Earthworm-mediated restoration of kiln-burnt soil: Comparative efficacy of three earthworm species from Bihar, India

Abstract

Soil degradation resulting from the brick industry presents significant challenges to agricultural productivity and ecosystem health, particularly in developing countries of Southeast Asia. This study investigated the effectiveness of E. fetida, E. eugeniae, and P. excavatus in restoring key physicochemical properties of soil that has been affected by kiln burning, over a 90-day period. The soil parameters assessed included organic carbon (OC), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), pH, and the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N). A one-way MANOVA followed by univariate ANOVA for individual parameters indicated significant improvements in all parameters after the introduction of earthworms, with Wilks’ lambda = 0.004, F (15, 33.528) = 13.607, p