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

Abstract

Earthworm is the most important invertebrate 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 biomass (weight) of earthworms is significantly different among different seasons. But among altitudes it was not significantly different (Tables: 1). More root biomass indicates higher earthworm biomass. Biomass 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). There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in biomass of earthworm among different seasons of study areas.