Different organic mulch materials affect the abundance of enchytraeids in an open-field experiment

Organic mulch may provide favourable soil conditions e.g. moisture or organic matter content, which enhance the number of enchytraeids. However, there is no sufficient information about relationship between plant-based and this beneficial animal group. Therefore, an open-field experiment was conducted with tomato as a test plant to examine effect different types materials on natural occurence Our study microplots received following treatments: 1) yard-waste compost, 2) walnut leaf litter, 3) mixed litter without 4) wheat straw. Control were left unmulched. Randomized block design used eight replications treatments four control. At end growing season, three samples taken from root zone each split corer, enchytraeids extracted by wet funnel method. Living counted under dissecting microscope, their density values estimated. Worms identified in five randomly selected treatment. In addition, determined oven-drying well. Mulch material had significantly effects both Enchytraeid moisture. Under straw cover, higher numbers individuals found. case mulching highest value, while compost uncovered surfaces lowest. It appears that serve food source for enchytraeid communities