PEMANFAATAN LUMPUR SAWIT DAN TANDAN KOSONG KELAPA SAWIT SEBAGAI MEDIA PEMELIHARAAN CACING TANAH

This study was aimed to determine the activity of earthworms, earthworms growth rate on the
media mix mud and oil palm empty fruit bunches, and physical structure of vermicompost
produced. This study was conducted from January to April 2011 at the Laboratory of Ecology,
Bengkulu University. The statistical results showed that both types of treatment that any media on
several types of earthworms significantly difference the rate of population growth. The rate of
growth was highest to Pheretima aspergillu (1.40 individuals/day) in mixed medium mud + oil
palm empty fruit bunches, and lowest to Pontoscolex corethrurus (1.05 individual/day) that using
oil palm empty fruit bunches medium. The length of time the formation of vermicompost 50%
was fast to Pheretima aspergillu (51 days) that using mixed mud and oil palm empty fruit
bunches, while the longest duration for Pontoscolex corethrurus (66 days) that using oil palm
empty fruit bunches media. The final results of the two mediums were dense black color and soft
flakes.