Growth rates,establishment, and effects on herbage yield of introduced earthworms in grassland on reclaimed cutover peat

Summary Lumbricus terrestris L. juveniles confined in nylon mesh bags grew at mean rates of 6–12 mg ind^–1 day^–1 in reclaimed peat grassland soil, while the growth rates of Aporrectodea caliginosa (Sav.) juveniles were 1.5–2.1 mg ind^–1 day^–1. Earthworm population densities exceeding 700 m² had become established within 1 year adjacent to sods transplanted from an old pasture, while microplots enclosed in nylon mesh cages had mean population densities of 318–408 earthworms m^–2 and biomass of 89–111 g m^–2 3–4 1/2 years after inoculation. Herbage yields were 25% greater in the 2nd year and 49% greater in the 3rd year in earthworm-inoculated microplots which received an annual application of cattle slurry compared with similarly fertilized, non-inoculated cages.Dedicated to the late Prof. Dr. M.S. Ghilarov     

The influence of feeding patterns on growth and reproduction of the vermicomposting earthworm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta)

Summary Observations in outdoor culture beds indicated that food availability and frequency of feeding influenced worm density. In order to study the role of feeding status on the growth and reproduction of Eisenia fetida, pre-clitellate specimens were kept for 180 days under controlled conditions. A control group was regularly provided with freshly produced cattle manure while the experimental groups were fed only sporadically and at some stage even starved by removing some of the substrate. Worm growth, maturation, and cocoon production were monitored. The role of food availability was highlighted by this study. Both worm growth and cocoon production were correlated closely with the feeding pattern that was followed. This study also showed that freshly produced, urine-free, cattle manure proved an excellent food source provided it was added in such a way as to prevent the development of anaerobic conditions. Regular feeding gave high growth and reproduction rates.     

Microbiological characterization of the structures built by earthworms and ants in an agricultural field

The genesis and architecture of the structures built by ants and earthworms differ markedly, suggesting that—in addition to having different physical and chemical properties—the resident microbial community should also have unique properties. We characterized the inorganic N, biomass C, C mineralization rate, and functional diversity of the microbial communities of earthworm casts, earthworm burrow soil, ant mounds, and bulk soil from an agricultural field. Mound soil was most enriched in inorganic N and had the lowest pH, moisture content, and C mineralization rate. Functional diversity was evaluated by determining the ability of microorganisms to grow on 31 substrates using Biolog^®EcoPlates in combination with a most probable number (MPN) approach. Casts had MPNs that were one to two orders of magnitude higher than burrow, mound and bulk soil for most substrates. Casts also had the highest MPNs for particular substrate guilds relative to bulk soil, followed by mound and burrow soil. Indices of substrate diversity and evenness were highest for casts, followed by burrow, mound, and bulk soil. Differences in the type of habitat provided by the structures built by ants and earthworms result in the differential distribution of nutrients, microbial activity, and metabolic diversity of soils within an agricultural field that affect soil fertility and quality.     

Effects of organic manure and NPK fertilization on earthworm activity in an Oxisol

The effects of fertilization with N, P, K, and organic manure (alone or in combination) on earthworm populations, biomass, and casting activity were measured in a cultivated soil (organic C 1.5%, annual rainfall 2000–2300 mm). These applications of fertilizer caused significant increases in earthworm numbers, biomass, and casts. N alone or in combination with P and K also influenced these earthworm parameters significantly. The inorganic NPK fertilizer in combination with organic manure had a significantly greater effect on earthworm activities than NPK fertilizer alone, and therefore the addition of organic matter appears advisable in order to obtain maximum benefits from NPK fertilizer in this soil.     

Significance of earthworms in stimulating soil microbial activity

 The stimulatory effect of earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) on soil microbial activity was studied under microcosm-controlled conditions. The hypothesis was tested that microbial stimulation observed in the presence of a soil invertebrate would be due to the utilization of additional nutritive substances (secretion and excretion products) that it provides. Changes in microbial activity were monitored by measuring simultaneously CO₂ release and protozoan population density. The increase in CO₂ released in the presence of earthworms was found to result from both earthworm respiration and enhanced microbial respiration. The stimulation of microbial activity was confirmed by a significant increase in protozoan population density, which was 3–19 times greater in the presence of earthworms. The respiratory rate of L. terrestris was estimated to be 53 μl O₂ g^–1 h^–1. Earthworm respiration significantly correlated with individual earthworm weight, but there was no correlation between the increase in microbial respiration and earthworm weight. This finding does not support the hypothesis given above that enhanced microbial respiration is due to utilization of earthworm excreta. A new hypothesis that relationships between microbial activity and earthworms are not based on trophic links alone but also on catalytic mechanisms is proposed and discussed. Received: 26 August 1997     

Potential of earthworms,ants, millipedes,and termites for dissemination of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soil

We studied the effects of earthworms, termites, ants, and millipedes on the dissemination of vesciulararbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) propagules. Earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris L.) casts collected from the garden were air-dried, stored, and examined for the presence of VAM fungi by inoculating the cast material onto onion plants grown in sterilized soil. VAM propagules survived for a period of 12 months. The results showed that earth-worms can contribute to the dissemination of VAM propagules. Nests of ants (Camponotus compressus Fabr.) collected from different locations were examined for the presence of VAM propagules. They harboured up to 790 infective propagules g^-1 of nest, showing that ants can be potential vectors in disseminating VAM fungi. The faecal pellets of the millipede (Phyllogonostreptus nigrolabiatus Newport) collected from the rearing tank were tested for VAM colonization. Though VAM propagules were present in the fresh faecal pellets, they lost their viability after 4 days of storage. Termitaria samples of both mound-building and subterranean termites were also examined for VAM propagules but those found were non-viable.     

Microbial populations,enzyme activities and nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium enrichment in earthworm casts and in the surrounding soil of a pineapple plantation

Summary Total populations of bacteria and fungi, dehydrogenase activity (as a measure of total potential microbial activity), and urease and phosphatase activities were determined in earthworm casts and surrounding laterite soils planted to pineapple. The casts contained higher microbial populations and enzyme activities than the soil. Except for fungal populations, statistically significant (P = 0.05) increases were found in all other parameters. Microbial populations and enzyme activities showed similar temporal trends with higher values in spring and summer and lower values in winter. The earthworm casts contained higher amounts of N, P, K and organic C than the soil (P = 0.05). Selective feeding by earthworms on organically rich substrates, which break down during passage through the gut, is likely to be responsible for the higher microbial populations and greater enzyme activity in the casts.     

Genetic variation in desiccation tolerance of Dendrobaena octaedra cocoons originating from different climatic regions

The aim of this study was to examine genetic variation in desiccation tolerance in cocoons of the parthenogenetically reproducing earthworm Dendrobaena octaedra by comparing populations originating from different geographic regions (Denmark, Norway and Finland), representing large differences in precipitation and temperature. In one experiment, the tolerance of the three populations to increasing desiccation stress in the range from 100 to 91.6% relative humidity (RH) was examined, aiming to represent ecologically relevant RH values. In a second experiment, the effect of cocoon size on desiccation tolerance was investigated at 92.3% RH in the same three populations. There were highly significant differences in desiccation tolerance between populations, indicating a high genetic differentiation of this trait in D. octaedra. Cocoons from Denmark were much more sensitive (71±14% mortality at 91.6% RH) than cocoons from Norway (21±4% mortality) and Finland (4±5% mortality). Cocoons of worms from Finland and Norway were significantly larger than cocoons produced by worms from Denmark suggesting that cocoons from Denmark lost water at a higher rate when subjected to low humidity. Assuming that slow dehydration is necessary for physiologically based protection mechanisms it may be expected that desiccation tolerance is positively correlated with cocoon size. However, within each of the populations cocoon fresh weight did not have any significant impact on desiccation tolerance. When all populations were pooled there was a significant positive effect of cocoon fresh weight on desiccation tolerance, explaining about 20% of the total variation (linear regression). It seems therefore that genetic variation of desiccation tolerance in D. octaedra cocoons is related to variation in both cocoon size and other, physiologically based tolerance mechanisms.     

降雨冲刷造成的畜禽粪便氮磷流失规律及蚯蚓强化降解堆沤池氮磷流失控制作用研究

采用模拟装置对畜禽粪便在雨水冲刷下的氮磷流失规律进行了研究,为了试验结果可控性,采用人工降雨与模拟降雨相结合的方式,分别采集畜禽粪便堆体表层、30、50 cm处的样本.分析结果发现,降雨冲刷可导致畜禽粪便中65％的氮和55％的磷流失,且流失率主要与畜禽粪便的堆置时间和堆体高度有关,与单次降雨量关系不大.并结合流失规律开展了蚯蚓强化降解堆沤池的研究和蚯蚓生长条件的动力学优化,结果表明,堆沤池对堆体中的氮磷元素的流失有明显的控制作用.