The Role of Earthworms in Tropics with Emphasis on Indian Ecosystems

Table 3

Disintegration of different leaf matters due to selective feeding by earthworm Lampito mauritii [5].

Leaf matter	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Millet straw	70.00	50.00	55.00	—	—	—	—	—	—
Paddy straw	48.00	11.00	27.50	22.00	13.00	33.00	—	—	—
Cashew litter	—	—	—	38.00	24.00	39.00	22.50	2.60	67.00
Mango litter	—	—	—	48.00	30.00	50.00	30.70	28.60	6.30
Guava litter	—	—	—	44.00	14.00	83.00	25.00	23.00	—
Eucalyptus litter	—	—	—	32.00	10.00	61.00	31.00	24.40	11.60

Note: Col: 1–3 data for first month
 (1) Percent loss of litter per month due to microbial degradation and feeding by earthworms.
 (2) Percent microbial degradation per month.
 (3) Rate of litter consumption (mg) for hundred earthworms per day.
Col: 4–6 data for second month
 (4) Percent loss of litter per month due to microbial degradation and feeding by earthworms.
 (5) Percent microbial degradation per month.
 (6) Rate of litter consumption (mg) for hundred earthworms per day.
Col: 7–9 data for third month
 (7) Percent loss of litter per month due to microbial degradation and feeding by earthworms.
 (8) Percent microbial degradation per month.
 (9) Rate of litter consumption (mg) for hundred earthworms per day.
The table also shows the acceleration of litter breakdown in presence of earthworms.