Vermicomposting Using Waste Papers as Substrates for African Night Crawler (Eudriluseugeniae)

As part of the implementation of Solid Waste Management Program, accumulating volumes of waste paper generated is everybodys concern. Proper waste disposal and segregation should be done. Thus, a research was conducted utilizing the different waste papers as substrates for African night crawler (Eudrilus eugeniae). The objective of the study is to determine which among the different waste papers is the best substrate for African night crawler as compared with those fed by agricultural wastes. The study was conducted using Completely Randomized Design. Results revealed significant differences in the change in weight of African night crawler, weight of waste paper consumed, weight of vermicompost produced, number of eggs and number of juveniles produced by the African night crawler after feeding with the different waste papers. Feeding the African night crawler with carton and bond paper resulted in significant increase in weight of African Night Crawler, number of juveniles, weight of consumed paper and weight of vermicompost produced. On the other hand, the combined agricultural wastes gave the highest number of eggs produced. Therefore, waste papers such as carton, bond paper and newsprints can be used as feeding materials for African night crawler. Carton and bond paper were the best substrates over newsprint for improved vermicompost produced, increase in African night crawler biomass, weight of vermicompost produced and number of juveniles.