Pengaruh Variasi Media Terhadap Biomassa dan Populasi cacing Tanah (Pheretima javanica K.) Serta Pemanfaatannya sebagai Buku Teks

Abstract

Waste can become an environmental problem if it is not utilized. Some wastes that can be utilized as earthworm media are cow dung waste, oyster mushroom baglogs, and leaf compost. These wastes contain organic matter needed in the cultivation of earthworms. The utilization of earthworms is very diverse, including medicinal and cosmetic raw materials, such as animal, poultry, and fish feed, also human food as a source of protein. The utilization of earthworms in various fields makes the demand for earthworms increase, so it is necessary to accelerate the cultivation of earthworms. The type of earthworm used in the study is Pheretima javanica obtained from collectors. The study was conducted for 8 weeks to determine changes in biomass and population growth of the various media tested. Changes in biomass and population growth, namely the presence of cocoons or juveniles, were observed every week. The media variations used were treatment 1 (P1) 100% cow dung, treatment 2 (P2) 25% oyster mushroom baglog + 75% pure soil, treatment 3 (P3) 100% leaf compost, treatment 4 (P4) 50% cow dung + 50% oyster mushroom baglog, treatment 5 (P5) 50% cow dung + 50% leaf compost, treatment 6 (P6) 50% oyster mushroom baglog + 50% leaf compost, with negative control (K-) 100% pure soil. The results showed that the highest biomass increase in treatment 6 (P6) was not significantly different from treatment 1 (P1) and not significantly different from treatment 5 (P5). The highest population increase was in treatment 4 (P4) and treatment 5 (P5). The results of the study will then be continued with the production of textbooks as public and academic reading materials.