Selenium incorporated in vegetable material for the obtaining of worm flour and compost

• Main Authors: Ulbio Alcivar Cedeño, Alex Alberto Dueñas Rivadeneira, Ervelio Olazábal Manso
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidad Central "Marta Abreu" de Las Villas 2015-02-01
• Series: Centro Agrícola
• Subjects: chemical analysis; meal worm; worm
• Online Access: http://cagricola.uclv.edu.cu/index.php/es/volumen-42-2015/numero-2-2015/46-selenio-incorporado-en-material-vegetal-para-la-obtencion-de-harina-de-lombriz-y-humus
• ISSN: 0253-5785; 2072-2001

A study was done to evaluate the quality of the earthworm flour fed with the addition of selenium. Two groups with three replicates were used; a food made of sterilized vegetable waste and other with the addition of soya (5%) as a source of selenium. Temperature, humidity, and pH were controlled to ensure the optimal growth of earthworms. A 0.5 g sample of both groups replicates was weighed in order to determine the amount of Na, K, Fe, Ca, Zn, Mg, Mn, Cu, Li, Se, Hg and Pb. The humus quality provided by the samples was also qualitatively analyzed, and the amount of moisture, protein, dry matter, fat, ash, crude fiber and soluble carbohydrates were determined. The amount of the elements Ca, Fe, Mg, Zn, Cu, Mn and Li was satisfactory because the flour had concentrations similar to the conventional worm flour, which is first achieved for this type of product. The amount of protein and lipid was also high similar to the conventional foods derived from animals. No heavy metals were found. Remarkably, the use of Eisenia foetida Savigny extracts can be used as a dietary supplement in amounts less than 1 g per person, which minimizes the risk of heavy metals. The application of humus from earthworms that were fed with a diet that contained selenium, corn plants obtained were significantly different from the untreated ones.