Contribution of earthworms to enhance fertility in selected orchards of Faisalabad district.
Fatima Jalal, Qureshi J. I., Bokhari S. A., Asma Haque, Khalid Z. M., Rana S. A.
Author Affiliation: Deptt. Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, Faculty: Science and Technology, GC, University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
International Journal of Biosciences (IJB) 5 : 75-84
Abstract : The influence of earthworm's abundance on the soil texture, physiology and available nutrients in natural conditions were investigated in the four orchards, Orange (Citrus reticulata), Guava (Psidium guajava), Mango (Mangifera indica) and Berri (Zizyphus mauritiana). Samplings were done every month with five replicates, throughout the years in session (1997-1998). Up to 18 species belonging to 10 genera were harboured from the selected sites. Overall, about 87.57% (n=458) of earthworms were belonging to genus Pheretima while the rest of species are poorly present. Climatic factors affected the diversity and abundance of the earthworms (p=0.01, p=0.05). The number earthworms were abundant near tree trunks where different species of herbs and shrubs were present which provided shelter against adverse environmental factors. Genus Pheretima had fairly found throughout session. A fair number of casts were found in the Berri orchards and least in the guava orchards. The casts and burrows were frequently present near the tree stem within the intermingled roots. The shape and size of the casts and the burrows depends on the species as well as the age of the earthworms and having a linear correlation between the soil fertility and abundance of earthworms (p=0.01, p=0.05). This correlation indicated that the presence of earthworms in orchards increase soil fertility and having the ultimate influence to enhance the productivity of the orchards.