Shredded paper as food for Eisenia fetida: changes in soil and in several biological parameters

Abstract

Earthworms of species Eisenia fetida (Savigny 1826) (red wiggler worm), are known as eaters of a large range of organic matter, being considered from this point of view real solvers of several issues regarding the wastes management. This study intended to show that paper wastes (copy paper) can be eaten by earthworms Eisenia fetida and thus this type of waste can be managed by introducing it into the diet of this earthworm species. The objectives of the study were two: 1) to determine the relationship existing between this food type and several biological parameters of this earthworm species (survival, weight, and prolificacy); 2) to establish the relation existing between this earthworm's mortality, weight and prolificacy and several soil properties (the concentration of the total nitrogen, available potassium, and available phosphorus). The experiment lasted three months and has been carried out as a laboratory (microcosmos) experiment.