Sains Malaysiana 43(2)(2014): 169–173

Optimal Stocking Density for Culturing Tropical Soil-dwelling Earthworm,

Pontoscolex corethrurus

(Kepadatan Optimum untuk Pengkulturan Cacing Tanah Tropika, Pontoscolex corethrurus)

H.Y. KOK, A.A. NOR AZWADY*, K.E. LOH, M. MUSKHAZLI & S.Z. ZULKIFLI

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia,  43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 12 May 2013/Accepted: 18 May 2013

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out to determine the optimal stocking density for culturing tropical soil dwelling earthworm, Pontoscolex corethrurus. F1 generation earthworms were cultured in four different stocking densities of 1, 4, 7 and 10 worms per vessel, corresponding to field densities of 50, 200, 350 and 500 individuals per m². Earthworms were kept under laboratory conditions (25±2°C and 25% moisture) for the 14 weeks study period. The results showed that at higher earthworm densities (>350 individuals per m²), the earthworm growth was slower and sexual maturation was delayed as compared with their counterparts in lower stocking density. With the high survival rate and parthenogenetic reproduction mode, P. corethrurus could potentially be used as tropical soil rehabilitation agent.

Keywords: Cocoon; culture; earthworm; stocking density

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini telah dijalankan untuk menentukan kepadatan optimum pengkulturan cacing tanah tropika Pontoscolex corethrurus. Generasi pertama (F1) cacing tanah dikultur dalam empat kepadatan berbeza, iaitu 1, 4, 7 dan 10 individu setiap bekas kultur, bersamaan dengan kepadatan lapangan 50, 200, 350 dan 500 individu setiap m². Cacing tanah dikultur dalam keadaan makmal (25±2°C dan 25% kelembapan) selama 1 minggu. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa dalam kepadatan yang tinggi (>350 individu setiap m²), pertumbuhan P. corethrurus menjadi perlahan dan kematangan seksual lebih lewat berbanding dalam kepadatan yang lebih rendah. Dengan kadar kemandirian yang tinggi dan bersifat partenogenetik, P. corethrurus berpotensi digunakan sebagai agen pemulihan tanah tropika.

Kata kunci: Cacing tanah; kepadatan; kokon; pengkulturan

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*Corresponding author; email: azwady@upm.edu.my