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The growth and reproductive potential of composting earthworm is influenced by the chemical composition of initial feed mixture. Thus the GC-MS technique is used to determine the biochemical foot prints of the vermibed substrate before composting process. The present study conducted to analyze the chemical composition of precomposted animal dung material of Elephus maximus and Bos taurus by GC-MS analysis. The dung materials were precomposted up to 14 days and used for the analysis. The GC-MS spectrogram of Elephus maximus and Bos taurus showed 20 and 15 different compounds respectively. Predominant levels of esters were observed in elephant dung, which were dominated by the esterified polyunsaturated fatty acids with maximum peak area for elaidinsaeure methyl ester (26.6%). In cow dung the maximum peak area was obtained for 1-Hydroxy-1-methyl) −2-Methyl tetrahydro −2 furanyl] − 4, 4, 14-Trimethylandrost- 9 (11) – ene −3, 6, 16 (17%) and alcohol were the dominant functional group followed by carboxylic acids and esters. Thus the results indicated that the presence of higher percentage of esterified poly unsaturated fatty acids in elephant dung reflects its higher quality suitable for vermicomposting, since the dietary unsaturated fatty acids have the positive impacts on the reproduction of earthworm by enhancing the functionality in sperm production.

Earthworms have been well reported to have a beneficial effect on soil microbes, soil microbial biomass (SMB), fungal community, soil structure, water retention and plant growth in different terrestrial ecosystems. However, the interactions between environmental stressors and various species of earthworms and the subsequent effect on soil microbes, organic matter, soil structure and plant growth are still uncertain. The purpose of this analysis was to test 1- the impact of environmental stressors on earthworm behaviour. 2- the effect of various earthworms on soil microbes, plant growth, soil structure and the carbon cycle. We noted that less fatal temperatures are generally unknown, but higher fatal temperatures range from 25 to 48 °C. Earthworms have a role to play, depending on the nature of organic residues, in both the formation and degradation of soil aggregates. Improvements in microbial biomass and plant growth have been established according to temperature, soil toxicity, soil type, earthworms abundance, organic residues types and field conditions. We observed that although the summer temperature in the arid area was approximately (°C 48), it was found that a particular type of earthworm (Namalycastis indica) was responsible for improving soil characteristics.While a great deal of analysis has been carried out on the role of earthworms within the soil ecology, such a review identifies important knowledge gaps, particularly in the determination of the impacts of earthworm species on the soil structure, microbial biomass and plant productivity, in particular since most papers focused on European species and overlooked the role of earthworms in the arid landscape. Further research is recommended to compare the impacts of different earthworms species on soil microbes and plant growth in various soil types, earthworm abundance, field conditions, organic residues locations, inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, fertile or non-fertile soils and diverse conditions of drought and moisture.

Olive oil industry is economically important in Mediterranean countries. Disposal of olive mill waste (OMW) presents an environmental concern in those countries due to its high salinity and its high level of polyphenols. In order to reuse OMW, those properties have to change either through the filtration process and addition of adsorbents or by composting. One of the most important organisms in composting of organic wastes is earthworms. However, data on the effects of OMW on earthworms are scarce. The main aim of our study was to investigate whether OMW contaminated soil (OMW CS) causes adverse effects on molecular and organism level in epigeic earthworm Dendrobaena veneta and on microbiological activity. Changes of measured biochemical biomarkers (AChE, CAT, GST, lipids, MDA) varied depending on the quantity of added OMW CS and the exposure duration. Oxidative stress occurred after 7 days of exposure, while in most cases enzyme activity recovered after 28 days. At the highest ratio of contaminated soil (50%), reproduction was completely inhibited. The second aim was to investigate the impact of earthworms on phenol degradation and microbial activity, indicating an important role in the bioremediation of contaminated soils. Our results show that above a certain quantity an OMW CS has an adverse effect on earthworms, while the impact of earthworms on soil microbial activity was positive but transient. Yet, as the results also imply that earthworms have an impact on phenol degradation, they can be used to help remediation of OMW CS and its subsequent usage in agriculture. However, the quantity of OMW CS that can be safely added should be determined first.

The earthworm fauna and population structure in Colchic ecosystems of the southern slope in the Western Caucasus were studied. First, in May 2013 we have sampled earthworms of the forest communities. This research was repeated in 2018 after Buxus sempervirens L. destruction by Cydalima perspectalis Walker (Lepidoptera, Crambidae). Altogether 13 earthworm species were registered in the soils of original B. sempervirens phytocenose and derived phytocenoses of the Western Caucasus. Endemicity of earthworms in the study area was higher than in most regions of Russia. The earthworm samples in 2013 and 2018 were similar in species composition, but differed in terms of dominant species. The structure of the earthworm population in the soils of the secondary phytocenoses has become closer to the earthworm communities of the other forests in the Western Caucasus. Analysis of the relative position of taxocenes in 2013 and 2018 space NMDS model, allows to put forward a hypothesis about the reduction of their total "ecological niche" after the disappearance of B. sempervirens . We believe that a broader “ecological niche” in 2013 is associated with a greater mosaicism (diversity) of the worm habitat formed by boxwood communities.

Current research represents the biodiversity and ecological interactions of earthworms in Poonch division, Pakistan which is unexplored till now. Earthworms were sampled randomly from 18 study sites during the study duration from April to October 2019 by using digging and hand sorting methods. Eleven earthworm species belonging to eight genera and three families were identified. The values of overall Shannon diversity indices indicate that Eisenia fetida (H = 0.14) was predominantly found in all habitats, while Drawida nepalensis (H = 0.05) has least abundance in the study area, likewise overall percent abundance of earthworms was highest in municipal dumped areas (27.4%) and lowest in near water entities (12.4%). Our investigations revealed that different abiotic parameters like soil temperature, pH, moisture contents, soil texture, organic matter content, available phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen in soil affect earthworm’s diversity, distribution and abundance. It was also observed that earthworm population density was higher in localities with good canopy cover along with gardens because of the greater accumulation of organic matter. The present investigation provide a base line data in context of biodiversity and ecological interactions of earthworms with associated vegetation, soil macro fauna and other abiotic parameters, however a multidimensional research approach is needed to understand the complicacy of this association and its potential beneficial or harmful effects on functional ecosystem and agricultural land management.

Dentre as técnicas utilizadas no aproveitamento de resíduos agroindustriais, destaca-se a vermicompostagem, ou seja, o uso de minhocas na degradação desses resíduos pelo trato digestivo, transformando-os em húmus de minhoca. A minhoca Eudrilus eugeniae (gigante africana) é muito utilizada nesse processo de biotransformação e estabilização dessas materiais. Assim, objetivou-se com este trabalho conhecer a viabilidade do uso de resíduos agroindustriais na produção de húmus e multiplicação de minhocas. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por diferentes proporções de conteúdo ruminal (CR) e bagaço de cana (BC), sendo: (T 1 ) 100% CR; (T 2 ) 87,5% 12,5% CR + BC; ( T3 ) 75% CR + 25% BC; (T 4 ) 62,5% 37,5% CR + BC; (T5 ) 50% CR + 50% BC. Realizamos a inoculação das minhocas Eudrilus eugeniae , e decorridos 78 dias, quantificamos a massa de minhocas e de húmus. Uma combinação de 75% de conteúdo ruminal + 25% de bagaço de cana propicia melhores condições para multiplicação de minhocas Eudrilus eugineae. Quanto à produção de húmus, 100% do conteúdo ruminal possibilita maior produção do mesmo e essa decresce com a adição do bagaço de cana.

Finding strategies to reuse and treat organic wastes is of utmost need. Biological processes offer the possibility to transform them into safer end products with benefits for both agriculture and the environment. Moreover, it represents an ecologically-sound and economically attractive alternative to landfill disposal and incineration. In this work, we evaluated the feasibility of vermicomposting to treat and process grape marc, the main solid by-product of the wine industry. The long-term changes in grape marc derived from both white and red winemaking processes were assessed throughout the process of vermicomposting from a physico-chemical and microbiological perspective. New layers of fresh marc were added sequentially in the presence and absence of earthworms (Eisenia andrei) forming an age gradient during a 42-week period. An optimal moisture level of 70% was maintained over the course of the process. The pH fell within weak-alkaline levels through the layerś profile and the electrical conductivity was between 200 and 300 µS cm−1, providing optimum conditions for earthworm growth. The mass loss caused by earthworm activity led to an increased content of macro- and micronutrients at the end of the trial. An overall decrease in microbial biomass and its activity, indicative of a stabilised material, was also recorded with depth of layer. Altogether, this points to vermicomposting as a suitable management system for processing grape marc with a dual purpose, that is fertilizer production and environment protection. This is especially relevant in the current attempts to reach a fully circular economy.

Lumbricus rubellus is one of earthworm species that has been cultivated because its utility as feed for livestock and fish. The culture media for earthworms are mainly manure and compost. The purpose of this research was to observe the performance of Lumbricus rubellus given eggshell powder in different types and levels. This study used commercial eggshell flour and homemade eggshell flour with different levels (10%, 20%, 30%) mixed with cow dung as a medium. The results of the study showed that the addition of eggshell flour (commercial and homemade) as much as 10% showed a higher earthworm weight gain than other treatments but the cocoon production of the treatment was lower than the control (0% eggshell flour).

A mesocosm fermentation experiment was undertaken to investigate interactions between Eisenia fetida and Collembola affecting composting processes. Earthworms, Collembola, respiration, water soluble nutrients and compost characteristics (near infrared spectra – NIRS) were monitored on four occasions over 136 days. Earthworms were the main drivers of early changes in composts, increasing the general abundance of Collembola, although responses varied with species. Earthworms accelerated substrate mineralisation and release of soluble nutrients whilst also changing compost characteristics. Collembola alone had little direct effect on soluble nutrient concentrations or respiration; they did however alter compost characteristics (NIR spectra). Earthworm-Collembola interactions affecting respiration and soluble nutrients were mainly antagonistic in the early stages of composting but synergistic in later stages. In the later stages of composting, the higher abundance of Collembola when combined with earthworms resulted in greater concentrations of soluble nitrate and phosphate. These findings emphasise the importance in vermicomposting practice of different invertebrate groups having access to feedstock at appropriate stages of the process. The high concentrations of soluble nutrients released during vermicomposting indicate the need for control measures to avoid off-site pollution and loss of this resource.

The soil microbial community plays a vital role in the biogeochemical cycles of bioelements and maintaining healthy soil conditions in agricultural ecosystems. However, how the soil microbial community responds to mitigation measures for continuous cropping obstacles remains largely unknown. Here we examined the impact of quicklime (QL), chemical fungicide (CF), inoculation with earthworm (IE), and a biocontrol agent (BA) on the soil microbial community structure, and the effects toward alleviating crop yield decline in lily. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene from the lily rhizosphere after 3 years of continuous cropping was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform. The results showed that Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi and Gemmatimonadetes were the dominant bacterial phyla, with a total relative abundance of 86.15–91.59%. On the other hand, Betaproteobacteriales, Rhizobiales, Myxococcales, Gemmatimonadales, Xanthomonadales, and Micropepsales were the dominant orders with a relative abundance of 28.23–37.89%. The hydrogen ion concentration (pH) and available phosphorus (AP) were the key factors affecting the structure and diversity of the bacterial community. The yield of continuous cropping lily with using similar treatments decreased yearly for the leaf blight, but that of IE was significantly (p p Rhizobiales, Myxococcales, Streptomycetales and Pseudomonadales. Therefore, enriching the number of earthworms in fields could effectively optimize the bacterial community structure of the lily rhizosphere soil, promote the circulation and release in soil nutrients and consequently alleviate the loss of continuous cropping lily yield.

Earthworms contribute to a wide range of process that underpin soil function and ecosystem services and are an important component of a soil’s natural capital stocks. With increasing interest in soil health, it is important to better understand the type of earthworm community required to enhance soil functions. This is of particular interest in New Zealand where pasture systems are dominated by exotic earthworm species and low ecological diversity. Two separate mesocosm experiments were established to explore the interaction between earthworm abundance and ecological diversity as it influences soil functions. Experimental increases in earthworm abundance increased soil macroporosity and water infiltration, increased plant nitrogen (N) and plant growth. Although some benefits were observed at the lowest earthworm abundances, the greatest benefits were seen at the higher abundances. Earthworm ecological diversity is also critical to ensure soil functions are optimised. For example, the single species of Aporrectodea caliginosa alone was not able to improve water infiltration or pasture production. However, when this species was found in combination with Aporrectodea longa, there was positive influence on soil functions despite the abundance of A. longa itself not increasing. This study highlights the importance of including a measure of ecological diversity alongside a measure of abundance to assess soil biological health.

Aims: To estimate changes in the number of oxytetracycline -resistant strains, a dynamic population of Bacillus in the gut of Eisenia fetida cultured in processed-cow-dung (PrCD) supplemented with subinhibitory amounts of oxytetracycline, was studied. Study Design: Sterile water containing oxytetracycline was sprayed over PrCD at concentration of 0.012 µg per mg dehydrated PrCD per spraying. The number of oxytetracycline-resistant Bacillus spp. microbiota of E. fetida’s gut was compared to the number of oxytetracycline-resistant Bacillus spp. in its feed (PrCD). For this purpose, Luria Agar (LA) and Bacillus Agar (BA) plates amended with or without oxytetracycline were used. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Omics Laboratory of Department of Biotechnology, University of North Bengal situated in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India during 2017-18. Methodology: E. fetida gut content and PrCD samples were collected on different days of the experiment for bacteriological analysis. Dilution plating on LA yielded the total number of cultivable heterotrophic bacteria. LA plates amended with oxytetracycline (15 µg/ml) were used to acquire the fraction of heterotrophic bacteria resistant to oxytetracycline. BA plates were also utilized to obtain the fraction of resistant Bacillus spp. population. The frequency of mutation was determined using a conventional formula. Results: In the gut of E. fetida reared in PrCD supplemented with sub-inhibitory concentration of oxytetracycline, a rise in the oxytetracycline-resistant Bacillus population was observed. On day 1, the frequency of oxytetracycline-resistant Bacillus spp. (5×10-8) matched the spontaneous mutation frequency, however higher frequencies on days 2 and 7 (1.6×10-4 and 3.5 x 10-6 respectively) suggested significant dissemination of oxytetracycline resistance in the gut environment. Conclusion: Subinhibitory oxytetracycline concentrations in earthworm diet had a significant effect on mutation rates, showing that evolutionary forces on the gut microbiota may be determining their responses to antibiotic stress.

Taxonomic classification of earthworms based on anatomical features has created several challenges for systematics and population genetics. This study examines the application of molecular markers, in particular mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COI), to facilitate discrimination of closely related earthworm species. Molecular markers have also provided insights into population genetics by aiding assessment of genetic diversity, lineage sorting, and genealogical distributions of populations for several species. Phylogeography—a study that evaluates the geographical distribution of these genealogical lineages and the role of historical processes in shaping their distribution—has also provided insights into ecology and biodiversity. Such studies are also essential to understand the distribution patterns of invasive earthworm species that have been introduced in non-native ecosystems globally. The negative consequences of these invasions on native species include competition for food resources and altered ecosystems. We anticipate that molecular markers such as COI and DNA barcoding offer potential solutions to disentangling taxonomic impediments in earthworms and advancing their systematics and population genetics.

In the natural environment, microplastics and biochar are normally coexistent. However, interactions between them on bioavailability and degradation of organic pollutants in soils are not clear. Here, wheat straw biochar produced at 400 °C (BC) and polyethylene (PE) with particle size ranges of 840–2000 and 104–178 μm were selected and named as LBC, SBC, LPE, and SPE, respectively. Their effects on bioavailability and degradation of phenanthrene in soils with or without earthworms were investigated. Sorption ability (lgKf) of PE-BC (1:1) mixtures for phenanthrene was higher than that of their corresponding individual PE or BC in general, which is mainly related to the change in DOC content in the equilibrium solution. Both initial desorbing fraction of phenanthrene extracted by n-butanol and degradation ratio of phenanthrene were more obviously decreased by the addition of 2% PE-BC mixtures than by the addition of 2% PE or BC in general. Correlation analysis results indicated that particle sorption played a key role in controlling phenanthrene bioavailability and then phenanthrene degradation no matter whether earthworm Pheretima guillelmi was present or not. Earthworm presence enhanced phenanthrene degradation in soils with SPE, LBC, or LPE but had no obvious effect on the degradation in soils with PE-BC mixtures due to the change in ingestion of SPE by earthworms or DOC solubilization. The enhanced sorption ability and the reduced SPE ingestion by earthworms by coexistence of PE and BC inhibited phenanthrene degradation, leading to higher persistence of phenanthrene.

Environmental contamination at shooting ranges is a widely known ecological problem. The aim of the study was to evaluate the extent of contamination and the ecotoxicity of a shooting range soil assessing the physiological and biochemical effects on earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny). Adult E. fetida were exposed to the soils collected from different distances of the shooting range for 28 days. High concentrations of Pb (53023 mg kg−1), increased concentrations of Ni (12 mg kg−1) and Sb (600 mg kg−1), significantly higher soil organic matter content (7.2%) and density (6.14 g cm−3) were determined in the backstop berm soil. Significant weight loss (44.4%) of the adult earthworms after 28 days of exposure occurred in the most contaminated shooting range soil and significantly higher concentrations of Pb (3101 mg kg−1), Cu (51 mg kg−1), Ni (2 mg kg−1), and Sb (20 mg kg−1) were determined in the tissues of worms, and no juveniles found there. Juveniles exposed to the less contaminated soil of the shooting range (A, B and C) accumulated significant concentrations of Pb, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn. The antioxidant enzymatic activity (glutathione-s-transferase (GST)) decreased, and lipid peroxidation increased as indicated by an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level in earthworms exposed to the contaminated soil. A compensatory mechanism between the activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and GST in earthworms exposed to these soils was confirmed.

The Cardiovascular disease due to thrombus (clot) formation is the major factor of death throughout the world. Earthworms being the eco engineers has thrombolytic enzyme that can be used for thrombolysis. The thrombolytic enzyme was isolated and purified from supernatant of earthworm Apporectodea longa by column chromatography. Six Strain BKT 11, BKT 15, BKT 17, BKT 26, BKT 27 and BKT 28 shows the thrombolytic activity 791.64 U/mg, 1362.39 U/mg, 1205.4 U/mg, 710.63 U/mg, 529.66 U/mg and 625.00 U/mg respectively. Thrombolytic activity was confirmed by blood clot lysis method. Different concentrations 50 ?l,100 ?l, 150 ?l, 200 ?l and 250 ?l of extracted enzyme were applied on 25mg of wet blood clot along with control where distill water used. These fractions of extracted enzymes represent the dissolution of clot (thrombolysis). The molecular weight 32 KDa was determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Results show that extracted elute have potential of fibrinolytic activity in this specie of earthworm and it can serve as a suitable therapeutic agent. Keywords: Thrombolytic activity, Casein plate assay, Blood clot lysis, spectrophotometry, Gel electrophoresis.

Genetic differentiation of the amphimictic earthworm A. caliginosa populations was investigated in the territory of Ukraine by analyzing the variability of the polyallelic locus Es-4. It was established that the settlements of this species are characterized as Fst = 0.13, which means genetic heterogeneity above the average level. The values of this index depend on the size of the population groups. Moreover, these changes can be represented as a leap from insignificant interdeme differences to statistically significant ones, obtained in the analysis of geographically remote populations, with the stabilization of the Fst index values on the macroscale. This situation is reasonable for the model of a genetically homogeneous settlement that arose once over a large area, the secondary differentiation of which was caused by internal migrations and the founder effect, which is in agreement with the regularities observed for populations of this species in North America. The comparison of the spatial differentiation of A. caliginosa populations with the genetically, ecologically, and arealogically close parthenogenetic A. trapezoides species within Ukraine showed that the apomictic species has a different type of geographical differentiation of populations. It is characterized by a vicarious structure of settlements in which one clonal form replaces another and the genotypes of clones of distant populations differ the most. This means that there are no migrations between remote settlements of earthworms within Ukraine, and the reasons for the alternative nature of the genetic subdivision of amphimictic and apomictic species settlements are associated with the mechanisms of forming genetic diversity. In amphimictic species populations, the maximum genotypic diversity is achieved through recombinations and is realized at the individual level within populations, while it is due to mutations in clonal species and appears as intergroup variability.

A new species of Drawida Michaelsen 1900, named Drawida ganini Zhang and Wu sp nov., is described from the material collected in the Muling River of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China, and the adjacent region near Russia. The new species is morphologically similar to Drawida ghilarovi Gates 1969. The molecular data were more useful for comparison of D. ghilarovi samples. D. ganini is genetically different from D. ghilarovi by a p-distance value of 18.35 ± 1.37% based on the COI gene sequence data. Thus, Ganin and Atopkin's (2018) data validate taxonomical status of D. ganini as separated species.

Natural treefall gaps have a substantial role in maintaining soil and plant diversity in old-growth forests. However, the amount of information on the effects of gaps on the recovery of physical and chemical properties of compacted soils is scarce. We tested the hypothesis that natural treefall gaps accelerate the restoration of compacted soil by enhancing biological and microbial activity in the topsoil after a period of five years. Five years after a ground-based skidding operation in the Hyrcanian forest, the recovery levels of soil properties were compared among different treatments including natural canopy gaps with an area of 200 m2 (NCG), clear-cuts with an area of 1600 m2 (CC), disturbed trails under a dense canopy (DDC), and an undisturbed area (UND) as control. The lowest soil bulk density (1.07 g cm-3), penetration resistance (1.11 MPa), and the highest macroporosity (36.3%), and sand content (14.4%) among treatments were recorded for the NCG followed by DDC and CC treatments. Significantly lower values of soil pH, and electric conductivity and the highest values of soil organic C, total N, available P, K, Ca, and Mg were detected under the NCG followed by the DDC and CC treatments, as compared to the UND area. The highest values of earthworm density and dry mass, and soil microbial respiration were found in the NCG followed by the DDC and CC treatments. Fine root biomass was significantly higher in the UND area (92.27 g m-2) followed by the DDC, NCG and CC treatments. We can conclude that the effects of gap size on the recovery values of compacted soil were significant in terms of greater nutrient availability and higher earthworm density and dry mass, suggesting that mimicking natural canopy gap was more effective than the clear-cut gap (CC) for the resilience of the forest stand in the restoration of soil quality.

In this study, an analysis of organic fertilizer of an agro-waste (Sesame straw) plus cow dung was carried out using an epigeic earthworm species Eisenia fetida and Perionyx sansibaricus. Sesame straw is abundantly produced after each harvesting of the crop in Kharif season in arid region of tropical India. The compost produced in presence and absence of earthworm exhibit significant (P0.05) changes in physicochemical properties respectively. In control bedding, the values of water holding capacity enhanced significantly (P

Earthworms are a type of invertebrates that contributes to the growth of plants and fertility improvement of soil. Remilitine fungicide is commonly used by farmers in agriculture in the Benghazi region, whereas Chromium is one of the main soil pollutants, however, more studies are needed concerning its toxicity in soil organisms. Consequently, chromium was selected to be used in this research. Along with Remilitine fungicide and Chromium as well as Remilitine fungicide separately and in combination the body growth of the earthworm, Eisenia fetida in the laboratory. All worms were adults and fully clitellated. The adult worms were exposed to 70 days of sublethal concentration of Remilitine500ppm and Chromium200 ppm as well as the mixture of Remilitine - Chromium (200+ 500ppm). The worms of control treatment reported significantly greater body weight (F= 5.4, P < 0.05), as compared to that of Remiltine treated worms Furthermore, significant differences in worm were also revealed body weight between the control and chromium treated worms after 70 days (F=10.33, P

Aporrectodea caliginosa is a universally distributed and highly abundant peregrine earthworm that is the object of many ecological and ecotoxicological studies. Molecular phylogenetic analysis suggested that A. caliginosa consists of three highly diverged genetic lineages. In this study, we investigated morphological diversity within a sample of these three lineages from Belarus. We detected a variety of forms with different degrees of pigmentation and a shift in the clitellum position. The three genetic lineages of A. caliginosa demonstrated different propensity to particular morphological variants, including size, colour, and the clitellum position, yet no character could be used to distinguish among the lineages with sufficient accuracy. Thus, our results suggest that identification of the genetic lineage should be recommended for ecological studies involving A. caliginosa to account for possible differences between them.

Along with the development of a country, industrial growth in that country will increase. As industrial development increases, the waste generated will also continue to increase. PT SIER's waste treatment process produces by-products in the form of sludge from the Aktif sludge treatment process, one of which is the composting process using the vermicomposting method with the help of earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus). This study aims to determine the effect of the number of earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus) on the C/N ratio of vermicomposting from WWTP sludge at PT. Surabaya Industrial Estate Rungkut (SIER) and to determine the effect of composting time on C/N ratio of vermicomposting from sludge WWTP PT. Surabaya Industrial Estate Rungkut (SIER). This study used a reactor size of 20 cm high, the type of earthworm (Lumbricus rubellus) with a length of 7-10 cm, 1.5 kg of sawdust and 5 kg of sludge with a sampling time of 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, 28 days, and 32 days. day. The results of this study showed that composting using earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus) could reduce the content of the C/N ratio by 14.89 in reactor 5 with the number of worms 30 on the 32nd day of composting and the lowest decrease was 23.51 in reactor 1 with the number of worms. 10 worms with a composting time of 32 days

Pesticides may harm soil organisms such as earthworms and enchytraeids, but knowledge is lacking on their relative sensitivity to these chemicals and the consequences on soil functions. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of exposure to a commercial fungicide formulation (Swing® Gold, containing dimoxystrobin and epoxiconazole) on the function of earthworms (Aporrectodea caliginosa) and enchytraeids (Enchytraeus buchholzi) in soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization. The soil organisms were incubated alone and together in a 26-day laboratory experiment. At the recommended field rate, the fungicide induced a decrease in the SOM mineralization and a delay in the maximum daily CO2 emissions compared to the control soil without fungicide. Soil fauna also influenced SOM mineralization with a higher cumulated CO2 release after 26 days in the control soil with earthworms (by 21%) than without fauna. When both earthworms and enchytraeids were present, SOM mineralization did not increase, and there was a negative effect on earthworm weight gain. Finally, an alteration of fauna influence with treatment was observed from day 19, meaning that the effect of fauna on SOM mineralization changed with fungicide treatment. Earthworms no longer promoted SOM mineralization when fungicide was present at three-fold the recommended field rate. The effects of enchytraeids on SOM mineralization were similar with and without fungicide exposure. This study underlines the importance of considering the relative sensitivity of soil organisms to environmental factors and interactions between them when assessing soil functioning.

Aiming to reveal the humification process of organic waste and its contribution to the heavy metal behaviour affected by earthworm activity, it was studied about the variation of humic acid (HA) and heavy metal behaviour during vermicomposting of the mixed pig manure and 13C-labelled rice straw. The results showed that earthworms could well adapt to the culturing environment and feed organic matter for its growth and reproduction, the vermicomposting process increased the content of humic substances (HS), HA, and fulvic acid (FA) in substrate residues, but led to less transformation of HA into FA. The elemental, ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and fluorescence excitation–emission matrix (EEM) analysis indicated that vermicomposting led to more aromatic structures and much higher humification degree in HA, whereas less protein, FA-like substances and plastein in HA. Vermicomposting could enhance the total Cu content and decrease Cu/Zn bioavailability in the substrate residues, and vermicomposting especially can help stabilize Cu in the substrate residues by forming more complexed HA–Cu.

Earthworm population density has been little studied in Kumaun Himalayas in different land use systems collectively. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of different land use systems along an altitudinal gradient on earthworm population density in Kumaun Himalayas. Earthworms were sampled in seven different sites from three different land use systems (cultivated, agro-forest and forest systems) in every season (summer, rainy and winter) from two different monoliths (0–15 and 16–30 cm) and were sorted on the basis of their age-structure (clitellates and aclitellates) from May 2015–April 2017. Eight species of earthworms were recorded from the studied sites belonging to two different families—Megascolicidae and Lumbricidae. Earthworm population density varied significantly among land use system; they were recorded highest in forest system i.e. 47% (Nainital—2544 ind. m−2); intermediate in the agro-forest system i.e. 37% (Jeolikot—1102 ind. m−2); lowest in the cultivated system i.e. 20% (Kiccha—890 ind. m−2). Their density tended to be higher in the rainy season and more concentrated (95.19% of total earthworms) on the upper monolith (16–30 cm) irrespective of the land use. The age structure of earthworms indicated that clitellates were more abundant than aclitellates (1:0.8) for all three land use systems. A significant positive correlation was observed between the earthworm population density with soil pH (r = 0.711; P

The invasion of jumping worms, a small group of pheretimoid earthworm species from Asia, has increasingly become an ecological, environmental and conservation issue in forest ecosystems and urban-suburban landscapes around the world. Their presence is often noticed due to their high abundance, distinctive “jumping” behavior, and prominent granular casts on the soil surface. Although they are known to affect soil carbon dynamics and nutrient availability, no single paper has summarized their profound impacts on soil biodiversity, plant community, and animals of all trophic groups that rely on soil and the leaf litter layer for habitat, food, and shelter. In this study, we summarize the biology, invasion, and ecological impacts of invasive jumping worms across North America. We highlight potential impacts of this second wave of earthworm invasion, contrast them with the preceding European earthworm invasion in temperate forests in North America, and identify annual life cycle, reproductive and cocoon survival strategies, casting behavior and co-invasion dynamics as the key factors that contribute to their successful invasion and distinct ecological impacts. We then suggest potential management and control strategies for practitioners and policy makers, underscore the importance of coordinated community science projects in tracking the spread, and identify knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to understand and control the invasion.

Applying carbon-rich materials, such as those resulting from pyrolysis (biochar) or composting (compost), to the agro-ecosystems has been proven to improve soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and reduce CO2 emissions. However, it is not clear how earthworms drive changes in soil C sequestration and mineralization under biochar/compost incorporation. A 288-day microcosm experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of earthworms on the concentrations of SOC and its fractions, the structural characteristics of SOC and CO2 emissions following three straw incorporation treatments (maize straw, maize straw compost, and maize straw biochar), and no straw addition was used as the control. Each treatment had two variants: one with earthworms (Eisenia nordenskioldi) and one without earthworms. The elemental analysis, 13C NMR spectroscopy, and three-dimensional fluorescence technologies were used to characterize the features of SOC. Results indicated that the incorporation of straw, compost, and biochar significantly improved the SOC contents compared with the control. Earthworms did not affect the SOC fractions in the control soil but led to the increase in SOC and humic acid (HA) under compost incorporation. The molecular structures of HA showed features pointing to high degrees of humification and aromaticity, as presented by elemental composition, fluorescence intensities, and 13C NMR. The increase of SOC and a slight reduction of CO2 emission in compost-amended soil could be attributed to the accumulation of more stable HA caused by earthworms. In contrast, earthworm presence decreased the aromaticity of HA in biochar-amended soil, and made its structure more hydrophilic, which was not conducive to C sequestration. In addition, the mineralization of microbial C by earthworms also led to an increased CO2 emission from biochar-amended soil. Earthworms weaken the ability of biochar to reduce soil CO2 emissions but improve the C sequestration capacity of compost-amended soil. This study improves our understanding of the contributions of soil macrofauna on the SOM formation and stabilization after incorporation of different maize straw-derived materials.

An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of replacing dietary fish meal protein with earthworm meal protein on growth performance, whole-body composition, and hematology of butter catfish (Ompok pabda). This experiment was conducted in 15 glass aquaria (200 L) with five treatments, each having three replications. Each of the aquaria was stocked with 40 fishes (average weight 0.62 g). The fish were fed with iso-nitrogenous diets having 35% protein (21% protein from fish meal and/or earthworm meal) twice a day up to satiation with the experimental diets, where fish meal protein was replaced by earthworm meal protein at 0% (control), 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% in the treatments E0, E25, E50, E75, and E100, respectively. At the end of the 8-week rearing period, the best growth performances including weight gain (5.23 ± 0.14 g), percent weight gain (844.15 ± 6.38%), and specific growth rate (4.00 ± 0.11% day−1), and best feed utilization parameters, viz., feed conversion ratio (1.57 ± 0.03) and protein efficiency ratio (2.87±0.04), were found in treatment E75, where 75% of fish meal protein in the diet was replaced with earthworm meal protein. The hematological parameters showed no abnormality due to supplementation of earthworm meal in the diets. At the end of the experiment, whole-body carcass composition, viz., protein, lipid, and ash contents (15.93 ± 0.19%, 7.22 ± 0.60% and 2.14 ± 0.10%, respectively), of O. pabda was higher in treatment E75 compared to control (14.8 2± 0.34, 6.16 ± 0.27, 1.89 ± 0.10, respectively). The results imply that earthworm meal can be used as a protein-rich source to replace fish meal, the major protein source, in the diet of O. pabda up to 75% level without compromising growth, immunity, and body composition.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to observe the role of cerebral ganglionic neurosecretory cells (NSCs) during cocoon production in native earthworm species Perionyx ceylanensis subjected to amputation and seasonal variations. Methodology: Histological studies (using Aldehyde Fuchsin and Chrome Alum Haematoxylin Phloxin stain) were carried out on brain NSCs in the two groups of earthworms (Group I and Group II) maintained in earthen culture pots (2L) with cowdung as food. Group I comprised of brain amputed earthworms was subjected to observe the role of brain NSCs in production of cocoon and Group II earthworms subjected to seasonal changes in the cerebral NSCs during cocoon production. Five replications were kept for Group I (1 individual per pot) and Group II (1 pair per pot). Results: Group I debrained earthworms started to lay cocoons from the 31st day following regeneration of cerebral ganglionic type A NSCs. In group II worms the highest neurosecretory activity was registered in the cerebral type A cells, especially during monsoon coinciding with the hike of cocoon generation. Interpretation: Appearance of type A NSCs in regenerated brain and peak of type A neurosecretory cell activity during peak reproductive period of earthworm species (as indicated by peak of cocoon production) indicates the possible role of cerebral type A NSCs in cocoon laying.

Bentonites are used on a large scale, by farmers and the feed industry, as a feed supplements to adsorb mycotoxins. The presence of mycotoxins in feed affects its quality, animal safety, and human health. Food additives must be used carefully as they may contaminate food and became harmful to the environment and food consumers. The present work studied the effect of two different concentrations of sodium bentonite on the body wall, gut, and coelomic cells of earthworms. The results revealed a change in the behavior of earthworms and the occurrence of a great alteration in the tested samples but no mortality was recorded. Coelomic cells aggregated, vacuoles and pseudopodia were formed.

Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are increasingly threatened by pesticide pollution resulting from extensive use of pesticides, and due to the lack of regulatory measures in the developing world, there is a need for affordable means to lessen environmental effects. This study aimed to investigate the impact of biochar amendment on the toxicity of imidacloprid to life-cycle parameters and biomarker responses of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. E. fetida was exposed to 10% biochar-amended and non-amended OECD artificial soils spiked with 0, 0.75, 1.5, 2.25 and 3 mg imidacloprid/kg for 28 days. An LC50 of 2.7 mg/kg was only computed in the non-amended soil but not in the biochar-amended soil due to insignificant mortality. The EC50 calculated in the non-amended soil (0.92 mg/kg) for reproduction (fertility) was lower than the one computed in the biochar amended (0.98 mg/kg), indicating a decrease in toxicity in the biochar-amended substrate. Significant weight loss was observed at the two highest imidacloprid treatments in the non-amended soil and only at the highest treatment in the biochar-amended substrate, further highlighting the beneficial effects of biochar. Catalase activity decreased significantly at the two highest concentrations of non-amended soil. Yet, in the amended soil, the activity remained high, especially in the highest concentration, where it was significantly higher than the controls. This indicated more severe oxidative stress in the absence of biochar. In all non-amended treatments, there was a significant acetylcholinesterase inhibition, while lower inhibition percentages were observed in the biochar-amended soil. In most endpoints, the addition of biochar alleviated the toxic effects of imidacloprid, which shows that biochar has the potential to be useful in soil remediation. However, there is still a need for field studies to identify the most effective application rate of biochar for land application.

Background: Earthworms are considered as one of the ecologically important invertebrates with highly cryptic genetic diversity. Since the morphological methods of classification are unprecise, it is necessary to classify the species depending on molecular bases using PCR techniques. In addition, studying the effect of some agonists such as Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and Norepinephrine (NE) on the smooth muscle of earthworm is yet poorly studied.

This article discusses the species composition of earthworms in the soils of the beyond Ile Alatau region. The role of earthworms in the soil is quite large. First of all, it is worth noting their loosening and structuring activities. During the movement process, these soil invertebrates mix a huge number of small fractions of soil. The loosening activity promotes moisture and sufficient oxygen. The most important is the destructive activity and enrichment of soils with active substances, as enzymes. The study of lumbricides began from the time of Charles Darwin, and is still of great importance the essence of such invertebrates in zoology. Scientific researchers had been carried out over two years (2018-2020) during the active vegetation of plants on the soils of the highest point of the beyond Ile Alatau region - in the peak of Talgar. As a result of the conducted research, the following earthworm species from the Lumbricidae family were found: Octolasium lacteum, Eisenia foetida, Eisenia nordenskioldi, Nicodrilus caliginosus, Nicodrilus longus, Lumbricus rubellus, Lumbricus terrestris, Dendrobaena octaedra. The most common species are Lumbricus rubellus and Nicodrilus caliginosus, and the rest are less common. In the seasonal dynamics of earthworm numbers, two peaks of activity were observed - in early June and at the end of August.

Vermicomposting is an efficient and environmentally friendly technology to dispose of agricultural organic residues. The efficiency of organic residue decomposition during vermicomposting is directly affected by the biomass and population structure of earthworms. In this study, we investigated how the earthworm biomass and population structure responded to changes in the physicochemical properties of six types of organic residue (cattle dung, herbal waste, rice straw, soybean straw, garden waste, and tea residues) during vermicomposting. Each type of organic residues was placed in a pot with earthworms Eisenia fetida, and the physicochemical properties of the organic residues and earthworm growth dynamics were recorded at 0, 30, 60, and 90 d of vermicomposting. The biomass and population structure of earthworms were stable or increased in rice straw, garden waste, and cattle dung within 60 d of vermicomposting, whereas in tea residues and herb waste, very little earthworm activity (3 adults and 2 cocoons) was recorded on day 30. Among the physicochemical parameters, the substrate C/N ratio was negatively correlated with earthworm growth dynamics. Decomposing organic residues showed higher NH4+ -N and NO3– -N concentrations but a lower total organic carbon content, which negatively affected earthworm growth and reproduction. We recommend that chemical properties of vermicomposting systems should be monitored regularly. At the threshold levels of decomposing organic residue NH4+ -N and NO3– -N concentrations, earthworms should be removed and the vermicompost can be harvested. Small- and large-scale farmers thus need to monitor the physicochemical properties of vermicompost to sustain active earthworm populations.

Accurately quantifying the soil nitrogen (N) supply in crop fields is essential for enabling environmentally sustainable and economically profitable crop production. It requires using field-based methods to account for the contribution of soil biota, including earthworms, to N mineralization in temperate agroecosystems. The direct contribution of earthworms to the soil N cycle is the N they release throughout their life and after death, and it can be estimated using the secondary production method. This study was conducted in 2014 and 2015 in two adjacent fields with annual corn-soybean rotation in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada. The cumulative biomass of Aporrectodea spp. in two no-till corn-soybean agroecosystems was determined, and the direct N flux from these earthworms was estimated during the corn and soybean phases of the rotation. Secondary production was estimated by sampling earthworms biweekly during April–June and September–November and inferring the change in earthworm biomass between sampling dates using a size frequency calculation. The N flux was calculated as the sum of the N released through excretion, during periods when earthworms were active, and from mortality. The secondary production of the Aporrectodea population was estimated to be 8–43 g ash-free dry weight m–2 year–1, and the N flux was 22–105 kg N ha–1 year–1. The N flux was higher at the early vegetative growth stage, which is a period of high N demand for corn. These findings suggest that refining the N fertilization recommendation by accounting for soil N supplied by earthworms could potentially reduce fertilizer costs and environmental N losses.

The plan to build a coal-fired steam power plant is expected to increase. One of the wastes generated from coal-fired steam power plants is coal fly ash. The accumulation of coal fly ash can cause environmental pollution such as soil and groundwater pollution in the storage location. Vermicompost can be used for managing coal fly ash by utilizing earthworms as decomposers. Earthworms can increase the availability of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and reduce the solubility of lead contained in coal fly ash. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of vermicompost using earthworm Eisenia fetida on the content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and lead in coal fly ash. The study consisted of five treatments, with a total weight of 3 kg coal fly ash each. The results showed that mixing cow dung in vermicomposting of coal fly ash significantly increased N, P, K and decreased Pb in vermicompost.

Earthworms have significant effect on vegetation and soil physical and chemical properties. The relationship between earthworms and biodiversity is important in ecological researches. Therefore, the effects of earthworm on plant diversity and various indices of diversity and richness, as well as physical and chemical properties of soil in shrub, grass and bare vegetation types on exclosure and grazing sites of Miankaleh Mazandaran biosphere reserve is investigated in this work. Accordingly, sampling was carried out randomly-systematically in three different vegetative types (shrubs, grass and bare soil) at 0 to 20 cm depth. Each vegetative types was placed on three transects of 100 m, 10 plots at a distance of 30 m. Earthworm and soil were sampled from the center of each plot of 25 cm × 25 cm. The Simpson and Shannon-Wiener indexes and Margalef and Menhinick richness indices were used to evaluate diversity and richness of species at different grazing intensities. Stepwise regression was used to study the relationship between diversity and richness indices with different earthworm parameters. The results showed that there was significant difference of potassium and nitrogen in vegetation types of both exclosure and grazing sites at P ≤ .01. Furthermore, the organic carbon, organic matter and potassium in the exclosure site and nitrogen and soil moisture in the grazing site are increased by earthworm abundance.

Riparian buffers, located in the transition zone between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, are a hotspot for nitrogen (N) removal through denitrification. Earthworms are abundant in riparian buffers and may enhance denitrification. This study investigated earthworm demographics of three earthworm functional groups (anecic, epigeic, and endogeic) and denitrifier activity in temporarily flooded and non-flooded riparian soils from April to October 2012 in southern Quebec, Canada. Nine earthworm species, mostly endogeic, were found in the temporarily flooded soil, while only six earthworm species were found in the non-flooded soil. On average, there were 11.7 times more earthworms with 12.4 times greater biomass (P

Effects of earthworm casts on soil nutrient dynamics and their responses to changing moisture availability in subtropical ecosystems remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine short-term carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics and their interactions with wetting-drying cycles in three different structural forms (i.e., granular, globular, and heap-like) of Amynthas earthworm casts. The rates of C and N mineralization in the earthworm casts were examined under two different wetting-drying cycles (i.e., 2-d and 4-d wetting intervals) using a rainfall simulation experiment. After three simulated rainfall events, subsamples of the earthworm casts were further incubated for 4 d for the determination of CO2 and N2O fluxes. The results of this study indicated that the impacts of wetting-drying cycles on the short-term C and N dynamics were highly variable among the three cast forms, but wetting-drying cycles significantly reduced the cumulative CO2 and N2O fluxes by 62%–83% and 57%–85%, respectively, when compared to the control without being subjected to any rainfall events. The C mineralization rates in different cast forms were affected by the amount of organic substrates and N content in casts, which were associated with the food preference and selection of earthworms. Meanwhile, the cumulative N2O fluxes did not differ among the three cast forms. Repeated wetting and drying of casts not only enhanced aggregate stability by promoting bonds between the cast particles, but also inhibited microbial survival and growth during the prolonged drying period, which together hindered decomposition and denitrification. Our findings demonstrated that the interactions between the structural forms, aggregate dynamics, and C and N cycling in the earthworm casts were highly complex.

As the dominant macrofauna in many soils, earthworms play a significant role in mineral weathering and nutrient release from mineral structures into available forms for root uptake. Phlogopite is a trioctahedral micaceous mineral that can be weathered to other minerals through release of its interlayer potassium (K). In this study, we investigated the effect of earthworm activities and associated microbial communities on phlogopite weathering during the production of phlogopite-enriched vermicompost with different quantities of phlogopite added. An experiment was run under laboratory conditions using three levels of phlogopite (0, 20% and 40% by weight) in triplicates. Each Petri dish contained 20 g of a mixture of cow manure and phlogopite, and vermicomposting process was performed by inoculation of eight Eisenia foetida earthworms. Changes in clay mineralogy and C/N ratio in each dish were assessed at days 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 during vermicomposting. The results indicated that phlogopite was partially weathered to vermiculite and interstratified mica-vermiculite during the vermicomposting process. The rate of weathering was higher during the early stages of vermicomposting (the first 90 d). The weathering of phlogopite was influenced considerably by the activity of earthworms and associated microbial communities during the organic matter transformation process. At the early stages of the process, the weathering rate for different levels of phlogopite was not significantly different, but over time it accelerated steadily, and the difference increased.

International audience; Earthworms are widespread soil organisms that contribute to a wide range of ecosystem services. As such, it is important to improve our knowledge, still scanty, of the factors that drive the assembly of earthworm communities. The aim of the present study was to conjointly evaluate the effects on the assembly of earthworm communities of i) soil properties (texture, organic matter content, and pH), ii) grassland management (grassland age, livestock unit, and type of fertilization), iii) landscape diversity (richness, diversity of surrounding habitats, and grassland plant diversity), and iv) presence of hedgerows. The study was conducted in temperate grasslands of Brittany, France. Earthworms were sampled in 24 grasslands and, in three of these grasslands, they were sampled near a hedgerow or near a ditch (control without a hedgerow). Soil properties explained the larger portion of the variation in the earthworm community parameters compared to grassland management or landscape diversity. The increase in soil organic matter content and pH were the most favorable factors for earthworm abundance and biomass, in particular for endogeic species. Regarding grassland management, the increase in the livestock unit was the most damaging factor for earthworm communities, in particular for the anecic earthworm biomass and endogeic species richness. Surprisingly, landscape diversity negatively affected the total earthworm abundance and epigeic earthworm biomass, but it was related to an increase in the epi-anecic species. At a finer scale, we also demonstrated that the presence of hedgerows surrounding grasslands enhanced earthworm species richness, especially within the epigeic and anecic ecological categories. This study highlights that the earthworm ecological categories respond specifically to environmental filters; further studies need to be conducted to elucidate the factors that drive the assembly of earthworm communities at this ecological category level. We recommend that policymakers should act on landscape management to favor earthworm diversity in order to improve the ecosystem services they drive.

The application of decomposable organic residues such as manure and crop litter is generally beneficial to earthworms. There is an emerging interest in applying biochar, a carbonaceous product of pyrolysis, to temperate agricultural soils. The slow decomposition rate of biochar, which also contains ash and combustion byproducts, could be detrimental to earthworms. The objective of this study was to describe the earthworm populations in biochar-amended soils on a dairy farm in the St. Francis River watershed, Quebec, Canada. Earthworms were collected from replicated field plots under cereal production. Site A received three wood-based biochar types at two application rates (5 and 10 t ha-1 biochar) plus an unamended control, while Site B received wood-based biochar (7.5 t ha-1 biochar), dairy cattle slurry (10 t ha-1 manure), or a combination of the biochar and manure rates plus an unamended control. Earthworms were collected by hand sorting and formaldehyde expulsion from soil pits. Three species, Aporrectodea turgida, Aporrectodea tuberculata, and Lumbricus rubellus, were found at the sites, and Aporrectodea was the dominant genus. Biochar sources, rates, and application with dairy slurry did not affect the earthworm population, which had 52–218 individuals m-2 in 2010 and 4–96 individuals m-2 in 2011. The seasonal variation in earthworm population may be due to flooding in the spring of 2011, which apparently interfered with earthworm reproduction. The similarity in earthworm abundance and biomass in plots with and without wood-based biochar leads to the conclusion that earthworm populations are stable in biochar-amended soils in this cold, humid temperate region.

Seruk spring, located in Batu, East Java, is a spring with four different Land Use Systems (LUS) in its surrounding area, comprising a mixed, a pine, an eucalypt, and a bamboo forests. Over time, there have been changes in land use around the area of Seruk Spring. This results in a decrease in the environmental quality, and even in the spring’s water discharge. As spring serves as an important part of people living in the immediate vicinity, this research aimed to determine the differences in litter quality, earthworm populations, and soil porosity at each LUS. Litter was measured in each area and analyzed in the laboratory to determine its biomass and quality. Earthworm populations and biomass were measured with the iron box method, while the soil porosity and organic matter were based on secondary data from the previous research. The correlation among all the parameters was analyzed with Principal Components Analysis (PCA) using PAST 3 software. The results showed that the bamboo forest had the most suitable land-use system around spring, based on the highest litter thickness and its quality in the area. The different qualities of each LUS provided diverse advantages for the spring ecosystem. The presence of the bamboo forest around the spring area should be conserved, to maintain the quality of the ecosystem and the sustainability of the spring area itself.