TITLE:
Influence of Different Populations of the Earthworm Species “Eudrilus eugeniae” on Cashew Residues Stabilization during Vermicomposting
AUTHORS:
Ini Celine Kambou, Sifolo Seydou Coulibaly
KEYWORDS:
Cashew Apples, Cashew Leaves, Cow Dung, Vermicomposting, Eudrilus eugeniae
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.13 No.3,
March
23,
2026
ABSTRACT: The population size of the earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae necessary for good stabilization of cashew residues was studied in this experiment. Thus, cashew apples and leaves separately and their mixtures with cow dung were mineralized with 5, 10, 15 and 20 individuals of the African nightcrawler E. eugeniae. Total organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), C:N ratio, pH, total potassium (K) and total available phosphorus (P) were measured at 0, 30, 60 and 90 days of the vermicomposting. The cocoons and earthworms numbers at the end of the experiment were also investigated. The pH was in the good range when mixing cashew residues with cow dung. C/N ratio showed good stabilization of the wastes CaA + CD, CaL + CD, and CaA + CaL + CD with 5, 10, 15 and 20 individuals of E. eugeniae at 2 or 3 months of vermicomposting. The results of this study may help in recycling cashew residues into organic fertilizer through vermicomposting when using the earthworms species E. eugeniae.