• J. H. NAIK
• M. SINGH
• H. PANDE
• D. GOSWAMI
• B. R. KAUSHAL

Earthworm abundance and species composition were studied in a cultivated system in Kumaun Himalaya where annual rainfall is 2225 mm and the climate is subtemperate. The soil is silty loam and contains 43.5% sand 31.2% silt and 25.3% clay. Twelve species were found: 8 Megascolecidae, 3 Lumbricidae and 1 Moniligastridae. Abundance ranged from 0 to 214.4 ind. m-2. Biomass ranged from 0 to 74.8 g m-2. Depth distribution of earthworms indicated a mean of 61.5% of worm number and 53.3% of total biomass were collected at 0-10 cm soil layer. Age structure of earthworms indicated that aclitellates were more abundant than clitellates. Several significant correlations were obtained between numbers and biomass of earthworms and soil properties. Casts collected from the study site showed an increase in pH and available C, N, P and K (%) compared with the non-ingested soil in the study site. C:N ratio of casts was lower than that of non-ingested in the study site.

Earthworms, abundance, species composition, depth distribution, Kumaun Himalaya

"EARTHWORM ABUNDANCE AND SPECIES COMPOSITION IN A CULTIVATED SYSTEM OF KUMAUN HIMALAYA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 1, page no.690-697, January-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1901292.pdf

"EARTHWORM ABUNDANCE AND SPECIES COMPOSITION IN A CULTIVATED SYSTEM OF KUMAUN HIMALAYA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 1, page no. pp690-697, January-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1901292.pdf