EARTHWORM BIODIVERSITY IN DIFFERENT LAND USE SYSTEM

Researches have proved that the occurrence of different species of earthworms in good numbers is a positive sign of healthy soil. Establishment of earthworm population makes the soil more compact and the poor structure of deep soil changes in to friable top soil. Twenty two species of earthworms are identified from different land use systems. The potential soil reclaiming species are Eutyphoeus incommodus, Eutyphoeus nicholsoni, Eutyphoeus waltoni, Octochaetona surensis, Amynthas morrisi, Metaphire posthuma and Lampito mauritii. Metaphire posthuma is very abundant in garden soils. Eutyphoeus nicholsoni is mostly confined to garden litter soil with medium and low population as deep burrowing species. Octochaetona surensis is very common in dense bamboo plantations. Amynthas morrisi is mostly confined to decomposing paddy straw and composting litter. The cultivated soils of sugarcane and jowar, the species association index of Eutyphoeus incommodus and Ramiella naniana is very high though Ramiella naniana is purely a geophagous species. Seeds of earthworms can easily be transported if they are properly packed in vials with water soaked filter paper. The seeds will not hatch out within 10 days from the date of their laying.