Soil Macrofauna and Their Role in Soil Remediation · 2021. 2. 8. · Soil macrofauna structure stability greatly depends on pasture loading. An excessive overloading of pastures

Soil Macrofauna & SoilFormationThe soil structure and formation ofits humus horizon significantlydepends on a vital activity of soilmacro fauna.Activity of soil inhabitantsdetermines the rate of plant residuesdestruction and their mineralization,and accordingly the rates of turnoverof organic compounds. Thecharacter of plant litter destruction,its structure and humus horizonformation entirely depend on theaction of soil inhabitants.

The Dominant Groupsof Soil MacrofaunaGeorgia is among the 34 Hot spotsof world bio-diversity, particularlyas it concerns to the soil fauna. Thegoal of this research was to study thehigh mountain soil fauna ofdifferent regions of Georgia to makethe comparison of soil faunacomposition.The major groups of soil fauna in thepilot sites of studied regions areinvertebrates-saprophagous whichoccupy the leading position in thesoil formation processes.

To study the species composition ofhigh mountain ecosystems‘ soilinhabitants, their distribution andtrophic structure, standard methodsapplied in soil zoology were used.Traps were used for gathering anddefining the dominant species of soilinvertebrates. A role of soil inverte-brate-saprophages was shown in pla-nt litter destruction processes, in en-hancement of biological cycle of highmountain ecosystems and in mainte-nance of soil natural fertility.A complex research of high mounta-inous ecosystems, their componentsand their vital activities wereinvestigated in two HighMountainous Regions of Georgia.The basic groups of high mountainmeadows invertebrate-saprohages(millipedes, earthworms,insect, etc.) were determined.

Depth of population and occurrenceof representatives of mesofaunawere 50 cm in all three plots. Themost populated were the tophorizons of soil, namely to 30 cm,whereas there were only individualspecies of larvae of weevils andlamellicorns that laid deeper.

Researchers showed a leadingposition of earthworms on sele-cted plots. It should be noted thatin depression, the number ofmacrofauna representatives wasseveral times less in com-parisonwith raised sites. In our opinionthe reduced number was causedby higher humidity of soil thatwas proven with the presence ofhygrophilous kinds ofmacrofauna, such as earth-wormsand by complete absen-ce ofsteppe kind Nicodrilus jassyensison the site.

Soil macrofauna structurestability greatly depends onpasture loading. An excessiveoverloading of pastures oftenleads to unrecoverable resultswhich can be revealed withtamping and packing of soil anddestruction of plant cover. All ofit showed importance of activeinvolving in soil formingprocesses of faunistic complex.

What Can be Done for SoilRemediationIt is very important to increasethe soil fertility through the usageof fertilizer and green manuringwhich strengthens and enrichesthe soil with organic mattersAmong the measures to improvethe condition of pastures is theregulation of disordered and achaotic overloading of pastures.Due to the damage caused byerosion, grass covering soil needsa longer rest period. Soilinhabitants have an importantrole in soil forming processes;hence we consider the necessity ofpreservation of soil invertebrates’biodiversity. The improvement ofthe soil productivity due to activeorganic fertilizers will be possibleby introducing vermiculture. Thedevelopment of vermitechnologygives possibility to boost soilproductivity.

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South GeorgiaStephantsminda Region

NEW LIFE, THAT WEWOULD LIKE TO

RECEIVE

mzia kokhia@iliauni edu ge; www iliauni edu ge

INTRODUCTION

Soil Macrofauna and Their Role in Soil Remediation

Soil Macrofauna and Their Role in Soil Remediation

Mzia KokhiaInstitute of Zoology, Ilia State University

METHODOLOGY MAIN RESULTS

Fig. 1: Earthworms & Biohumus

Tab 1: The dominant groups of macrofauna in Stephantsminda Region (2000 m asl)

Tab. 2: The Diplopods quantity in South Georgia (1400 m asl)

Fig. 2: Earthworm

Fig. 3: Soil map of Georgia

Fig. 4: High Mountain Landscape of Georgia

Fig 5: Quantitative Distribution of Macrofauna

CONCLUSION