Page 35 - ingilizce

continuously supplied with food [33, 34]. Thus, the physico-chemical or nutrient properties of

the waste may be related to the temperature, pH and moisture content as well as the growth of
the earthworm. The interaction between the palatability of these physico-chemical organic

wastes and the feeding power by the earthworm is directly related to the interaction of these
parameters and consequently affects the growth and reproduction of the earthworm.

Earthworms promote the growth of "beneficial decomposing aerobic bacteria" in organic waste

material and also act as grinders, crushers, chemical degraders and biological stimulators of
waste material [35]. The earthworm is home to millions of decomposing (biodegrading)

microbes, hydrolytic enzymes and hormones, which help in the rapid decomposition of complex
organic matter into vermicompost in a relatively short period of one-two months, compared to

the traditional composting method, which takes about five months. The mechanism of
vermicomposting by earthworms takes place in the following steps; The organic matter

consumed by the worm is softened by the saliva in the worm's mouth. The food in the

oesophagus is further softened and neutralised by calcium, and physical disintegration in the
muscle gizzard results in particles < 2 μ in size, thus providing an enhanced surface area for

microbial processing. Finally, this ground material is exposed to various enzymes secreted in
the lumen by the stomach and small intestine, such as protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase and

chitinase [20, 35, 36].

3.3.1. Physiology and life conditions of earthworms

Earthworm body is almost cylindrical shape but may has end cross-sectional area of

quadrilateral, octagonal or trapezoidal and in some species may be flat shape. Body length
varies from 15 mm to 300 mm and its diameter varies from 1- 10 mm. External grooves, Furrow,

on the worm body specify the place of internal curtains,Septa,. These curtains divide the body

into a series of similar parts which called Somite or Metamere. External secondary grooves,
Annuli, often form three rings. The secondary grooves is a virtual division and do not exist in

internal anatomy of the body. The first body segment, Peristomiom, surrounds the mouth and
on the dorsal area has a lobe which called Prostmium. How to connect the mouth and Prostmium

in earthworm is variable depending on the species and are used for their classification.
Earthworms are androgyny and have both male and female reproductive system which is mainly

limited to the front parts of body. Earthworms have a simple digestive system. Earthworms eat

almost everything such as plant roots, leaves and seeds, microscopic organisms such as
protozoa, Larvae, the Rotifers, bacteria, fungi, and larger animals, especially cattle, feces. The

food ingested with soil and passes along from the earthworms digestive canal. Earthworms

28