الفهرس 
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Abstract
Environment deterioration is a significant threat to the world, and the use of chemical fertilizers contributes mainly to the declination of the environment through the reduction of fossil fuels, generation of carbon dioxide (CO2), and contamination of water resources. It leads to loss of soil fertility due to the imbalanced use of fertilizers that have adversely influenced agricultural productivity and cause soil deterioration. Now there is a growing realization that the replacement of organic fertilizers in the place of chemical fertilizers can reverse the declining trend in global productivity and environmental protection. A huge quantity of organic wastes includes manures, food wastes, agricultural field wastes, and municipal solid wastes could be changed into a safe and able to be used product that could be used as a substitute for chemical fertilizers. The aim of the present study is to test the null hypothesis that the composting potential of adult earthworm is mainly species-specific processes. In addition, the organic additives (rice straw, cow dung, leaf litter, sawdust, banana peel, and kitchen waste) used in this study may has a great role on earthworm activity. The end product due to the vermicomposting may enhance the nutrient availability in soil. Accordingly, two different species of earthworms; one epigeic; Eisenia fetida, and the other edaphic; Aporrectodea caliginosa were chosen in this study. Mature adult earthworms of the species Aporrectodea caliginosa were obtained from different garden biotopes near Tanta city Al-Gharbia Governorate, Egypt, during 2019. and Mature adult earthworms of the species Eisenia fetida were obtained from a Research institute in Cairo during 2019. A sampling of earthworms of Aporrectodea caliginosa is performed by hand sorting. The average weight of Aporrectodea caliginosa is 0.90 g and the average weight of Eisenia fetida is 0.62 g was used in this study. Collection and storage of leaf litter, rice straw, cow dung, sawdust, kitchen waste, and banana peel wastes. The dried leaf litters were obtained from different farms. Leaf litters and rice straw were cut into 1-2 pieces, sawdust, kitchen waste, and banana peel and cow dung was collected from nearby cow farms then dried and powdered, stored in large containers, and used as when needed both for keeping the earthworm stock. Experiments were cultured in plastic troughs each with a size of 25 cm diameter X 10 cm height. A total of four sets of earthworm pots each set comprising six replicates were taken for each waste, of which two sets were used for vermicomposting with each set using one species of earthworm and containing different feeding materials with the preparation of mixing experimental bedding from 100 g leaf litter, 100 g rice straw, 100 g cow dung,100 g sawdust,100 g kitchen waste, and 100 g banana peel wastes, and the two non- additives groups were regularly supplied with 600 g dried cow dung. Each trough inoculated with 10 healthy adult earthworms with clear clitellum. A drainage hole measuring 0.5 cm diameter was made at the bottom of the trough. The hole was covered with pieces of smooth cotton cloth held by rubber bands to permit the drainage of the excess water to prevent earthworms from escaping. To reduce evaporation, all troughs were covered with a wooden lid. Our experiment was conducted 60 days to analyze and evaluate the effect of worm activity. During the vermicomposting process, some physicochemical parameters have been periodically measured. Physicochemical parameters: The measurement to prove the hypothesis is focused on parameters such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and moisture in both nonadditive and additive that processed by Eisenia fetida and Aporrectodea caliginosa significantly increased with the progress of the composting period. The order of increase of the above parameters in the substrates with reference to the two species of earthworms was Eisenia fetida more than Aporrectodea caliginosa, while the organic matter, organic carbon, C/N ratio, temperature, and pH in both nonadditive and additive that processed by Eisenia fetida and Aporrectodea caliginosa significantly decreased with the progress of time. The order of decrease of the above parameters in the substrates with reference to the two species of earthworms was Eisenia fetida more than Aporrectodea caliginosa. Moreover, the vermicompost produced by Eisenia fetida possessed higher nutrient contents than that of Aporrectodea caliginosa. The biomass of Eisenia fetida and Aporrectodea caliginosa increased significantly with the advancement of the time. The obtained results revealed that parameters such as nitrogen content, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and moisture showed significant increase with the advancement of time. While the organic matter, organic carbon, C/N ratio, temperature, and pH showed a significant decrease with the progress of the time. A comparative evaluation of worm biomass growth of Eisenia fetida and Aporrectodea caliginosa had been done under controlled laboratory conditions. The optimum temperature, moisture content, and pH for Eisenia fetida were 25 °C, 70%, and 7.2 respectively. However, the optimum temperature, moisture content, and pH for growth and development of Aporrectodea caliginosa were 23°C, 60%, and 7.5, respectively. from the results, it may be concluded that the null hypothesis that the vermicompost produced by Eisenia fetida exhibited higher nutrient contents than that of Aporrectodea caliginosa was accepted and showed a great role on earthworm activity. The end product due to vermicomposting has enhanced the nutrient availability in soil.