Population dynamics of earthworms (Lumbricidae) and their role in nitrogen turnover in wheat and wheatclover cropping systems

Schmidt, Olaf; Curry, James

doi:10.1078/0031-4056-00078

Cited by 43 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Since the focus of the present study was the cropping system comparison, rather than temporal trends, species data from all dates were pooled for each field plot. Temporal changes in species composition of earthworm communities at Lyons based on more frequent sampling are discussed in Schmidt & Curry (2001).…”

Section: Electrical Sampling: Abundance and Biomassmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earthworm communities in conventional wheat monocropping and low‐input wheat‐clover intercropping systems

Schmidt

Curry

Hackett

et al. 2001

Annals of Applied Biology

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A comparative study was conducted on earthworm communities in a conventional winter wheat monocropping system and a low-input intercropping system in which successive crops of winter wheat were direct-drilled into a permanent white clover sward. Earthworm abundance, biomass and species composition under the two cropping systems in the second and third years of successive cropping were assessed each spring and autumn in farm-scale field plots at four sites using formalin and electrical extraction methods. The wheatclover cropping system supported larger earthworm communities (overall mean abundance 548 individuals m -2 , 137 g biomass m -2 ) than conventional wheat monocropping (194 individuals m -2 , 36 g biomass m -2 ). Between one and five more earthworm species were recorded in the wheatclover system than in the wheat system at three out of the four study sites. Wheatclover cropping especially favoured species belonging to the epigeic and epigeic/anecic ecological groups such as Lumbricus castaneus, L. festivus, L. rubellus, juvenile Lumbricus and Satchellius mammalis. Earthworm communities in the wheatclover cropping system were comparable in size and species composition to communities normally found in perennial grassland-type habitats such as pastures and grass-legume leys.

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Section: Electrical Sampling: Abundance and Biomassmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earthworm communities in conventional wheat monocropping and low‐input wheat‐clover intercropping systems

Schmidt

Curry

Hackett

et al. 2001

Annals of Applied Biology

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“…The two cropping systems were established in 1994 at both field sites on adjacent 1 ha field plots and maintained for three consecutive crop cycles. Further details are contained in Schmidt & Curry (2001).…”

Section: Cropping Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Earthworm population dynamics at Lyons were also monitored monthly in the first two cropping cycles and every second month in the third cycle using a passive (physical) extraction method (Schmidt & Curry, 2001). These estimates are based on a timelimited soil hand sorting technique using 25 cm 2 5cm ´ 25 cm deep soil blocks (0.0625 m 2 surface area) (Schmidt, 2001).…”

Section: Comparison Of Electrical and Formalinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The gravimetric soil moisture content at 10 cm depth was measured on each sampling occasion and converted into soil matric potential values as described by Schmidt & Curry (2001). Monthly precipitation and soil temperature (at 10 cm depth) data at both sites for the study period were extracted from meteorological reports (Anon., 1994(Anon., -1997.…”

Section: Meteorological Data and Soil Moisturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…To complement the method evaluation, earthworm population trends at Lyons based on a soil sorting method (Schmidt & Curry, 2001) were compared with results obtained using the formalin and electrical methods (Fig. 4).…”

Section: Soil Hand Sortingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Appraisal of the electrical octet method for estimating earthworm populations in arable land

Schmidt

2001

Annals of Applied Biology

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Quantitative methods are needed for the assessment of the size and composition of earthworm communities. A poorly documented electrical sampling method, Thielemanns octet method, was compared with two long-established methods, formalin extraction and soil hand sorting, in conventional and direct-drilled wheat cropping systems at two sites with medium to heavy textured soils in Ireland. Under all agronomic conditions tested, the electrical method extracted significantly higher earthworm numbers than formalin, but earthworm biomasses were not significantly different. When used routinely over two years during periods of high earthworm activity, the electrical method yielded community estimates that were comparable in both size and species composition to those obtained by soil hand sorting (25 cm depth), except in recently ploughed land. However, Murchieona minuscula, a minute endogeic species, was underestimated by electrical extraction. It is concluded that the electrical octet method can be a reliable and useful alternative to other dynamic methods for estimating earthworm populations, especially in situations where minimum soil disturbance is desirable.

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A ‘Good’ Soil

2022

Wheat

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Population dynamics of earthworms (Lumbricidae) and their role in nitrogen turnover in wheat and wheatclover cropping systems

Cited by 43 publications

References 21 publications

Earthworm communities in conventional wheat monocropping and low‐input wheat‐clover intercropping systems

Earthworm communities in conventional wheat monocropping and low‐input wheat‐clover intercropping systems

Appraisal of the electrical octet method for estimating earthworm populations in arable land

A ‘Good’ Soil

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