ASSOCIATION INDEXATION OF VARIOUS PLANT SPECIES WITH EARTHWORM PHERETIMA POSTHUMA

To feed a growing global population while minimizing environmental damage, we require comprehensive and quantitative knowledge of ecological factors influencing crop production. Through their burrowing and casting activities, subterranean detritivores like earthworms can boost the availability of nutrients in the soil. Many recent researches have investigated whether plant performance may be impacted by earthworm-caused alterations. In view of importance of plant association with various organisms in an ecosystem, The index of association was found to be 100 for Cynodon dactylon, 91.6 for Digitaria sp., 86.6 for Oryza sativa, 83.3 for Triticum indicum, 37.3 for Pennisetum typhoideum, 58.3 for Arachis hypogea, 46.6 for Avena sativa, 41.6 for Zea mays, 30 for Solanum tuberosum and 20 for Hordeum vulgare, respectively. The present study shows that owing to high temperature the quantity of earthworm found less in number resulting in less growth of plants. On the other hand, moisture effects demonstrated totally opposite consequences as compare to high temperature. The above findings suggest that suitability of temperature and moisture are vital factors for the growth of earthworm as well as plants.