English

The effects of temperature on the intensive production of Lumbricus terrestris (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae)

Laboratory based experiments were carried out to assess the effects of temperatures, in the range 0-25°C, on intensive production of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris L. Each phase of the life cycle was examined. Cocoon production of 25.3 cocoons, over a continuous twelve months, was greatest at a constant 15°C compared with two fluctuating temperature regimes. Length of cocoon incubation was shortest at 20°C, taking 70 days, with hatchability at 74%. With a feed of paper pulp, greatest hatchling growth rates of 20-30 mg g-1 d-1 were recorded at 20°C. Hatchling mortality at twenty weeks was less than 13% at all temperatures tested below 25°C. A temperature between 15 and 20°C was concluded to be the most satisfactory for overall L. terrestris production.

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