Abstract
The impact that plant communities may have on underground faunal diversity is unclear. Therefore, understanding the links between plants and organisms is of major interest. Earthworm population dynamics were studied in the pineapple agroecosystems of Tripura to evaluate the impact of monoculture plantation on earthworm communities. A total of thirteen earthworm species belonging to four families and five genera were collected from different sampling sites. Application of sample-based rarefaction curve and nonparametric richness estimators reveal 90–95% completeness of sampling. Earthworm community of pineapple agroecosystems was dominated by endogeic earthworms andDrawida assamensiswas the dominant species with respect to its density, biomass, and relative abundance. Vertical distribution of earthworms was greatly influenced by seasonal variations. Population density and biomass of earthworms peaked during monsoon and postmonsoon period, respectively. Overall density and biomass of earthworms were in increasing trend with an increase in plantation age and were highest in the 30–35-year-old plantation. Significant decrease in the Shannon diversity and evenness index and increase in Simpson’s dominance and spatial aggregation index with an increase in the age of pineapple plantation were recorded. Soil temperature and soil moisture were identified as the most potent regulators of earthworm distribution in the pineapple plantation.
Highlights
Earthworms are the most important soil biota of agroecosystem where they play a key role in regulating soil fertility and promoting plant growth through nutrient cycling and water infiltration [1, 2]
4 species belonged to the family Megascolecidae (Metaphire houlleti (Perrier), Metaphire posthuma (Vailant), Kanchuria sp., and Kanchuria sumerianus Julka), 5 species to the family Octochaetidae (Eutyphoeus gigas Stephenson, Eutyphoeus scutarius Michaelsen, Eutyphoeus comillahnus Michaelsen, Eutyphoeus gammiei (Beddard), and Eutyphoeus sp.), 3 species to the family Moniligastridae (Drawida assamensis Gates, Drawida papillifer papillifer Stephenson, and Drawida nepalensis Michaelsen), and one species to the family Glossoscolecidae (Pontoscolex corethrurus (Muller))
Results of unweighted paired-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) clustering based on Bray-Curtis index were confirmed by the pattern of principal coordinates analysis (PCorA) plotting (Figure 8(b))
Summary
Earthworms are the most important soil biota of agroecosystem where they play a key role in regulating soil fertility and promoting plant growth through nutrient cycling and water infiltration [1, 2]. Since earthworms account for the highest biomass among tropical soil macrofauna [3], soil quality depends on population density, species diversity, and activity level of earthworm community. Factors that determine distribution and community structure of earthworms may depend on the changes in land use pattern [4, 5] as well as plant species composition and the physical and chemical properties of soils within a plant community [6, 7]. Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.), native to Southern Brazil and Paraguay, was introduced to India by Portuguese in 1548 AD [9]. It is one of the most delicious tropical fruit crops of commercial importance and widely cultivated in the hill slopes of Tripura, checking soil erosion. The agroclimatic conditions prevailing in Tripura are ideal for the commercial production of its three common varieties, namely, Queen, Kew, and Mauritius
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