K. Hashemi Majd, M. Kalbasi, A. Golchin, H. Shariatmadari,
Volume 7, Issue 4 (winter 2004)
Abstract
The ability of earthworms in recycling a wide range of organic solid wastes is well established. Only a few earthworm species are suitable for commercial vermicomposting. Two species, Eisenia foetida and Lumbricus rubellus, are common in temperate regions. Samples of earthworms were collected from manure pills and forest litter in North and Northwest of Iran. The samples were maintained in pots under greenhouse conditions. External morphological characteristics of mature worms were used in identifying earthworm species. These characteristics included: total number of body segments, numbers of clitellum and tubercula pubertatis (TP) segments, dorsal and external body color, body size, prestomium and prostomium shape, number of first segment with dorsal pore and patterns of clitellum and TP. All collected samples belonged to the species Eisenia foetida. Under incubation conditions in manure substrate (a moisture of 70% saturation at 24±2oC), each worm produced 1-2 cocoons daily and each cocoon contained 2-7 worm embryos. The collected earthworm samples showed a good ability in vermicomposting of manure, plant residues, and some organic industrial refuses. The C:N ratio decreased during the vermicomposting process, which indicates the improved stage of decomposition and the vermicompost stability.
A. Ghorbani, E. Hassanzadeh Kuhsareh2, M. Moameri, K. Hashemi Majd, A. Pournemati,
Volume 23, Issue 3 (Fall 2019)
Abstract
In this study, the effect of some soil parameters on the life forms and total aboveground net primary production (ANPP) in meadow rangelands in Fandoghlou region of Namin county in Ardabil Province were investigated. ANPP in 180 plots of 12 by harvesting and weighting method were measured. Eighteen soil samples were collected along transects. Some physical and chemical attributes of the soil were measured by standard methods. The relationship between these parameters and ANPP was performed using multivariate regression (enter) method. To determine the effects of important soil parameters on ANPP variation, principal component analysis (PCA) was used. The results of regression analysis showed that electrical conductivity (EC), magnesium (Mg), spreadable clay (WDC), volumetric moisture content (VM), organic carbon (OC), soluble potassium (KS), exchangeable potassium (Kexch), sodium (Na) and phosphorus (P) were the effective parameters on the life forms and total ANPP (p<0.01). The accuracy of obtained equations for grasses, forbs and total ANPP were calculated 79, 76 and 70%, respectively. Moreover, results of PCA showed that soil parameters justify 84.52 percent of total ANPP variation and in comparison, with regression results with 28% it provides better results.
