Philippine Journal of Science
153 (5): 1937-1944, October 2024
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 23 Feb 2024
Organic Vermicide for Safer Management of Giant Earthworms in the Ifugao Rice Terraces, the Philippines
Napoleon K. Taguiling*
College of Agriculture and Sustainable Development, Ifugao State University, Cordillera Administrative Region 3605 the Philippines
*Corresponding author: taguilingnap@gmail.com
Taguiling N. 2024. Organic Vermicide for Safer Management of Giant Earthworms in the Ifugao Rice Terraces, the Philippines. Philipp J Sci 153(5): 1937–1944.
ABSTRACT
The crude extracts from stem barks of Pittosporum pentandrum (Blanco) Merr., Albizia julibrissin Durazz., and Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. were tested singly and in combination against the giant earthworms (Pheretima sp. Kinberg) infesting the Ifugao rice terraces causing water seepage and collapse of rice paddy walls. Laboratory assay revealed that all plant extracts used singly or in combination caused dose-dependent vermicidal effect causing 100% mortality to giant earthworms within 5–35 min. Field trials showed that at 100 mL/L crude extracts from the species used singly or combined effectively control giant earthworms within 2–6 h. The use of the organic vermicide from the above species, as demonstrated in this study, exhibits their potential as a safer way of managing destructive giant earthworms than synthetic chemicals.
Keywords: Albizia julibrissin, Albizia lebbeck, botanical vermicide, Pheretima sp. (giant earthworm), Pittosporum pentandrum