Him. J. Env Zool, Vol. 6, 1992, pp. 167-171 DISTRIBUTION OF EARTHWORMS IN DIFFERENT SOILS (Reecived June 30, 1992; Accepted December 7, 1992) C. Anita Shunthi and A.A. Sivakum: P.G. and Research Department of Zoology, tt Kongunadu Arts and Science College ‘Coimbatore-641 029 (I.N.), India In the present study earthworms were collected from four different soils namely, agricultural land, garden and sewage (kitchen waste and bathroom waste) and analysed for the total number, size and biomass, physical, chemical and nutrient contents of the soil were aualysed to find out the relationship with the distribution pattern of earthworm in different soils. Increased porosity and ‘optimum moisture content seem to enhance the s rowth of earthworms. Chemical factors of the soil did not show any conspicuous correlation with earthworms. Micronutrients and macronutrients were found to be directly influencing the growth of earthworms in the soils. With increased awareness about agro-ecology and natural farming, the interest on earthworm rearing or vermiculture, as it is known ntific parlance, is also. gaining ground. Earthworms are important in many ways. The amount of soil these creatures pass through their bodies annually may amount to as much as 15 tonnes of dry earth per acre. The holes left in the soil serve to increase aeration and drainage, an important consideration in soil development. Earthworm casts are higher in bacteria and organic matter, total nitro~ gen, exchangeablo calcium and magnesium. available phosphorus and potassium, pH end percentage base saturation and cation exchange capacity. Besides being good tiller, the worms can help in quick decomposition of organic residues in the farm. The present study describes the distribution and abundance of earthworms in different soils. MATERIALS AND METHODS Earthworms were collected from different soils namely, agricultural fields, gardens, and sewage (kitchen waste ant tlie bathroom waste wore collected separately) in and oe und Kongunadu collage. following quadrate method?, The number of individuals presen i. each sample, their size range and blomass were noted. Physical factors of the suil samp!168 i 1 Distribution of earthworms RESULTS on spun; resulte, Men" Of stribution of earthworms in different soi showed some aq? Rumer of individuals (36) were prosent. i Soh 10 Aiea peers) ao 2 gm) was found from agricultural fields, Regay. Horent soil samples, the agriculture soil and sewage of batho, waste were found to be either silt-loam or clay-ioam whereas garden soil and sewage kitchen waste were of clay-loam type. Minimum amount of Porosity (23.36%) was aie in sewage ot hathroom waste and maninum value was recorded ic dent cail (41%) Soil moisture recorded in different soil samples showed variations between 13.15 per cent (sewage of bathroom waste) and 24.14 per cent (sewage of kitchen waste) (Table fe All these soil samples, considered for the present study, were of alkaline in nature and the pH values fluctuated from 8.06 (sewage of kitchen waste) t0 8.56 (Garden soi, Flectrical conductivity (EC) values ranged between 0.94 m Muli (agricultural and garden soils) and 0.62 m Moh (sewage of kitchen waste). Average values of the nitrogen of dit rent soil samples were almost similar. Fluctuations from 80.6 Kg/Ac (sewage of bathron waste) to 92.8 Kg/Ac (Agricultural soil) wore recorded. Phosphorus and potassium showed some significant variations in their values in the different soil samples. M nimum value of 4.4 Kg/Ac of phosphorus was recorded in garden soil and the maximum value of 8.8 Kg As was noted in sewage of bathroom waste, Potassium values ranged between 173 3 Ky (sewage of kitchen waste) and 239.0 Kg/Ac (Agricultural soil). Micrountrients, Coppe. ‘Zine, Manganese and Iron, estimated in the present study, showed interesting ee different soil samples. Minimum amount of copper (0.94 Kg/Ac) and Manganese (8. bi} Maximum amount of copper (1.44 Kg/Ac) was recor ezine values soil). lat ‘Ac) were found in agriculture soil. in oe soil; manganese (11.5? Kg/Ac) in the sewage of bathroom waste. Thi fluctuated from 0.66 (sewage of bathroom waste) to U.8U Kg/AC (eoreutrl a values ranged between 12.99 Kg/Ac in sewage of bathroom waste and 18: garden soll (Table 1). DISCUSSION i: ‘icles: E n it ference for the size of sail parti ten See cee aiaiiel is* 8, However, identification of species © in feeding oe explains species diversity in different soil:‘Shanthi and Sivakumar [ F { 169 aw Comperison of distribution of earthworms in different soil in relation to “Factors Agriculture Garden. Sewage Sewage (Bathroom soil soil (Kichon waste) woste) No. of 9 18 28 36 earthworms (1-30)* (4-13)* (1-10)* (1-7)* Biomass (gm) 32 17 0.9 12 Physico-chemical factors : Soil texture Sit loam Clay loam Clay loam Silt loam Clay loam Clay toam Porosity (%) 97.40 41.00 35.94 33.36 Soil moisture (%) 10.05 10.01 2414 13.15 pH 0.40 0.56 8.06 8.28 EC (1 Moh) 0.34 0.94 0.02 0.30 Lime Status Copious Copious Copious Copious NN (Ky/Ac) 92.8 60.4 09.4 80.0 P (Ky/Ac) 8.2 44 56 88 K (Kg/Ac) 239.0 174.2 173.8 201.8 cu (Kg/Ac) 0.94 1.44 0.96 1.10 Zn (Kg/Ac) 0.80 0.76 0.72 0.66 Mn (Kg/Ac) 8.36 10.83 10.45 11.52 Fe (Kg/Ac) 13.80 18.30 16.89 12.9 Oooo “Range to soil types ie not easy ta resolve as the preference for soil particles Is ug other factors. In the present study, it could be noticed that agri- though harbour less number of earthworms but the size and biomass were found to be higher than they were present In sewage. This could be ettribu- ted to the resson that the earthworms prefer the soils in which porosity is higher with optimum moisture. content as evidenced from the porosity and soil moisture values in the ‘samples studied presently. orms in relation cuporimposed with v cultural soil and garden soil,pisvibution of Earthworms mo f the particles that make the soix ned by the size of ' : Teste at si i cetermined OY N° Sarthworme has been discussed earn re ses it feed 4 : ; ave ty size of sow particl we seemed to prefer fine particlee os the texture OF the wo, i ese a te eat tet 0° clay 10a. - were chanval factors are also influencing the availability and distribution op ‘ tpcenels BH and electrical conductivity values were found to show aniy tm, se nt the lime status Was found to be copious in all the soils. Hence the x chenel acts are not used In this study to tind out the someee i the dicta ot eto ater stk. Maximum growth ot fe eerteoe recorded in agra, Sinan al tae ea nor be ia she Senne macronutrients in large qua tee The presence of smaller sized earthworms in the sewage could be attributed to in ceowon {hat the avaapiity of the macronutients in lesser quantities compared te thes availabilty in other samples, Among the different soils studied presently, micronutients were Comparatively morg in agriculture and garden soils than in sewage. This further confirms the growth of te ichen alter washing, clegning, etc. which ate formed 5 sewage in the nearby suit enna nment in which the samples were Collected. i BT. Ph.O., FAZ., FRES. (Lom of Zoology and Dr, R, Jaganathan, M.Sc., Ph. Y For Providing necessary fac REFERENCES 1, Michael, p. (1984), Ke LP. Fp: Ecological Aterh i Tata Mc Graw Hil Publishing Ce. Lita. New jana 2. Subash ch, : tomShanthi and Sivakumar C 171 1. xishnamoorthy, RAV. (1985). J. Soil Biol. Ecol, §: 33, 5 Ismail, S.A. and Murthy, V.A. (1985). Proc. Indian, Acad. Sci, (Anim. Sci.), 94: 557. 6. Brady, N.C. (1980). In : The Nature and Properties of Soils. Eurast Publishing House (p) Lid., New Delhi, pp. 639. 7, Shrikhande, J.C. and Pathak, A.N. (1951). Indian J. Agric, Sci, 21: 401. 4, Joshi, N.V. and Kelkar, B.V. (1962). Indian J. Agric. Sci., 22; 189. 9, Nijahawan, S.D. and Kanwar, J.S. (1952). Indian J. Agric. Sci. 22: 357. 10. Habibullah, A.M. and Ismail, S.A, (1985). J. Soil. Biol. Ecol., 5 : 26.