Effect of earthworms on soil physico-hydraulic and chemical properties, herbage production, and wheat growth on arable land converted to ley

Hallam, Jamal; Berdeni, Despina; Grayson, Richard; Guest, Emily; Holden, Joseph; Lappage, Martin; Prendergast-Miller, Miranda T.; Robinson, David A.; Turner, Anthony; Leake, Jonathan R.; Hodson, Mark E.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136491

Cited by 28 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 102 publications

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“…Soil macrofauna use the soil as a habitat and a source of food, and consequently, they exert a large influence on the physical properties of soils through the diversity and abundance of the structures they produce (Boivin and Kohler-Milleret 2011). Earthworms change the soil structure by modifying soil aggregation and porosity (Shipitalo and Le Bayon 2004;Blouin et al 2013;Hallam et al 2020). Aggregates and the space between them allow the retention and exchange of both air and water (Guber et al 2004;Saha and Kukal 2015) and thus affect water flow and retention and soil aeration (Bastardie et al 2003;Capowiez et al 2014Capowiez et al , 2015Hallam et al 2020;Lavelle et al 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Earthworms change the soil structure by modifying soil aggregation and porosity (Shipitalo and Le Bayon 2004;Blouin et al 2013;Hallam et al 2020). Aggregates and the space between them allow the retention and exchange of both air and water (Guber et al 2004;Saha and Kukal 2015) and thus affect water flow and retention and soil aeration (Bastardie et al 2003;Capowiez et al 2014Capowiez et al , 2015Hallam et al 2020;Lavelle et al 1992). Additionally, soil aggregates contain the majority of organic carbon in soil and contribute to nutrient release for plant growth (Cornforth 1968;Ramachandran Nair et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, soil aggregates contain the majority of organic carbon in soil and contribute to nutrient release for plant growth (Cornforth 1968;Ramachandran Nair et al 2010). These changes in turn affect the ecosystem services provided by soils such as being a medium for plant growth and providing storage and filtration of water (Edwards 2004;Hallam et al 2020;Li et al 2013;Zhang et al 2016). Soil water holding capacity (WHC) is one measure of water retention and is an important soil parameter for monitoring soil function and processes (Hong et al 2013;Rousseva et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of different earthworm ecotypes on water stable aggregates and soil water holding capacity

Hallam

Hodson

2020

Biol Fertil Soils

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We carried out mesocosm experiments using either the anecic earthworm Lumbricus terrestris or the endogeic earthworm Allolobophora chlorotica and loam, silt loam and sandy loam soils to investigate the differing impact of these earthworm of different ecotypes on aggregate formation (percentage water stable aggregates, %WSA) and soil water holding capacity (WHC), two soil properties that underpin many of the ecosystem services provided by soils. Earthworms significantly increased %WSA (by 16-56% and 19-63% relative to earthworm-free controls for L. terrestris and A. chlorotica, respectively). For L. terrestris, this increase was significantly greater in the upper 6.5 cm of the soil where their casts were more obviously present. Allobophora chlorotica treatments significantly increased WHC by 7-16%. L. terrestris only caused a significant increase in WHC (of 11%) in the upper 6.5 cm of the sandy loam soil. Linear regression indicated a consistent relationship between increases in %WSA and WHC for both earthworm species. However, for a given %WSA, WHC was higher for A. chlorotica than L. terrestris likely due to the known differences in their burrow structure. Overall, earthworms increased soil %WSA and WHC but the significant species/ecotype differences need to be considered in discussions of the beneficial impacts of earthworms to soil properties.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of different earthworm ecotypes on water stable aggregates and soil water holding capacity

Hallam

Hodson

2020

Biol Fertil Soils

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“…Dramatic changes in soil porosity and/or bulk density have also been demonstrated following accidental earthworm invasions or by their deliberate introduction (inoculation) or elimination using toxic substances (e.g. Alegre, Pashanasi, & Lavelle, 1996; Baker, Brown, Butt, Curry, & Scullion, 2006; Barros, Curmi, Hallaire, Chauvel, & Lavelle, 2001; Chauvel et al., 1999; Clements, Murray, & Sturdy, 1991; Hallam et al., 2020). Other field studies have reported significant spatial correlations between bulk density and the composition of earthworm communities (Decaëns & Rossi, 2001; Rossi, 2003).…”

Section: Biological Agents Of Soil Structure Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A framework for modelling soil structure dynamics induced by biological activity

Meurer

Barron

Chenu

et al. 2020

Global Change Biology

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Soil degradation is a worsening global phenomenon driven by socio‐economic pressures, poor land management practices and climate change. A deterioration of soil structure at timescales ranging from seconds to centuries is implicated in most forms of soil degradation including the depletion of nutrients and organic matter, erosion and compaction. New soil–crop models that could account for soil structure dynamics at decadal to centennial timescales would provide insights into the relative importance of the various underlying physical (e.g. tillage, traffic compaction, swell/shrink and freeze/thaw) and biological (e.g. plant root growth, soil microbial and faunal activity) mechanisms, their impacts on soil hydrological processes and plant growth, as well as the relevant timescales of soil degradation and recovery. However, the development of such a model remains a challenge due to the enormous complexity of the interactions in the soil–plant system. In this paper, we focus on the impacts of biological processes on soil structure dynamics, especially the growth of plant roots and the activity of soil fauna and microorganisms. We first define what we mean by soil structure and then review current understanding of how these biological agents impact soil structure. We then develop a new framework for modelling soil structure dynamics, which is designed to be compatible with soil–crop models that operate at the soil profile scale and for long temporal scales (i.e. decades, centuries). We illustrate the modelling concept with a case study on the role of root growth and earthworm bioturbation in restoring the structure of a severely compacted soil.

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“…Earthworms are "ecosystem engineers" because their feeding behavior and habitat affect soil structure [2,8,9]. Earthworms are categorized into three functional groups: epigeic, endogeic, and anecic species [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics of Soil Moisture and Evaporation under the Activities of Earthworms in Typical Anthrosols in China

Shao

2020

Sustainability

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Earthworms have an important influence on the terrestrial ecological environment. This study assesses the effect of different earthworm densities on soil water content (SWC) and evaporation in a laboratory experiment. Four earthworm densities (0 no-earthworm, control [C]; 207 earthworms m−2, low density [LDE]; 345 earthworms m−2, medium density [MDE]; and 690 earthworms m−2, high density [HDE]) are tested in soil columns. Results show that cumulative evaporation occurs in the decreasing order of densities: C (98.6 mm) > LDE (115.8 mm) > MDE (118.4 mm) > HDE (124.6 mm). Compared with the control, earthworm activity decreases cumulative soil evaporation by 5.0–20.9%, increases soil temperature to 0.46 °C–0.63 °C at 8:00, and decreases soil temperature to 0.21 °C–0.52 °C at 14:00 on the soil surface. Temperature fluctuations reduce with increasing earthworm densities. A negative correlation is found between cumulative soil evaporation and earthworm density (R2 = 0.969, p < 0.001). Earthworms significantly (p < 0.05) decrease the surface SWC loss (0–20 cm) soil layer but increase the subsoil SWC loss (60–100 cm) by adjusting the soil temperature and reducing soil water evaporation. Earthworm activities (burrows, casts…) improve the soil water holding ability by adjusting soil temperature and reducing soil water evaporation. Thus, the population quantity of earthworms may provide valuable ecosystem services in soil water and heat cycles to save water resources and realize sustainable agricultural development.

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Effect of earthworms on soil physico-hydraulic and chemical properties, herbage production, and wheat growth on arable land converted to ley

Abstract: This is a repository copy of Effect of earthworms on soil physico-hydraulic and chemical properties, herbage production, and wheat growth on arable land converted to ley.

Cited by 28 publications

References 102 publications

Impact of different earthworm ecotypes on water stable aggregates and soil water holding capacity

Impact of different earthworm ecotypes on water stable aggregates and soil water holding capacity

A framework for modelling soil structure dynamics induced by biological activity

Characteristics of Soil Moisture and Evaporation under the Activities of Earthworms in Typical Anthrosols in China

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