우분의 분해에 있어 소똥구리와 지렁이를 함께 처리한 구에서 단독으로 소똥구리와 지렁이를 처리한 것 보다 분해율이 높았고, 지렁이와 소똥구리가 우분 분해 활동을 한 다음에 식물체를 파종했을 때 식물체 생장은 비료를 처리한 것과 동일한 효과가 인정되었다. 우분 함수율 78%까지는 소똥구리에 의해 분해 활동이 일어나며, 30%까지는 지렁이에 의해, 30% 이하에서는 두 동물군 모두 분해 활동을 하지 않았다. 소똥구리와 지렁이에 의해 운반된 우분은 초기 우분의 약 72%이며, 이중 10.2%는 소똥구리의 brood ball 형성에 이용되었다. 지렁이의 활동이 소똥구리의 brood ball 형성에 저해요인이 되지 않았고, 소똥구리의 활동 또한 지렁이의 생육에 영향을 미치지 않아 지렁이와 소똥구리는 우분에서 공간적 분포를 같이 하면서 먹이 경쟁을 하기 보다는 상호보완적인 작용을 하는 것으로 밝혀졌다.
The effect of earthworm and dung beetle on cattle dung pat decomposition was assessed by combining quantification of earthworm density and with or without dung beetle in pats and measurements of the decomposition rate of these pats. Cattle dung decomposition rate was higher in the pots treated with both earthworm and dung beetle than in the pots with either earthworm or beetle alone. After dung beetle and earthworm activity, the growth of oat in earthworm with dung beetle treatment was similar effect with fertilizer treatment. Dung beetle was responsible for dung decomposition until 78% moisture content in the dung, earthworm was responsible for up to 30% moisture of dung, and two group were not shown any activity for decomposition less 30% moisture content of dung. Therefore dung in the different periods could be broken down by each group. The disappearance and conveyance of dung by earthworm and dung beetle was 72% of the initial dung amount. 10.2% of 72% dung was used making brood balls by dung beetle. Earthworm activity was not an impediment on making brood balls by dung beetles. The interaction of earthworm and dung beetle may have a complementary cooperation rather than competition in the same dung pat. Indeed, development of earthworm accelerate to coexist with dung beetles instead without dung beetles. From this result, maximum benefits of the effective earthworm and dung beetle can be achieved, it is needed to preserve population of earthworm and dung beetles in pasture to sustainable agricultural environment.
