Kandyan Home Gardens multi-strata soil biology: earthworm biomass and leaf litter humification?
How do endemic earthworm species accelerate leaf litter decomposition across the five organic canopy tiers of traditional Kandyan Forest Gardens?
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3 Answers from travellers
Traditional Kandyan Forest Gardens generate continuous multi-layered organic litter: falling leaves from Jak, coconut fronds, clove prunings, and coffee husks blanket the soil. This thick humus layer supports high biomass of native and anecic earthworms. Worms ingest mineral soil and decaying leaf fragments, excreting nutrient-rich vermicastings packed with available nitrates, exchangeable calcium, and humic acids. This biological activity maintains high topsoil porosity, allowing torrential monsoonal rains to infiltrate hillsides without causing surface soil erosion.
Applying synthetic chemical NPK fertilizers and systemic fungicides kills beneficial earthworm populations, causing soil to compact into impermeable hardpans.
The continuous earthworm bioturbation mixes subsoil minerals with surface humus, creating a deep, dark crumbly A-horizon ideal for shallow root crops.
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