Perilaku Cacing Tanah (Perionyx excavatus) pada Media Kotoran Sapi: Langkah Awal Domestikasi

Abstract

The most common found earth worm in Indonesia is Perionyx excavatus. This worm has weight and body length larger than other types of earthworms. This study aimed to observe the behavior of P. excavatus on cow dung media as a first step to facilitate the process of domestication of cultivation. The experimental design used in this research was Completely Randomized Design. Observations were conducted by observing the daily behavior of P. excavatus for 24 hours, by observing the daily behavior P. excavatus were maintained in four media, 100% cow dung, 50% banana midrib : 50% cow dung, 90% banana midrib : 10% cow dung, and 100% soil. Each media were consisted of 3 replication. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. Based on observations, P. excavatus performed 4 main activities, which were movement, resting, eating and mating. The best media to supports the activities of P.excavatus based on the percentage of movement activity and eating was 50% banana midrib : 50% cow dung. To support the production of cocoon, the best media 90% banana midrib : 10% cow dung, and the best media to support the juvenile production was 100% cow dung based on the value of the coefficient of variance were 71.18%, and 10, 23%.