EFFECTS OF ALTITUDE, ROOT BIOMASS AND TEMPERATURE OF SOIL ON DENSITY OF EARTHWORM IN SOUTH–EASTERN PART OF SIMILIPAL BIOSPHERE RESERVE, MAYURBHANJ, ODISHA.

Mahesh Kumar Lenka; Prof. Nakulananda Mohanty; Prof. (Retd.) Bhikari Charan Guru

Volume : VII, Issue : XII, December - 2017

EFFECTS OF ALTITUDE, ROOT BIOMASS AND TEMPERATURE OF SOIL ON DENSITY OF EARTHWORM IN SOUTH–EASTERN PART OF SIMILIPAL BIOSPHERE RESERVE, MAYURBHANJ, ODISHA.

Mahesh Kumar Lenka, Prof. Nakulananda Mohanty, Prof. Retd. Bhikari Charan Guru

Abstract :

Earthworm is the most important inverteate of soil. Since it involved in improving the soil quality, an attempt has been made to test the effects of root biomass and temperature of soil on density of earthworms in different altitudes of South–eastern part of Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) (Balma: 133 mASL, Debkund: 190 mASL, Hadgut: 222 mASL, Katuria: 242 mASL and Nato: 326 mASL). It was observed that the number (density) of earthworms is significantly different among different altitudes and different seasons. More root biomass indicates higher earthworm density. Density of earthworm was highest at moderate temperature, i.e., in rainy season (since temperature of soil in rainy was more than that of winter and less than that of summer season).