Fertility Status of Wormcasts of Agrotoreutus nyongii (Shegun) and Eudrilus eugeniae (Kinberg)

Abstract

Laboratory and greenhouse investigations using Amaranthus hybridus as test crop was carried out to assess and compare the fertility status of the casts of two Nigerian Earthworm species: - Agrotoreutus nyongii and Eudrilus eugeniae.
Soil nutrients availability and available water content were highest in the casts of Eudrilus eugeniae followed by Agrotoreutus casts and ordinary soil in that order. Yield and growth rates of Amaranthus were highest in the casts of Eudrilus eugeniae followed by the casts of Agrotoreutus nyongii but lowest in the parent soil.