PRELIMINARY ESTIMATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF CYDALIMA PERSPECTALIS INVASION ON THE SPECIES COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF EARTHWORM POPULATION (OLIGOCHAETA: LUMBRICIDAE, ACANTHODRILIDAE) IN THE RANGE OF BUXUS SEMPERVIRENS (WESTERN CAUCASUS)

The earthworm fauna and population structure in Colchic ecosystems of the southern slope in the Western Caucasus were studied. First, in May 2013 we have sampled earthworms of the forest communities. This research was repeated in 2018 after Buxus sempervirens L. destruction by Cydalima perspectalis Walker (Lepidoptera, Crambidae). Altogether 13 earthworm species were registered in the soils of original B. sempervirens phytocenose and derived phytocenoses of the Western Caucasus. Endemicity of earthworms in the study area was higher than in most regions of Russia. The earthworm samples in 2013 and 2018 were similar in species composition, but differed in terms of dominant species. The structure of the earthworm population in the soils of the secondary phytocenoses has become closer to the earthworm communities of the other forests in the Western Caucasus. Analysis of the relative position of taxocenes in 2013 and 2018 space NMDS model, allows to put forward a hypothesis about the reduction of their total "ecological niche" after the disappearance of B. sempervirens . We believe that a broader “ecological niche” in 2013 is associated with a greater mosaicism (diversity) of the worm habitat formed by boxwood communities.

HUBUNGAN POPULASI CACING TANAH TERHADAP C-ORGANIK DAN N-TOTAL DI LAHAN BUDIDAYA HORTIKULTURA DAN MONOKLUTUR TANAMAN KOPI DI DESA NDUARIA KECAMATAN KELIMUTU

This study aims to determine the relationship between Earthworm Population and C-organic and N-total in Horticulture and Coffee Monoculture cultivation in Nduaria Village, Kelimutu District. This research was conducted using an exploratory method that is carried out by direct observation from the observation location. How to calculate earthworms using the hand sorting method. The method commonly used for the determination of C-organic is the Walkley and Black method, while the method used for the determination of N-total is the Kjehdahl method. This method is used because it is considered simple, fast, easy to do, and requires little equipment. The results of this study indicate that in horticultural land there is no earthworm population found at all depths. Earthworm populations were found at all depths in the coffee plantation monoculture, the highest population was at a depth of 0-10 cm as many as 41 m2, Biomass was 9 g, and Biomass vs Population 0.21 m2. In horticultural fields, the highest c-organic and n-total is at a depth of 0-10 cm, the c-organic value is 3.03% (high criteria) and n-total is 0.47% (medium criteria). The close relationship between the earthworm population, biomass, and biomass versus population was positively correlated with c-organic and n-total in horticultural land and coffee monoculture.

Unveiling the Efficiency of Psychrophillic Aporrectodea caliginosa in Deciphering the Nutrients from Dalweed and Cow Manure with Bio-Optimization of Coprolites

There is an immense demand for vermicomposting employing psychrophilic vermiculture (Aporrectodea caliginosa) for management of wastes under the Himalayan ecosystem. Dalweed (weeds from the world-famous urban Dal Lake) and cow manure (CM) are cheaply and abundantly available bio resources in Kashmir valley. Dalweed (DW), disposed of in the heart of the city, ascribes unpleasant effects on tourism and the natural ecosystem. Initial substrate mixtures of DW and CM with different ratios (CM100, DW100, CM80:DW20, CM60:DW40, CM40:DW60 and CM20:DW80) and castings harvested were analyzed for the following parameters: pH, TOC, TN, NO3- P, K, Fe, Zn, C:N, C:P, and C:S ratio. The results of a 56day study revealed in consistency and disparity towards the bio-optimization of coprolites depending upon the type of waste residue and mixture ratio used. Treatments with medium to low dalweed residues (CM60:DW40 followed by CM80:DW20) were found to be optimum and significantly primed chemical properties of castings using A. caligenosa. C:N, C:P, and C:S ratios showed a non-linear response with maximum decrease in C:N ratio by 35%, C:P ratio by 38% in CM100, and C:S ratio by 67% in DW100. Humification ratio, humification index, and percent humic acids were changed across all the treatments with the highest respective values of 21.33 ± 1.05, 11.33 ± 0.76, and 47.83 ± 0.76 for CM60:DW40. Results also showed that the earthworm population and biomass significantly increased with the highest respective increments of 57.53% and 74.88% in CM60:DW40 over initial values. Moreover, the highest number of cocoons (95.67 ± 1.17) were recorded within CM60:DW40 and the lowest in the control (43.33 ± 1.53). Dehydrogenase and fluorescein diacetate activities were inconsistent with the highest in CM40:DW60 (64.64%) and CM20:DW80 (63.54%) respectively over the initial substrates, while highest urease activity (74.40%) was observed from CM100. The results highlight the role of A. caliginosa in sustainable transformation of CM and DW with insightful, beneficial, and priming impacts on castings for its agronomic value.

EARTHWORM COMMUNITIES (OLIGOCHAETA, LUMBRICIDAE) OF PINE FORESTS AND SMALL FOLIAGE FORESTS IN THE FOREST-STEPPE OB’ REGION

Earthworms form an essential group of soil macrofauna that performs a number of ecosystem functions in forests. Studies of the species composition and population density of earthworms were conducted in many regions of Russia; however, the fauna of Lumbricidae of Novosibirsk area remained unexplored for a long time. The objective of this work is to carry out a comparative analysis of earthworm population in coniferous and small foliage forests of the forest-steppe Ob region (Novosibirsk area) and to identify the correlation between the fauna composition and the basic physical and chemical properties of the soil. The study was conducted in pine forests and birch-aspen forests. The main method of registration was layer-by-layer excavation of soil with hand sorting of soil samples and analysis of forest deadwood. Some soil parameters were also measured. Data of the species composition and population density of earthworms for each habitat are given. The studied habitats were classified according to the ratio of the earthworm living forms. It was found that soil humidity is the most significant factor for the group of epigeiс and epi-endogeiс species. The diversity of epigeiс and epi-endogeiс earthworm species in forests is largely supported by deadwood. The Asian subspecies Eisenia nordenskioldi nordenskioldi was subjected to morphometric analysis confirming its characteristic polymorphism.

Impact of Rubber Leaf Vermicompost on Tea (Camellia sinensis) Yield and Earthworm Population in West Tripura (India)

Background: Vermicompost is a manure produced from organic waste through the activity of epigeic earthworms and microbes. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers for long term to increase the crop productivity have led to deterioration of soil health. Therefore, to assess the effect of vermicompost, as an alternative option to chemical fertilizer, on tea yield and earthworm population, field application of vermicompost on tea plantation was carried out for a period of two years (2015-2016) in Harishnagar Tea Estate, West Tripura, India. Methods: The experimental plot (25 sq. m) was set up using a random block design with 4 different rates of vermicompost viz. T0 (Control), T1 (5 t ha-1 year-1), T2 (10 t ha-1 year-1) and T3 (15 t ha-1 year-1) each having five replications. Composite soil samples were collected at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Earthworms were also collected during the experimental period.Conclusion: Application of vermicompost significantly influenced the tea plantation soils, increased the tea yield along with earthworm population and was dependent on the vermicompost doses applied.

Earthworm population dynamics in traditional slash and burn cultivation in Mizoram, Northeast India

Aim: This paper describes the influence of traditional slash and burn (shifting) cultivation on earthworm population structure and species diversity. Methodology: The study was conducted in a tropical hilly terrain natural forest in northeast India. The first year was taken as pre–cultivation phase. During second-year traditional slash and burn cultivation was carried out with rice (Oryza sativa) as the main crop, where local weeding practice using had hoe was done thrice. The land was left fallow in the third year. Earthworms were sampled from five random quadrats at monthly interval by digging and hand sorting method. Results: Nine species of earthworms belonging to three families were identified, out of which three epigeic species (P. excavatus, P. macintoshi and A. alexandri) were not recorded during the cultivation phase. There was a significant (p<.05) reduction in earthworm density during the cultivation phase. M. houletti was the most dominant species in terms of density, while D. nepalensis was the most versatile in seasonal distribution. Shannon Index of diversity was lowest in the cultivation phase (H ̅=0.84, 1-D=0.46) as compared to pre-cultivation (H ̅=1.67, 1-D=0.76) and post-cultivation (H ̅=1.67, 1-D=0.77). Interpretation: The reason for negative effect of traditional slash and burn cultivation on earthworm population density and diversity could be due to multiple weeding practices resulting in the disturbance of surface soil that directly or indirectly affects earthworms. Key words: Earthworms, Epigeic species, Mizoram, Slash and burn cultivation, Soil, Weeding