Does the influence of earthworms on water infiltration, nitrogen leaching and soil respiration depend on the initial soil bulk density? A mesocosm experiment with the endogeic species Metaphire posthuma

• Published in: Biology and fertility of soils Vol. 48; no. 5; pp. 561 - 567
• Main Authors: Jouquet, Pascal, Huchet, Gaëlle, Bottinelli, Nicolas, Thu, Thuy Doan, Duc, Toan Tran
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.07.2012; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Agriculture; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Ecological function; Environmental Sciences; Infiltration; Leaching; Life Sciences; Nitrogen; Original Paper; Respiration; Soil compaction; Soil density; Soil fertility; Soil microorganisms; Soil Science & Conservation; Worms; Soil organic matter; Soil bulk density; Soil organization; Earthworms; Nitrogen leaching; COMPACTION; Metaphire posthuma; ABUNDANCE; BIOTA; HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY; BIOMASS; NORTHERN VIETNAM; AGROECOSYSTEMS; ECOSYSTEM ENGINEERS
• ISSN: 0178-2762; 1432-0789
• DOI: 10.1007/s00374-011-0652-3

Soil compaction has a negative impact on both earthworm abundance and diversity. Recent studies, however, suggest that earthworm cast properties are not influenced by the initial soil bulk density. With time, earthworms could therefore transform soils with different bulk densities into a soil with the same physical state and thus with a similar ecological functioning. This study aimed to test this hypothesis in two laboratory incubation experiments. First, we measured the influence of soil bulk density (1.1 or 1.4 g cm −3 ) on the production of cast by the endogeic earthworm species Metaphire posthuma . In a second experiment, we investigated the effect of M. posthuma on water infiltration, NH 4 + , and NO 3 − leaching and soil respiration at the same two soil bulk densities. Although initially higher, earthworm casting activity in soil at 1.4 g cm −3 decreased until it reached the same level of activity as earthworms in soil at 1.1 g cm −3 . This behavioral plasticity led to a transformation of compacted and loose soils, with their own functioning, to a third and similar state with similar hydraulic conductivity, nitrogen leaching, and soil respiration. The consequences for soil organization and soil functioning are discussed.