Soil Excavation by Desert Gerbil Meriones Hurrianae (Jerdon) in the Shekhawati Region of Rajasthan Desert

Abstract

Investigations on soil excavation and burrows in cultivated and uncultivated condition by Desert Gerbil. Meriones hurrianas(Jerdon) around Pilani in May-June, 1972 reveal that the total number of openings of gerbil burrows are about 2,0O,OOO/sq km and 4,40,000/sq, km. in cultivated and uncultivated areas respectively. Total number of burrow openings for active soil excavation was about 80.000/sq km/day and 6O,000/sq. km,/day in cultivated and uncultivated areas respectively. Soil excavated was about 61,500 kg per day and 41,60,000 cc/day by volume per sq, km on cultivated area as ~ai4lst 10,43,800 kg./day and 7,06,80,000 cclday in the un-cultivated area. The record for temperature at 45 em inside the burrow and soil moisture reveals that the soil excavation is directly related to these factors.