THE POPULATION BEHAVIOR OF EARTH WORM (PHERITEMA POSTHUMA KINBERG). UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE

Abstract

Earthworms are important component of our agricultural soil, food chain or ecosystem. Present study was conducted to explore the toxicity of industrial waste (if used as organic substitute on the field) on earthworm population. A four months green house experiment was conducted in Federal Urdu University where Pheretima posthuma (earth worms) was exposed to a series of industrial waste treatments. After the termination of experiment the number of adult, number of juvenile, number of cocoon and their body mass were calculated under the influence of two types of sludge and their ashes. The strongest impact of substrate contamination was exerted which significantly reduced the number of juvenile population at p<0.001 and body mass at p<0.001. The concentrations of all heavy metals in prepared polluted soil were greater than the permissible limits of WHO, while accumulation of Co and Pb in body mass of earth worms were determined above the WHO limits under both the ashes treatments. The Pearson’s correlation was evident significant relationship between the heavy metals contents in the substrate and their accumulation in earth worm’s tissues. It could be suggested that such types of industrial wastes should be banned contained high amount of heavy metals. Although P.posthuma is a good indicator of heavy metal, however this species may be used for vermicomposting of organic sludge with low concentration of heavy metals.