new food diet formulation for rearing and propagation in white worm (enchytraeus albidus henle, 1837)

in this study, 4 different food diets were examined for feeding white worm which were studied. results showed that suitable moisture for growth and development of white worm was 50 - 70 % that their biomass reached to a 675 g/m2 during 90 days. but it decreased significantly at moisture lower than 45 % and upper than 65 %. white worm had similar growth both in acidic and basic area. white worm biomass reached to 576g/m2 during 90 days in basic area but reached to 568 g/m2 in acidic that was maximum at ph 6.4 - 7.6, while its growth decreases at ph lower than 6 and higher than 8. in this study, azola used as food for white worm in amount of 60%, wheat meal 25%, and wheat bran 15% that caused to more growth in worms and their biomass reached to 533 g/m2 during 90 days. although biomass of worm fed with mixture of potato 30%, carrot 3%, wheat meal 25% and wheat bran 15% reached to 584 g/m2 , but biomass of worms were fed with mixture of potato 60%, wheat meal 25%, and wheat bran 15% reached to 576 during 90 days. economically, cost production of azola was lower in comparison to other diets. biochemical decomposition of worms fed with mixture of azola, wheat meal and wheat bran showed more protein (33 %) than others. based on results azola can be used as a suitable and commercial replacement for white worm food diets.