VARIATION IN THE NUMBER OF EARTHWORM CASTINGS AND BURROWS AT THE SOIL SURFACE IN RELATION TO SEASONAL CHANGES IN RANGA REDDY DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

A careful two yrs study was taken up on the seasonal Surface castings of the earthworm Megascolex mauriti in the semiarid tropical grasslands I and II in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh. The variation in the number of earthworm castings and burrows at the soil surface were related to seasonal changes in the temperature, rainfall and soil moisture were analysed by multiple regression analysis. Five quadrates of 25 x 25 cm being apart from each other by one meter were quantified for burrows. The correlation analysis of the burrows and casts of two alfisol grasslands with biotic factors rainfall and temperature had revealed a high positive and negative correlation, respectively. Rainfall and temperature regulates the moisture content in the soil and it has a direct relationship in the appearance of macropores on the surface of the soil.