground mushroom substrate were higher than that on the non-ground mushroom substrate. Especially when the ground mushroom substrate was mixed with rice bran and supplied to earthworms, growth rate was much higher than that on the non-ground spent mushroom substrate; it increased 1.85 times.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.155-164
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• 2016

Earworm is very useful animal in soil ecosystem, however it is harmful for golf courses because they introduce many cast on turfgrass that reduces turf uniformity and play quality. However, no information has found on earthworm diversity and seasonal fluctuation in different Korean golf courses. In this study, we focused to carry out earthworm species composition and seasonal population structure in turfgrass of golf courses. During spring and fall season survey with direct digging and tea saponin drenching sampling in 5 different golf courses, 6 species under 3 families of earthworms were collected. Earthworm species composition and density was different among the golf courses. Aporrectodea caliginosa in Lumbricidae was dominant species in Anseong and Dongrae Benest Golf Club; however Amynthas carnosus in Megascolecidae was dominant species in Anyang and Glenrose Golf Club. Ap. caliginosa was collected only aclitellum in July and Am. carnosus was collected aclitellum and clitellum in August in golf courses. Seasonal population of earthworm was different depending on earthworm species (Am. hupeiensis was the highest in August and Ap. caliginosa was in April) however small number of collected earthworm species were not dominant trend in golf courses.