Evaluation of certain important biochemical parameters of four tropical earthworms in response to soil moisture and temperature variations

ABSTRACT

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the variation in certain biochemical parameters of the earthworms, Drawida willsi (Sp1), Glyphidrilus tuberosus (Sp2), Lampito mauritii (Sp3) and Perionyx excavates (Sp4) in response to seasonal soil moisture and temperature alterations.Methodology: Soil moisture and temperatures were measured by digital moisture meter and thermometers, respectively. The sampling of earthworms was done following quadrat method during dry and wet seasons from three agro-climatic zones (Balasore (Z1), Sambalpur (Z2) and Nayagarh (Z3) of Odisha, India. Tissue protein, LPX level, catalase, acetylcholinesterase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were estimated spectrophotometrically. Results: Significant variation (P< 0.05) in soil moisture and temperature were noticed between dry and wet seasons in all the agro-climatic zones. All the earthworm species indicated lower protein level, acetylcholinesterase activity, higher lipid peroxidation, LDH and catalase activity in dry season relative to wet seasons. Soil moisture indicated significant positive correlation (P< 0.05) with tissue protein of Sp1 (r=0.59), Sp2 (r=0.64), and Sp4 (r=0.55) of Z1, Sp2 (r=0.63) and Sp4 (r=0.67) of Z2 and Sp2 (r=0.58) and Sp3 (r=0.65) of Z3. Soil temperature showed significant negative correlation (P< 0.05) with tissue protein of Sp3 (r= -0.51) of Z1, Sp2 (r= -0.56) and Sp4 (r= -0.69) of Z2 and Sp1(r= -0.54) of Z 3. Interpretation: Enhanced physiological stress level caused due to moisture deprivation could influence synthesis and storage of protein with enzyme activities.