RU2058737C1 - Method of preparing technological (specialized) compost earthworm strains, eisenia foetida - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: biotechnology of manure processing. SUBSTANCE: compost earthworms of wild population were placed in 25-40 cm manure compost layer for processing. Worms were kept in compost for three development cycles each of that continues for 140-180 days at substrate (compost) temperature 15-25 C, humidity - 65-85% and medium pH 6.5-7.5. Worms were fed every month by fresh compost (substrate) layering on the surface of substrate to be processed. Survived worms were transfered from depleted substrate to the layer of fresh compost where they are multiplicated quickly and form the population of technological (specialized) worms used for manure (compost) processing. Method is used for manure and other organo-containing waste processing to the humus organic fertilizer. EFFECT: improved method of earthworms preparing. 1 tbl

Description

 The invention relates to biotechnology for processing manure of cattle complexes or other organic waste using compost worms in humic organic fertilizer (synonyms: vermicompost, worm compost) for fields and a complete protein for balancing animal feed, in particular, to create technological “strains” (breeds) of compost ( manure) of the earthworm Eisenia foetida.

 Over the past decade, there has been growing interest in different countries in the development and implementation of biotechnology for processing manure of cattle complexes and other organic waste using earthworms (rain or compost) worms into humic organic fertilizer for fields and complete protein for balancing animal feed in the form of worm biomass. Such biotechnology eliminates environmental pollution by manure, drastically reduce the consumption of chemical fertilizers in the fields with a significant increase in soil and animal productivity; agricultural and livestock products are becoming environmentally friendly, of excellent quality and reliable preservation. It helps improve the health of the soil, population and animals.

 The main biological component in the technology for processing composts of livestock complexes are productive "strains" of earthworms (earth or compost) worms obtained by selection from wild (natural) precursors.

 The most productive and acceptable for the technology of manure processing turned out to be the dung (compost) worm Eisenia foetida. This species is widespread everywhere, easily adapts to various organic-containing substrates (Perel TS The distribution and regularity of distribution of earthworms of the fauna of the USSR. M. Nauka, 1979, pp. 1-272).

 In the United States, this technologically acceptable species of worms served as the basis for breeding work, during which in 1959 an option called "California Red" was obtained. Unlike the original wild predecessors, it has the ability to breed in land cultivators such as garden beds without any buildings or greenhouses in the climate of the California or Mediterranean region, provides 18-26-fold reproduction per cycle of cultivation in open ground (under the open sky) and 512-fold reproduction in closed greenhouses, while wild relatives give only 4-6-fold reproduction. Its life expectancy is four times longer than that of an ordinary dung worm and reaches 16 years. (K. Ferruzzi Manuale del Zombricoltore. Edagricole Bologna, Roma, Milane, 1984, p-121).

 For example, in England much attention is paid to adaptation to the most diverse substrates of worms of the species Eisenia foetida. Some other productive species have been found that are being studied at Rothhamsted. Fundamental research is focused mainly on the selection and genetic channel and the channel of interactions: earthworms, microorganisms, i.e. finding those microbes that cause the maximum growth of worms. Pure cultures of these microbes should, in their opinion, accelerate the decomposition of organics and the growth of worm production (C.A. Edwards, 1983; T. Foster, 1985; M. Gaisfort, 1987).

 The first successes in obtaining a technologically acceptable "strain" of Eisenia foetida at the State Pedagogical Institute appeared as a result of selection work already in 1985-1986. During 1987 and 1988 the resulting "strain" of a technologically acceptable population of Eisenia foetida worms was tested in experiments on its reproduction on various substrates prepared on the basis of cattle litter (cut bedding straw), pork litter (sawdust) manure, solid fraction of porcine litter-free manure, horse manure , peat compost in the form of adaptation to each substrate separately. (Parallel replicates: n 10; successive transfers: n 4).

 In addition, studies were conducted to determine the ability of the worms of the laboratory population to adapt when they were re-populated on a new (unfamiliar to them) substrate: for example, worms cultivated on a substrate from pig manure (180 days) were re-populated on a substrate based on bedding manure of cattle, or horse manure, or chicken droppings. Worms relatively easily took root on an unfamiliar substrate with an average loss of about 40-50% of the number of overpopulated worms in the first 14 days of their stay in a new substrate. In the subsequent periods (after 14 days of adaptation), the surviving worms quickly ringed and entered the breeding phase, which indicated their complete adaptation. Control worms die in this situation by 90-95 percent.

 Then we changed the scheme for the adaptation of worms to a new substrate for them, based on the following understanding of the physiological process of restructuring the digestive tract enzyme system: compost for worms is their home and their food. The worms living in it feel good. But relocated to a new substrate unfamiliar to them, they may feel that it is “tasteless” to them, or cause other unpleasant sensations and discomfort, even fatal. This is done as follows. In a substrate unfamiliar to the worms, a recess is made with a capacity of 10-20 liters. In this recess, respectively, 10-20 liters of substrate with worms that live and are brought up in it are laid. Worms eat their native substrate, but it gets smaller. Feeling hungry, they begin to scour and go to the border to a new substrate for them. Try it out. But they do not like him and they return home (to the old native substrate). But hunger drives them again and they again try a new substrate for them. So gradually over a period of several days (7-14 days) they adapt to a new substrate and pass into it. Moreover, the loss of populations is from 10 to 20% of the resettled worms. Thus, wild "strains" of worms should be relocated for their re-education, adaptation and selection.

 Selection of worms Eisenia foetida and obtaining technological strains.

Based on the foregoing, taking into account the fact that the technological "strains" (breeds) of earthworms and their cultivation technologies created in the USA are included in the COCOM list (a list of goods and technologies prohibited for export to the USSR), using experience and knowledge of general biological selection laws and biotechnological laws, we set out to create our technological (specialized) “strains” (breeds) of worms from wild local populations of the earthworm species Eisenia foetida (Savinghi, 1826), (Oligohaeta, Zumbricidae) suitable for industrial bio-processing heel organikosoderzhaschih manure and other waste of agricultural and industrial (fermentation, lumber and the like) in the production of environmentally friendly products: humus organic fertilizer (vermicompost, chervekompost) unmatched quality;
complete protein (in the form of biomass of worms) for balancing animal feed;
a neutralized, disinfected environment that contributes to the improvement of soil, water, agricultural products, animals and people.

A method of obtaining technological (specialized) breeds of compost earthworm Eisenia foetida is that compost worms of the wild population are placed in a 25-40-cm layer of compost from manure to be industrially processed, they are kept in it for three development cycles, each of which lasts 140-180 days at a temperature of the substrate (compost) 15-25 ^{° C,} 65-85% humidity and pH 6.5-7.5 with monthly fertilizing worms by laminating fresh compost (substrate) to the surface of the processed substrate, with this the processed substrate is undergoing a process of selection and adaptation of worms to new artificially created living conditions with the death of a significant part of wild individuals, the surviving worms pass from the spent substrate into a layer of fresh compost, multiply rapidly and make up the population of technological (specialized) worms for processing this manure (compost) .

Technological parameters of cultivation. Substrate temperature: optimal 20 (15-25) ^o С. At a substrate temperature of 13 ^o С, the worms cease to lay cocoons; at a temperature of 6 ^{° C} worms stop feeding, at a temperature of +4 ^C. worms cease to move and flow in anabiotic state. With an increase in substrate temperature to 26 ^{° C} and above worms stop delay cocoons at ³⁰ ° C they stop feeding, at a temperature of 35 ^{° C to} 40 ° C occurs their death.

 Substrate Humidity: Optimum 75 (65 to 85)%. When moisture is less than 65%, worms are thirsty. With a humidity of 30%, the population dies within a week. Worms are not afraid of waterlogging and can be under a layer of water for up to three weeks.

 Habitat pH: optimal 7.0 (6.5-7.5). An environment that is too acidic (below 6.0) and too alkaline (above 8.0) is fatal to worms.

 The concentration of soluble salts of 0.5% and higher is fatal for worms.

 In the course of laboratory studies, not only the type of worms suitable for developing technology for their industrial cultivation was selected, but cultivation conditions were identified and verified, and the cycle of their reproduction, growth and maturation was traced. In particular, a large coincidence of the quantitative characteristics of the reproduction, growth and maturation of worms in laboratory and field cultivators with calculated data was found, which allows one to mathematically predict the development of an industrial population and derive the level of reproduction of worms and humus by a certain date for a newly organized enterprise. The optimal "seed dose" of the worms was determined to obtain maximum reproduction per cycle of their cultivation. Formulations of technological substrates (the habitat of technological worms), as well as the technology of cultivation of worms, which allows mechanizing the whole process from populating them into substrates, feeding and selecting and selecting from substrates, preparing a protein product (for example, protein flour from worm biomass), and humus fertilizer for the fields.

 Soil from the field after growing potatoes (unfertilized sandy loam) was poured into the vegetation vessels. Part of the vegetation vessels (5 in each group and for each culture) were filled only with soil from the potato field, other groups of vessels were filled with the same soil, but with the addition of 1% worm compost (30% moisture), 5-, -10, -15, -20% worm compost (30% humidity). 10 seeds of selected plants were placed in each vessel. After 2 months, the plants were harvested along with the roots, dried to 95% moisture, ground in a ball mill, weighed and counted. The results are presented in the table.

 This is also the only experience. The results of this experiment, apparently, indicate the possibility of creating highly productive fields.

The aforementioned biotechnology for processing organic waste with the help of technological worms that have been bred on the spot is still being developed on a pilot scale (with processing up to 5000 tons of organic waste) in the following farms:
1) 295110 Transcarpathian region, Uzhgorod district, the village of Chaslovtsy, the greenhouse plant "Spring".

 An industrial population of technological worms has been bred at this plant, which processes technological chips into humus fertilizer. The area of cultivators is 3000 square meters, the processing capacity of 3000 cubic meters of woodchips during the summer period with the production of up to 1000 cubic meters of humic organic fertilizer in the autumn of 1991 for growing vegetables in greenhouses during the winter period of 1991-1992. The cultivation of worms is carried out in cultivators on a concrete platform in the open. By September 1991, the population density of worms will reach more than 50,000 individuals per square meter of cultivator, which corresponds to a weight of 8 (± 2) kg of biomass of worms per square meter. The biomass of worms is carried along with humus for growing vegetables.

 In the agricultural company "Elite", an industrial population of worms has been developed, which processes litter straw cattle manure into humus fertilizer. The area of cultivators is 3000 square meters. The processing capacity of 3000 tons of litter manure during the summer season in the open air with the production of up to 1200 tons of humic organic fertilizer for the fields. The density of the worm population by the fall will reach 50-60 thousand individuals per square meter of cultivators. Separation of worms for livestock feed is not planned.

 The cooperative "Rus" at the collective farm is engaged in the bioprocessing of litter of cattle with the help of technological worms of the "strain" Vladimirsky. The area of cultivators is 1000 square meters. During the summer period of 1991, 1000 tons of manure composts were processed and 400 tons of humus fertilizer were obtained. By September, the population density will reach 50-60 thousand individuals per square meter.

Claims (1)

 METHOD FOR PRODUCING TECHNOLOGICAL (SPECIALIZED) BREEDS OF COMPOSITE RAW WORM EISENIA FOETIDA, which includes collecting worms from the wild population, putting them into compost and maintaining the worms for optimal life temperature conditions, humidity and pH, characterized in that they have 25 compost A 40-cm layer of compost from manure, they are kept in it for three development cycles, each of which lasts 140 180 days, while feeding the worms is carried out monthly by layering with fresh substrate on the surface of the processed substrate.

Images