What soil is best for raising earthworms? Soil selection methods for earthworm farming
Earthworms can be used as fishing bait to catch fish, as feed to raise fish, and as medicinal material to treat illness. They have a wide range of uses, and many people raise them to make money. So, what soil is best for raising earthworms?
1. What soil is best for raising earthworms?
Earthworms can be raised without soil, generally using fermented cow dung. If someone finds this unhygienic, they can use relatively loose garden soil, or mix garden soil with some sawdust, or mix shredded and water-soaked horse manure paper or straw board paper with garden soil for raising.
2. Earthworm box and basket rearing method
1. Prepare boxes and baskets: they can be made from wood, bamboo, twigs, rattan, plastic, etc. The specifications can be 60cm*30cm*20cm, 60cm*40cm*20cm, 60cm*50cm*20cm, 60cm*20cm*30cm, 60cm*40cm*30cm. The bottom and sides of the box or basket need small holes for drainage and ventilation.
2. Loading material into the box: do not load too much material, to avoid poor ventilation; a stacking height of about 16cm is sufficient. This height will not dry out the feed and is favorable for the growth and reproduction of earthworms.
3. Putting in earthworms: select suitable earthworms and place them in the box or basket, such as Daping No. 2, which is not only relatively large in size, but also has a relatively long lifespan, strong reproductive capacity, and is relatively easy to raise.
4. Feeding: earthworms are omnivorous animals and feed on decaying organic matter. When raising them, cow dung, pig manure, straw, weeds, etc. can be used as feed. The feed formula is 100% cow dung, or 50% cow dung, 35% pig manure, 150% straw, or 50% pig manure, 50% straw/weeds. The feed must be fully fermented and decomposed, to avoid causing the death of earthworms.
5. Daily management: the optimal rearing temperature for earthworms is 20-27°C, the relative air humidity should be maintained at 70%-80%, and ventilation should be provided 3-4 times a day, 30 minutes each time. When the earthworms grow to commercial specifications, the large earthworms should be harvested in time.