Detailed Explanation of the Key Technical Points for Raising Earthworms in Mulberry Orchards

The earthworm is commonly known as Dilong, also called Qushan, and is a representative animal of the class Oligochaeta in the phylum Annelida. Let us take a look together at the technology for raising earthworms in mulberry orchards.

Selection of the mulberry orchard

At present, most existing mulberry orchards can be used as earthworm rearing sites, and sparse-planted, wide-row mulberry orchards give even better results. However, raising earthworms in mulberry orchards still requires the following conditions: 1. Good ventilation and drainage to suit the habit of earthworms, which like darkness and come out at night.

1. Avoid mulberry orchards with noisy crowds, noise, and severe vibration, to prevent the earthworms from escaping.

2. There must be sufficient water sources, preferably groundwater.

3. Convenient transportation and easy operation.

Rearing methods and techniques

The main earthworm rearing methods include: pond rearing, bed rearing, pot rearing, box rearing and basket rearing, trench rearing, garden and field rearing, greenhouse and indoor rearing, etc. In addition to considering the use of the mulberry orchard, raising earthworms in mulberry orchards can also consider the full use of the idle period and equipment of large silkworm-rearing sheds, and it is advisable to adopt a combination of field trench rearing and box-type three-dimensional rearing in greenhouses and silkworm rooms.

1. Method for establishing rearing trenches in mulberry orchards

Rearing trenches are established in alternate rows and rotated once a year, which conveniently meets the needs of routine technical management for both silkworm rearing and earthworm rearing, and also complies with the requirement that earthworms cannot be raised on the same land repeatedly. Trenches are dug at the center of mulberry rows, requiring 20cm on each side from the mulberry trees. The soil dug out from the trenches is placed around the trenches, with ridges 15cm wide and tamped firm. One side of the trench is 40cm high, and the symmetrical side is 20cm high. In terms of length, the mulberry row can be divided so that the seed group accounts for 1/5, the breeding group accounts for 1/5, and the production group accounts for 3/5; a layout of one row for the seed group, one row for the breeding group, and several rows for the production group can also be used.

2. Method for box-type and bed-type three-dimensional rearing in greenhouses and silkworm rooms

This method can be used as an auxiliary method to accompany earthworm rearing in mulberry orchards, mainly from the end of autumn silkworm rearing to before spring silkworm rearing the following year. Silkworm-rearing households can use the racks, silkworm trays, moisture-proof plastic film, stoves (for winter heating), and silkworm platforms used for large silkworms and other equipment to raise earthworms: before placing manure feed, plastic sheeting should first be laid in the silkworm trays, and before placing manure feed on the silkworm platforms, wooden boards should be used to enclose a height of 20cm around them, while also laying plastic sheeting. Fifteen days before silkworm rearing, the earthworms raised in the shed room must be moved back to the mulberry orchard, and the shed room and tools must be washed, brushed, and disinfected clean in preparation for silkworm rearing.