POTENSI BUDIDAYA CACING TANAH SEBAGAI BIOKOMPOS DAN BIOFEED

Abstract

Making biocompost can use earthworms. Compost produced by earthworm activity works with the help of other soil microbiota which contains many soil enzymes and hormones that are beneficial for plant growth. Earthworms are also rich in protein which has the potential to be used as animal feed (biofeed), considering that the demand for animal feed tends to be higher in line with the increase in livestock cultivation activities in Indonesia. Earthworms are expected to be the main raw material for quality animal feed (biofeed) as well as a solution to the problem of waste so far by making it into biocompost. This research was carried out in the Green house and Laboratory of Biology PMIPA Muhammadiyah Metro University, Metro City, Lampung Province from January 2021 to March 2022. This type of research is descriptive qualitative using the vermicomposting method. The species used are Eudrilus sp. There are controls and 3 treatments. Each treatment was repeated 3 times. The variations in the comparison of compost media, feces and feed in the form of organic waste (remains of vegetables and fruit) in sequence are: P0 (control) = 0 kg of feces: 1 kg of media, P1 = 75 grams of feces: 25 grams of media, P2 = 50 g of fecal sludge: 50 g of media, P3 = 25 g of faecal sludge: 75 g of media.

                    Primary data in the form of worm cultivation activities with parameters/variables: how many g/kg of vermicompost are produced, how much weight and number of cocoons (eggs) of earthworms. While secondary data in the form of literature searches research journals, books and internet searching. All data, both primary and secondary data, were analyzed descriptively and processed by tabulation.

                    Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that in the 3rd treatment (P3) with a combination of 25 g of fecal sludge and 75 g of media, the highest value was obtained for the parameters of earthworm weight (8.7 g) and the number of cocoons (11.6 pieces). The weight and number of earthworm cocoons is strongly influenced by the adequacy of nutrients from the media and environmental conditions. Other research needs to be done to see the number of vermicomposts produced, as well as the application of vermicompost to plant growth.