Manyuchi, mWhingiri, E2023-06-262023-06-262014-08-01Manyuchi, M.M & Whingiri,E (2014). Effect of vermicomposting period, substrate quantity, cow dung composition and their interactions on Eisenia Fetida during vermicomposting. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences. 3. 1021-1028.1021-1028http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/830Vermi-technologyisincreasinglybecomingpopularinvariousapplications.Theworkfocusedonthefactorsthataffecttheearthwormgrowthrateintermsofchangesinlengthandmassduringvermicomposting.Thestudylookedat3parameterswhichincludedvermicompostingperiod(days),cowdungcomposition(%(v/v))andsubstratequantity(kg).ThestudywascarriedoutatHarareInstituteofTechnologyforaperiodof50daysbetweenAprilandMay2014.Eiseniafetidawereusedasearthwormsandthesubstratecomprisedoffoodwasteandcowdungofvaryingcompositions.Vermicompostingperiodsof30-50days,substratequantitiesof2.5-5kgandcowdungcompositionof20-40%(v/v)wereemployed80.59mX031mwormbins.Aloadingrateof150worms/m2wasusedforearthwormswithanaveragelengthof50mmandmassof1g.23factorialdesignswereusedtodeterminetheoptimumconditionsrequiredforincreaseinearthworm lengthandmass.STATISTICA,astatisticalsoftwarewasusedtodeterminethesignificanteffectsat75%confidenceinterval.Paretochartsandcontourplotswereusedtoquantifytheresultsatap-valueof0.25.Increasingthevermicompostingperiod,thesubstratequantityandthecowdungcompositionincreasedtheearthwormslengthandmassbyafactorofmorethan3.Atthesametime,increasingthecowdungcompositionandtheinteractionbetweenincreaseinvermicompostingperiodandincreaseinsubstratequantityalsoresultedinincreasedearthwormmassbyafactorof2.8.Earthwormsgrowthinvermicompostingispromotedbyincreaseinvermicompostingperiod,substratequantity and substrate compositionenCowdung,Earthworms growth, Substrate quantity, Vermicomposting periodArticle