TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGES

TITLE PAGE        –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         i

CERTIFICATION           –         –         –         –         –         –         –         ii

DEDICATION      –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT  S        –         –         –         –         –         –         iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS –         –         –         –         –         –         –         v-vii

CHAPTER ONE 

1.0 Introduction –         –         –         –         –         –         –         1-2

1.1     Classes of Soil Macrofauna       –         –         –         –         –         2-3

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     Types of Macrofauna       –         –         –         –         –         –         4

2.1     Soil Litter Macrofauna and Function             –         –         –         4-6

2.2     Myriapoda   –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         6

2.3     Fly Lavae     –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         6-7

2.4     Beetles         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         7

2.5     Ants   –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         7

2.6     Earthworms           –         –         –         –         –         –         –         8-9

2.7     Termites       –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         9-10

CHAPTER THREE      

3.0     Economic Importance Of Soil Macrofauna To:

3.1     Tillage         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         11

3.2     No-Tillage   –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         11

3.3     Organic Matter Inputs     –         –         –         –         –         –         11-12

3.4     Fertilization            –         –         –         –         –         –         –         12

3.5     Land and Management: Food and Agriculture         –         –         12-13

3.6     Direct and Indirect Chemical Effect of

Soil Macrofauna    –         –         –         –         –         –         –         13-15

3.7     Biological Effect of Soil Macrofauna            –         –         –         15-18

CHAPTER FOUR        

4.0     Factors Militating Against Soil Macrofauna

4.1     Soil pH        –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         19

4.2     Temperature          –         –         –         –         –         –         –         19

4.3     Soil Humidity        –         –         –         –         –         –         –         20

References

 CHAPTER ONE

1.0     Introduction

Soil organisms are an integral part of agricultural ecosystem. The presence of a range of soil organisms is essential for the maintenance of health productive soils (Nuria and Patrick, 2008). An excessive reduction in soil biodiversity, especially the loss of species with a unique function may have catastrophic effects leading to the long-term degradation of soil and los of agricultural production to meet demands. (Nuria and Patrick, 2008).

The overlooking and depletion of the beneficial functions performed by soil organisms in agricultural ecosystem as a result of inappropriate soil biological management is contributing to increased rats of land degradation, nutrients depletion, fertility decline, water scarcity and yield reductions. All the factors have a negative impact on the livelihoods of people who depend directly on agriculture for their subsistence (Nuria and Patrick, 2008).

One of the main gaps in most agricultural management systems is their failure to condider the option of managing soil biological process and in particular, using practices that favour the activity of soil macrofauna as a means to maintain and improve soil fertility. Although not readily visible, relatively more attention has been placed in research and development on the functions of soil micro-organisms both their positive effects on nutrient cycling and uptake,  and the negative  effects of soil borne pests, including nematodes (microfauna) and pathogens (Nuria and Patrick, 2008).

Soil macrofauna consist of a large number of  different organism that live on the soil furface, in the soil spaces (pores) and in the soil area near roots. Their ways of living, their feedings habits, their movement into the soil, their excretion, and their death have direct  and indirect impacts on their habitat (Barros et al., 2002). The biological activities of soil macrofauna regulates soil processes and soil fertility to a significant extent (Barros et al., 2002)

1.1     The Effects of Soil Macro fauna in soil can be divided into three classes: physical, chemical and biological effects. These effects are determined by the functional group involved in the process (Barros et al., 2002).

Macrofauna, in soil science , animal that are one centimeter or more long but sammler than an earthworm. Potworms, myriapods, centipedes, millipedes, slugs, sanails, fly larvae, beetles, beetle larvae and spiders are typical members of the macrofauna (Barros et al., 2002).