DIVERSITY OF SOIL MACROFAUNA IN SUGARCANE OF HIP AND LIP NATURE: PAST FINDING AND FUTURE PRIORITIES

Soil macrofauna fragment, redistribute the organic matter, contribute to soil turnover, structure and sustain ecological niches; but their population, diversity and also their role in sustainability of bio-geo-chemical cycling (biotic factors and vectors) is in continues threat due to unwise use of pesticides and fertilizers that has been increasing in many folds over time to met the massively increasing requirements of world’s population. The present study was conducted to highlight their diversity and abundance in sugarcane fields with high and low inputs of chemicals in district, Faisalabad. Soil samples were taken by core sampling in three spots of each randomly selected field: open edge, sub-shadow and within field, and they were sorted out in the laboratory and macro-invertebrates were collected by direct hand picking. Total 723 specimens were recorded from both areas in which 582 from LIP and only 141 from HIP. Punctum spp. was highest in population in LIP but fully absent in HIP, and in overall data Pheretima posthuma is higher in diversity, population and evenness in both areas. Species that were recorded more than 50% in LIP were absent in HIP that is a naked proof of deterioration of soil macrofauna with the indiscriminate use of HIP. Diversity concerning present investigation was calculated with the help of Shannon diversity index and variations among these fields of soil macrofauna were due to LIP and HIP of pesticides and fertilizers, availability of organic matter, litter compositions, quantity and quality of soil pollutants, temperature, humidity and rainfall in this region.