Abstract
The population dynamics of earthworms in 3 successional fallows developed after slash and burn agriculture (jhum) at an elevation of 960 m of Meghalaya was analysed While 0- and 15-yr old fallows had only one species in the soil ecosystem, 5-yr fallow had one additional species apart from those found in the other two fallows. Monthly population fluctuation was related to soil temperature, moisture and litterfall pattern. The rate of mortality in the population was high with a generally low mature population fraction compared with juvenile and immature ones. Different species had different patterns for population fluctuation; this was particularly true in 5-yr old fallow where 3 species coexisted. The significance of these results are discussed.
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Mishra, K.C., Ramakrishnan, P.S. Earthworm population dynamics in different jhum fallows developed after slash and burn agriculture in north-eastern India. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Anim. Sci.) 97, 309–318 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179540
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179540