Methods and Key Technical Points for Raising Earthworms with Biogas Residue

Earthworms have a high protein content and contain a variety of nutrients. They are not only good feed for chickens, ducks, pigs, and fish, but also a beneficial food for humans. Earthworm castings can activate soil and are a high-grade horticultural fertilizer. Earthworm castings contain up to 11%-68% humic acid, which can promote the absorption of phosphorus by crops and can increase the yield of rapeseed and cotton by more than 10%. Using earthworms as a feed additive allows broiler chickens to reach market 7 days to 10 days earlier, and increases the egg-laying rate by 15%-30%. The main technical points for raising earthworms with biogas residue are as follows:

Making the worm bed There are many ways to raise earthworms, including indoor and outdoor culture. Indoor culture includes pit culture, pot culture, and box culture; outdoor culture is mainly pit culture. According to existing rural conditions, two methods can be used: indoor ground culture beds and outdoor culture beds. The indoor ground should be a cement floor or solid soil surface, and the room should be ventilated, dark, and quiet; for outdoor culture, choose a sunny place with slightly higher terrain, and the soil under the bed should be packed firmly and compacted. In summer, a simple shade shed should be built to block the sun and rain, and wet grass should be placed over the bait, with a thickness of 10 cm-15 cm, to avoid large amounts of water evaporation.

Preparation of biogas residue bait Drain the biogas residue taken out of the biogas digester, spread it out, and let the ammonia gas and biogas in the biogas residue escape. Then evenly mix 80% air-dried biogas residue with 20% rotten chopped grass, leaves, and organic household waste, and pile it on the bed. Its thickness is 20-25 cm, and the humidity is 65%.

Worm bed management The suitable temperature for earthworm life is 15°C-30°C. Below 12°C, they stop reproducing, and above 35°C there is a risk of dying from heat. Therefore, in high-temperature seasons, attention should be paid to sprinkling water to lower the temperature, and in winter, attention should be paid to covering to increase temperature and keep warm. During the year, April to May is the peak season for growth and reproduction. Under suitable conditions, earthworms lay eggs once every 7 days to 8 days, and each egg can hatch 3 to 4 young worms. Young worms generally take 60 days to 90 days to become adults, and grow to full size in 4 months. During the breeding process, in general, material is added once a month. It is necessary to regularly clean out the earthworm castings and separate out the earthworms. This is an important step in promoting the normal growth of earthworms. It is best to raise large and small earthworms separately, because mixed raising may cause adult earthworms to autolyze and affect yield.