• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of different plant growth media on the growth of tomato(Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) seedlings during growth stages. The media were commercial plant growth medium 100％, earthworm cast (that was produced by vermicomposting of food waste and cattle manure) 100％, earthworm cast 50％ ＋ vermiculite 50％, earthworm cast 50％ ＋ perlite 50％, earthworm cast 40％ ＋ vermiculite 30％ + perlite 30％. Plant length(mm), number of leaves, leaf area($\textrm{cm}^2$), stem diameter(mm), plant dry mater were greatest till the 2nd week growth stages in the commercial plant growth medium plots, but those were higher in the earthworm cast than those in the other plant growth media at the later stages of this study(P<0.05). And relative growth rate of biological yield, relative growth rate of shoot and relative growth rate of root were highest in the earthworm cast till the 4th week growth stage. Therefore it can be implied that there is the possibility of potential utilization of earthworm cast, which was produced by vermicomposting of food waste and cattle manure, as vegetable growth medium.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2001

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of supplementing phosphorus to Korean cow manure on the growth and cast production of earthworm(Eisenia Foetida), and to estimate the optimal phosphorus level for the growth and cast production of earthworm and ratios of available phosphorus and calcium content of cast in optimal phosphorus levels. Phosphorus supplementing ratios to Korean native cow were 0, 1%, 2%, 4% and 8A%, respectively. The volume of raising box was 3375cm$^3$(15$\times$15$\times$15cm), and 500g of cow manure filled up to 10cm layer. Raising density was 90㎤ per worm during the experimental period(60 days). The maximum fresh weight and cast production of earthworm were obtained at 2~4% and 1% levels of phosphorus supplementation to Korea native cow manure. The total phosphorus and available phosphorus contents of earthworm tissues were not significant among in all treatments. There was a positive significantly differences between total phosphorus and available phosphorus of cast and residual matters. Available phosphorus content of cast were ranged from 9.3mg/g to 17.3mg/g at 1~4% levels of phosphorus supplementation. Ratios of available phosphorus and calcium contents of cast were 1.94~3.15:1 and 0.87~1.33:1 at 2~4% and 0~1% levels of phosphorus supplementation.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.93-102
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• 2003

This research was made to determine the optimum mixing ratio cattle manure and food waste investigating the effect that gets the growth and reproductive efficiency of earthworm and productivity of earthworm casts at processing process when handled cattle manure and food waste by vermicomposting, in order to establish the treatment system of organic wastes by vermicomposting. Survival ratio of earthworm was highest in the mixing ratio 80~100% : 20~0% of cattle manure and food Waste, and the increasing ratio was highest in cattle manure 100%, and the number of young worms, the weight of young worms and the productivity of earthworm casts in plots more than the mixing ratio 60% of cattle manure were significantly higher than in the other treatment plots(p<0.05). Total nitrogen and carbon contents in earthworm cast were decreased when rearing time of earthworm was increased. Carbon and nitrogen rate(C/N) of earthworm cast in plots more than the mixing ratio 80% of cattle manure was significantly higher than in the other treatment plots(p<0.05). pH in earthworm cast was higher than that in residual matter. The contents of electrolytic conductivity in the higher mixing ratio of food waste were significantly higher than those in the other treatment plots(p<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 1994

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of mixed application of earthworm cast and N-fertilizer on dry matter(DM) yield in orchardgrass(Dactylis glomerate L.). Experimental plot were designed by a randomized block design with 3 replications of six different treatments-Control(0:0), 100% earthworm cast(0:100), 3 levels of mixed application(25:75:, 50:50, 75:25) of earthworm cast and N-fertilizer, and 100% N-fertilizer(100:0)based on content (%) of nitrogen. The experiment was carried out from March to October, 1993, on the forage experimental field of Kon-Kuk Univ. in Seoul. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Annual dry matter yield was significantly increased according to increasing of N-fertilizer 2. Dry matter yield for each treatment as cutting time was passing was decreased. However, dry matter yield was slightly increased at 75%, 50%, and 25% mixed application of earthworm cast at the third cutting time than the second cutting time(p<0.05). 3. concerning each treatment per cutting time, dry matter yield was higher at 100% N fertilizer than the other treatments at the first, second, and fourth cutting time except the third cutting time only(p<0.05). And according to decreasing of mixing ratio of N fertilizer, dry matter yield was decreased, too. 4. Dry matter yield of 100% earthworm cast was significantly higher than control at the fourth cutting time(p<0.05).

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 1994

Earthworm cast was investigated in this study in order to domestically develop inexpensive and safe plug nursery soil. 20,30,40 and 50% of earthworm cast were added to the nursery soil as vegetable plant growth media, in which peatmoss and vermiculite constituted the rest of the soil. The effects of earthworm cast on the growth of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seedling were obtained as follows. 1. According to the growth stages, significant differences(p=0.001) were recorded in number of leaves, leaf area and biological dry matter yield per plant(shoor or root dry matter yield per plant). In view of mixing ratios in the nursery soil, number of leaves, leaf area and stem weight per plant showed differences significantly at 1% level and leaf weight, root weight and biological dry weight per plant at 5% level, respectively. 2. The nursery soil with earthworm cast showed increased number of leaves and leaf area per plant compared to the commercial nursery soil particularly in the later stage of this study than in the earlier stage 3. Through the total period of seedling growth, leaf weight, stem weight and root weight per plant in the nursery soil with earthworm cast were genrally higher than those in the control and this trend was apparant in the treatment of more than 40% of mixing ratio with earthworm cast. 4. Although leaf weight per plant was higher than stem weight per plant till the 3rd week, from the 4th week stem weight per plant was getting higher. In the later stage of seedling growth, the stem weight was higher in the earthworm cast mixed treatment than that in the control. 5. There was no significant difference on biological dry matter yield in the earlier stage of this study, however in the later stage, it was higher in the earthworm cast mixed treatment than that in the control.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.368-375
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• 2015

Earthworm cast occurred in surface of turfgrass in golf courses which affect turfgrass maintenance and golf play. In this study several survey of seasonal fluctuation of earthworm cast in different golf courses (Anseong, Gapyeong, Gunpo and Yongin in Gyeonggi province, and Geumjeong in Busan) was done. A number of earthworm, soil temperature and moisture of detection site of earthworm cast in each golf course were also done. Cast occurred in different golf courses are found mostly from April to November on turf surface and the cast number varied in different month as well as in golf courses. In the same golf courses, a number of detected cast was difference from individual sites. A number of cast and earthworm was correlated. Also, in higher soil moisture showed the higher cast density in different golf courses. Soil temperature and moisture of detecting cast ranging from $2.1^{\circ}C$ to $33.1^{\circ}C$ and 4.9 to 44.1%, respectively. In case of cast, soil temperature level lies in between $10-15^{\circ}C$ where the highest soil moisture was 25%.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 1995

This study was carried out to find the effects of the mixtures of earthworm cast, peatmoss, and vermiculite as a vegetable plant growth medium on the growth pepper seedlings. The mixed ratios of earthworm cast-peatmoss-vermiculite were 40-20-40, 40-30-30, 40-40-40, 50-20-30, 50-30-20, 60-10-30, 60-20-20 and 60-30-10%. The results of the study are as follows: 1, There was a significant difference of plant length, leaf area, shoot dry weight, root dry weight and biological yield per plant for growth stages and mixed ratios(p<0.05). But there was no significant interactions for both of them. 2. The nursery soil with earthworm cast was generally higher than the control treatment in shoot dry weight, root dry weight adn biological yield per plant. The shoot dry weight and biological yield per plant were high in the treatment including 60% of the earthworm cast to the 3rd week and in the one including 50% from the 4th week. But in root dry weight, the treatment including 40% of it was higher than treatment of the others. 3. The shoot dry weight per plant in treatments consisting both of 40% of earthworm, 40% of peatmoss and 20% of vermiculite and of 60%, 10% and 30% was more significant than that in the control treatment(p<0.05). 4. The average relative growth rates of shoot dry weight, root dry weight and biological yield for all treatments were higher than the ratio of control treatment except the ration of the treatment consisting of 60% of earthworm, 20% of peatmoss and 20% of vermiculite.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 2002

Four inorganic packing materials (zeocarbon, porous celite, porous glass, zeolite) and a earthworm cast were compared with regard to the removal of ammonia in a biofilter inoculated with earthworm cast. Physical adsorption of ammonia on packing materials were negligible except zeocarbon (23.5 g-$NH_3$/kg), and cell immobilization capacity have similar values irrespective of packing materials. Pressure drops of the packed bed were in order of earthworm cast zeocarbon zeolite porous glass porous. The maximum elimination capacity ($g-Nkg^{-1}$ $d^{-1}$ ) of ammonia, which were based on a unit volume of packing material, were in order of zeocarbon (526) earthworm cast (220) porous celite (93) > zeolite (68) > porous glass (53). By using kinetic analysis, the maximum removal rates ($V_{m}$ ) and the saturation constant ($K_{s}$ ) for ammonia were determined, and zeocarbon showed superior performance among the five materials.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.229-238
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• 1993

Ecological role of earthworms in red pine forest was investigated with emphasis on the population size, cast production and changes of physicoKDICical properties of soil by earthworm's activities. The density of earthworms was 62.8/m2 in August, 1992. Average biomass of earthworms was 16.3 g/m2. N and P concentrations in the tissue of earthworms were 28.5 mgN/g and 0.5 mgP/g, respectively. Cast production continued from April to November, with a peak in August. Annual production of earthworm casts was 5,379 g/m2. Bulk density of surface soil decreased due to the earthworm's cast-forming activity. Clay fraction in surface soil increased by addition of casts. Soil KDICical properties were significantly different between the surface soil and the earthworm casts. The amounts of organic matter, N, P, K, Ca and Mg added to the soil via earthworm casts during one year were 9.3t/ha, 11.29 kg/ha, 0.78 kg/ha, 12.36 kg/ha, 140.29 kg/ha and 20.96 kg/ha, respectively. Earthworms can feed on waxy and resinous litter when it became palatable by decomposing processes.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2000

This study was performed to investigate whether the earthworm cast could be reused as bulking agent in the whole processing of the food wastes using the earthworm. In addition, the growth conditions of microorganism lived upon earthworm lasts was investigated. Because the raw food wastes used in this experiment had low pH, and high moisture and organic matter contents, it was unsuitable to use as direct feeds to earthworm. However, when the food wastes were mixed with some earthworm cast, the mixtures were suitable to the feed condition and the growth environment of the earthworm. Therefore, it shows the possibility that the earthworm cast be reused as bulking agent for food wastes. In the microbiological investigation on earthworm cast, the bacteria showed most high density among the microbial species. And the microbial density showed higher under the mid-temperature than under high-temperature, and higher under the anaerobic than the aerobic condition. The drying methods of earthworm cast for the moisture adjusting, has no effect on microorganism growth whether natural or artificial drying. And the activity of enzyme presented more highly before the drying than after the drying.