Resumo

HERNANDEZ, J et al. Bed height in the behavior of the red worm (Eisenia ssp); under warm climate conditions. Rev. Fac. Agron. [online]. 2003, vol.20, n.3, pp.320-327. ISSN 0378-7818.

The management of red earthworms, requires a minimum of morphological, physiological and ecological knowledge, in order to guarantee the success of the production system. Under warm climate conditions it is necessary to determine necessary aspects in the establishment of earthworm composting. One of these aspects is the height of the worm bed. The evaluation was carried out under very dry tropical forest conditions, with an average temperature of 30°C. The worm bed heights to be evaluated s were 25, 50 and 75 cm. Cattle manure stored in plastic containers of 30 L with a worm density of 10 worms/L.was used. Atotallt random statistical design with eight repetitions was. The variables studied were: humus deposition, the manure/humus relation and worm reproductive rates. In all heights evaluated, humus placement occured in the superficial part of the bed. Significant differences for the relationship manure/humus were not registered: the values varied from 0,55 to 0,59 parts of humus for each part of manure. The degredation time was 75 days for the 25 cm bed. At this height the greatest multiplication rate (10) was registered, producing a final population of 3537 worms, differing statistically with the beds of greater height which had a rate of 5. The results indicate that under warm conditions the best height was 25 cm. Worm cultures is a highly productive activity and directly proportional to the knowledge of the worm farmer according to conditions conditions. 

Palavras-chave : Eisenia ssp.; bed height; worm culture; earthworms.