IDENTIFICATION OF SOIL ORGANISMS PRACTICAL -01

Name: A.J.M.C.M. Siriwardana

Index No: bagtec2019716

1. Introduction

What are the soil organisms?

• Soil organisms represent a large fraction of global terrestrial biodiversity. They carry out a
range of processes important for soil health and fertility in soils of both natural ecosystems
and agricultural systems. In here it has been provided brief descriptions of organisms that
are commonly found in the soil and their main biological and ecological attributes.
• Living organisms present in soil include archaea, bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, algae,
protozoa, and a wide variety of larger soil fauna, including springtails, mites, nematodes,
earthworms, ants, insects that spend all or part of their life underground, and larger
organisms such as burrowing rodents.

Soil Organism

Micro Organism Mcro Organism

Benificial Benificial
Adverse organism Adverse organism
Organism Organism

• Bacteria
• Fungi • Earthworms
• Nematode
• Algae • Termites • Ant
• Fungi spp
• Actinomycet • Mites
es

Figure 01. Category of soil organisms

2. Materials and method

2.1 Equipment used

1. Mammoty
2. Crowbar
3. Hand shovel
2.2 Procedure
i. 2’x2’x2’ (60cm x 60cm x 60cm) hole were made using above mentioned hand tools in
following places in home garden
a. Area rich in leaf litter
b. Area with poor drainage
c. Area with caused for land preparation
ii. Soil macro organisms were observed in every 15 cm soil layers
3. Observations
Practical to Identify Soil Organisms Three Place in Home Garden
Identified organisms in garden
i. Termites
ii. Earthworms
iii. Ants

Figure 02. Soil macro organisms identified

 i. Area rich in leaf litter

The first 15 cm of the hole contained a large number of soil organisms. However, when increased
the depth of soil it was observed smaller number of soil organisms. In Figure 03. show density of
commonly identified macro organisms in each soil depths.

160
140
Soil organism count

120 Ant
100 Earthworms
80 Termites
60
Worms spp
40
20
0
15 30 45 60
Soil depth (cm)

Figure 03. Variation of soil organisms with soil depth in area rich in leaf litter
 Step 01 Step 01

Step 03 Step 04

Figure 04. Visual observation of soil profile in area rich in leaf litter
 ii. Area with poor drainage
In these areas there was a smaller number of soil organisms were observed compared to other
profile. because this area is poor drainage.

35
30
Soil organism count

25
Ant
20
Earthworms
15 Termites
10 Worms spp
5
0
15 30 45 60
Soil depth (cm)

Figure 05. Variation of soil organisms with soil depth in area with poor drainage
 Step 01 Step 02

Step 03 Step 04

Figure 06. Visual observation of soil profile in area with poor drainage
 iv. Area with caused for land preparation
Soil organisms are very rich compared to other profile. because this area has lot of organic material.

250
Soil organism count

200

150 Ant

Earthworms
100
Termites
50
Worms spp
0
15 30 45 60
Soil depth (cm)

Figure 07. Variation of soil organisms with soil depth in area with caused for land preparation
 Step 01 Step 02

Step 03 Step 04

Figure 08. Visual observation of soil profile in area with caused for land preparation
 4. Summary of soil organisms
We can see the density of soil in these 03 pits
In the first and second 6 inches of soil containing organic mater there is a large amount of soil
organisms. Because the reason is that soil profile has rich organic matter and well drained.
In the first 6 inches of area which poor drainage, there is little amount of soil organisms and the
2nd, 3rd and 4th inches of nothing soil organisms. because of in this area haven’t suitable soil
environment.
In the first 6 inches of area which caused for land preparation, there is a little bit amount of soil
organisms.

5. The Role and Importance of Soil Organisms

i. Benefits of earth worms

By their activity in the soil, earth worms offer many benefits,

• Increased nutrient availability

• Better drainage
• More stable soil structure
• Worms feed on plant debris (dead roots, leaves, grasses, manure) and soil.

ii. Termites
• Termites help to decompose dead trees and turn them back in to fertile soil
• Which can help forests regrow faster
• In addition to that they also help water and nutrients reach the help plant and trees better.