Isolation and screening cellulolytic bacteria from the fecal pellets of earthworm

Abstract

This study aims to isolate and screen cellulolytic bacteria from the fecal pellets of African night crawler (Eudrilus eugeniae) and investigate the effect of cellulose degradation of cellulolytic bacteria on soil fertility. A total of 115 isolates of bacteria were isolated and ten isolated bacteria that have the highest HC capacity from the measurement of Gram Iodine method were selected as follows: CB96, CB58, CB84, CB114, CB10, CB73, CB11, CB22, CB72, and CB53, respective. After that, ten cellulolytic bacteria were enriched and added into the soil and measured nitrogen content and the cation exchange capacity of the soil which was related to soil fertility. It was found that after 4 weeks, the amount of nitrogen and the cation exchange capacity in the soil was increased from before adding the bacteria significantly. From the study, it was found that isolated cellulolytic bacteria from the fecal pellets of earthworm can be applied to the development and improvement of soil quality in the future.