EARTHWORMS (OLIGOCHAETA) REPRODUCTION IN MANURE AND SUGARCANE BAGASSE

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the reproductibility of adu lt earthworms. The first experiment was conducted using the following ratio (w/w) of manure: chopped bagasse, 0:1, 1:3, 1:1, 3:1 and 1:0. Th e second experiment was conducted in one litter pot using the followin g ratio (v/v) of manure: ground bagasse, 1:3 and 1:1, selected from th e first experiment results. In both experiments half of the pots were inoculated with Acetobacter diazotrophicus (Gillis et al., 1989). Exce pt for the 0:1 manure:bagasse ratio, all other ratios were favorable f or the earthworm reproduction. The highest numer of earthworms was fou nd at 1:1 and 3:1 ratios, for chopped bagasse. The highest adult survi val occurred for the mixture manure: chopped bagasse at the proportion 1:3. No death was found for the ground bagasse treatments. No differe nce was observed for A. diazotrophicus inoculation over the worms repr oductivity.