Contribution of Eisenia foetida to pig dung and stalks decomposition

We studied the contribution of Eisenia foetida in the pig dung, the feed mixture of pig dung and stalks decomposing. The results indicates earthworms in the feed mixture of pig dung and corn stalks grew well, increasing their weights and number, especially in the feed mixture of 50% pig dung and 50% corn stalks. The maximum worm biomass increment and cocoons production was observed in the feed mixture of 50% pig dung and 50% corn stalks, the smallest increment in the 100% pig dung. The cocoon production by E. foetida in feed mixtures of pig dung and corn stalks were more than those of pig dung and paddy stalks. Before E. foetida participating in the process of decomposing, the mass loss of control pots had no earthworm was more than that of E. foetida only in the same feed mixture pots except for the mixture of 50% pig dung and 50% corn stalks. The mass loss by microbe in the feed mixture of pig dung and stalks was more than that of pig dung. The microbes and E. foetida were more active in the feed mixture of pig dung and corn stalks than those of pig dung and paddy stalks. In fact, the earthworms introduced to pots with feed mixtures, ingested and metabolized mixtures, accompanying with microorganism. In general, the microbe play more significant role in the decomposing than E. foetida solely. Therefore, different contribution of microbe and E. foetida in the decomposing processes of pig dung, pig dung and mixtures.