https://stm2.bookpi.org/EETAIPPTNEI/issue/feed 2025-08-29T06:46:33+00:00 Open Journal Systems <p>This book explores the intricate relationships between soil ecology, earthworm biodiversity, and sustainable agricultural practices, with a particular focus on pineapple (<em>Ananas comosus</em>) plantations in the state of Tripura, India. The chapters presented here are the outcome of years of systematic field research and scholarly inquiry aimed at uncovering the hidden dynamics of soil ecosystems in monoculture and mixed plantations.</p> <p>Pineapple cultivation has deep historical roots, tracing its journey across continents to become an economically significant fruit crop in India. In Tripura, pineapple is cultivated with minimal external inputs, offering a unique opportunity to study natural soil-biota interactions in a subtropical agroecosystem. At the heart of these interactions are earthworms—often termed "ecosystem engineers"—whose roles in soil structure, nutrient cycling, and organic matter decomposition are pivotal for sustainable land management.</p> <p>Despite a growing global interest in soil biodiversity, our understanding of earthworm communities in tropical monoculture systems remains fragmented. This book attempts to bridge that gap by presenting detailed findings on earthworm diversity, distribution patterns, ecological roles, and responses to varying plantation types, ages, and management practices. It also highlights the potential of vermicompost as a sustainable soil amendment to improve crop productivity and soil health.</p> <p>Drawing on extensive field surveys, ecological experiments, and quantitative analyses—including species accumulation and richness estimation techniques—this work offers valuable insights for ecologists, agronomists, soil scientists, and policymakers engaged in biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture. It is my hope that the findings compiled here will not only enrich academic understanding but also inspire practical interventions to promote soil biodiversity and resilience in tropical agricultural landscapes.</p> https://stm2.bookpi.org/EETAIPPTNEI/article/view/331 2025-08-29T06:46:33+00:00 Animesh Dey [email protected]

<p>This book explores earthworms' diversity, distribution, and ecological roles in the pineapple (<em>Ananas comosus</em>) plantations of Tripura, India. Earthworms, recognised as ecosystem engineers, play vital roles in organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil structural improvement. The study examines species composition, spatio-temporal dynamics, and functional group organisation of earthworm communities in pineapple monocultures and mixed fruit plantations. It investigates soil–earthworm interactions under varying ecological parameters such as temperature, moisture, pH, and organic matter. Temporal shifts in community structure across plantations of different ages highlight successional trends, from disturbance-tolerant exotics in newly established plantations to complex assemblages dominated by endemic species in mature systems. The application of vermicompost enhances soil fertility, biodiversity, and crop yield, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical inputs. Overall, the findings demonstrate that while monoculture pineapple plantations support a relatively simplified soil fauna, targeted organic management strategies can restore biodiversity and improve agroecosystem sustainability. The work contributes both region-specific insights and broader ecological perspectives on the role of earthworms in tropical agriculture.</p>

2025-08-29T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Author(s). The licensee is the publisher (BP International).