Influence of <i>Eisenia fetida</i> on the Nematode Populations during Vermicomposting Process
Vermicomposting stands as a sustainable and environmentally friendly waste management practice, leveraging the metabolic prowess of earthworms to facilitate the decomposition of organic matter into nutrient-rich compost. The aim of this experiment was to study the influence of <i>Eisenia fetid...
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/4/1576 |
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| author | Anita Zapałowska Andrzej Skwiercz Czesław Puchalski Tadeusz Malewski |
| author_facet | Anita Zapałowska Andrzej Skwiercz Czesław Puchalski Tadeusz Malewski |
| author_sort | Anita Zapałowska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vermicomposting stands as a sustainable and environmentally friendly waste management practice, leveraging the metabolic prowess of earthworms to facilitate the decomposition of organic matter into nutrient-rich compost. The aim of this experiment was to study the influence of <i>Eisenia fetida</i> on the density and the tropic structure of a nematode community during the vermicomposting process over a period of 3 months. Sewage sludge and green waste served as composting substrates. Overall, six compost variants were prepared consisting of three variants incorporating <i>E. fetida</i> and three control variants lacking <i>E. fetida.</i> Throughout the investigation, samples were gathered on a monthly basis, with each variant undergoing three repetitions. The aim was to isolate nematodes, determine the population density of the five trophic groups, and identify the dominant community. The anaysis was conducted employing both microscopic examination and molecular metabarcoding (NGS). It was shown that the bacterial-feeding community maintained dominance. The introduction of <i>E. fetida</i> into the compost led to a significant rise in the abundance of Diplogasteridae. In the variant without <i>E. fetida</i>, the amount of Diplodasteridae exceeded 0.1% only after the 30th (C3) or the 60th (C1, C2) day of composting, while in the compost with <i>E. fetida</i>, they were present in large amounts (ranging from 11.0% to 28.0%) already on the 30th day of composting. The introduction of <i>Eisenia fetida</i> also led to a notable reduction in <i>H. gingivalis</i> with significant implications for mitigating the risk of halicephalobiosis. The introduction of <i>E. fetida</i> resulted in reducing <i>H. gingivalis</i> to levels below 0.1% in all compost variants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:43:59Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:43:59Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4bfa17123f74010a579cc260204e57f2024-02-23T15:06:28ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-02-01144157610.3390/app14041576Influence of <i>Eisenia fetida</i> on the Nematode Populations during Vermicomposting ProcessAnita Zapałowska0Andrzej Skwiercz1Czesław Puchalski2Tadeusz Malewski3Department of Agriculture and Waste Management, Collegium of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszów, St. Ćwiklińskiej 1a, 35-601 Rzeszów, PolandNational Institute of Horticultural Research, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, PolandDepartment of Bioenergetics, Food Analysis and Microbiology, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, Collegium of Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszów, St. Ćwiklińskiej 2D, 35-601 Rzeszów, PolandDepartment of Molecular and Biometric Techniques, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-679 Warsaw, PolandVermicomposting stands as a sustainable and environmentally friendly waste management practice, leveraging the metabolic prowess of earthworms to facilitate the decomposition of organic matter into nutrient-rich compost. The aim of this experiment was to study the influence of <i>Eisenia fetida</i> on the density and the tropic structure of a nematode community during the vermicomposting process over a period of 3 months. Sewage sludge and green waste served as composting substrates. Overall, six compost variants were prepared consisting of three variants incorporating <i>E. fetida</i> and three control variants lacking <i>E. fetida.</i> Throughout the investigation, samples were gathered on a monthly basis, with each variant undergoing three repetitions. The aim was to isolate nematodes, determine the population density of the five trophic groups, and identify the dominant community. The anaysis was conducted employing both microscopic examination and molecular metabarcoding (NGS). It was shown that the bacterial-feeding community maintained dominance. The introduction of <i>E. fetida</i> into the compost led to a significant rise in the abundance of Diplogasteridae. In the variant without <i>E. fetida</i>, the amount of Diplodasteridae exceeded 0.1% only after the 30th (C3) or the 60th (C1, C2) day of composting, while in the compost with <i>E. fetida</i>, they were present in large amounts (ranging from 11.0% to 28.0%) already on the 30th day of composting. The introduction of <i>Eisenia fetida</i> also led to a notable reduction in <i>H. gingivalis</i> with significant implications for mitigating the risk of halicephalobiosis. The introduction of <i>E. fetida</i> resulted in reducing <i>H. gingivalis</i> to levels below 0.1% in all compost variants.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/4/1576organic wasteearthwormspathogen<i>Halicephalobus gingivalis</i> |
| spellingShingle | Anita Zapałowska Andrzej Skwiercz Czesław Puchalski Tadeusz Malewski Influence of <i>Eisenia fetida</i> on the Nematode Populations during Vermicomposting Process Applied Sciences organic waste earthworms pathogen <i>Halicephalobus gingivalis</i> |
| title | Influence of <i>Eisenia fetida</i> on the Nematode Populations during Vermicomposting Process |
| title_full | Influence of <i>Eisenia fetida</i> on the Nematode Populations during Vermicomposting Process |
| title_fullStr | Influence of <i>Eisenia fetida</i> on the Nematode Populations during Vermicomposting Process |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of <i>Eisenia fetida</i> on the Nematode Populations during Vermicomposting Process |
| title_short | Influence of <i>Eisenia fetida</i> on the Nematode Populations during Vermicomposting Process |
| title_sort | influence of i eisenia fetida i on the nematode populations during vermicomposting process |
| topic | organic waste earthworms pathogen <i>Halicephalobus gingivalis</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/4/1576 |
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