Abstract
The diversity and richness of earthworms that were irrigated with canal (Chak 200 RB Lathianwala) and sewage (Chokera) water in the district of Faisalabad were determined from August to November 2020. For collection of specimens, hand picking and digging method was used and then preserved in formalin. AAS (Atomic absorption spectrophotometer) was used to check the concentration of heavy metals in both water and soil samples. Total 10 species were identified from Chak 200 RB Lathianwala and showed Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index (H') =2.13, Evenness = 0.93 and Dominance = 0.07. The significant difference in abundance were determined (t = 7.7115, p = 0.0001 at p < 0.05). Water and soil samples of sewage water had an acidic pH (5.960, 6.213), while water and soil samples of canal water had a basic pH (7.748, 7.867). The levels of total dissolved solids, electrical conductance, dissolved oxygen, and alkalinity of sewage water were lower than those of canal water except for total suspended solids, turbidity, and metals, viz. Cr, Ca, Pb, Co, Cd, Zn, and Mg. In sewage water irrigated soil, their concentrations were also higher than canal water irrigated soil, except for Mg. A significantly positive correlation coefficient was observed among temperature and abundance at both localities. Results showed that acidic pH and higher concentrations of pollutants alter the diversity and abundance of earthworms.
Article History
Received: Feb 22, 2022; Accepted: Feb 20, 2023; Published: March 30, 2023
Recommended Citation
Aziz, S.,
Ehsan, N.,
Latif, F.,
Ali, M.,
& Abdullah, S.
(2023).
Comparison of Biodiversity and Abundance of Earthworms in Maize Croplands, Irrigated with Sewage and Canal Water of District Faisalabad, Pakistan,
Journal of Bioresource Management, 10
(1).
