STUDI PREFERENSI JUMLAH CACING TANAH LOKAL (Pontoscolex corethrurus) TERHADAP BEBERAPA MACAM MEDIA PEMELIHARAAN

The aims of this study were to know the preference and the rate of population growth of local worm (Pontoscolex corethrurus Fr. Mull) at several rearing medium. This study was held from July to November 2008 in the Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Bengkulu University. This study used completely Random Design (RAL) with four treatments (garden soil as a control, grass compost media, compost of dried
rice stalks media, and compost of sawdust). Each treatment consists of 5 replications. The
result of research showed that the difference of various rearing medium gave the different
influence toward the preference and the rate of growth of local worm (Pontoscolex
corethrurus Fr. Mull). The result showed that preference of local earth worm of several
rearing media from highest to lowest value were garden soil media 38.2 individuals/24
hours, compost of dried rice stalks media 7 individuals/24 hours, compost of sawdust media
3 individuals/24 hours, and grass compost media 1.8 individuals/24 hours. The rate growth
of local worm at garden soil media 1.63 individuals/day, at compost of dried rice stalks
media 0.91 individual/day, compost of sawdust media 0.69 individual/day, and grass
compost media 0.55 individual/day.