The effect of earthworms and liming on soil microbial communities |
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Authors: | M Pawlett D W Hopkins B F Moffett J A Harris |
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Institution: | (1) Natural Resources Department, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK;(2) School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK;(3) Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK;(4) University of East London, Romford Road, Stratford, London, E15 4LZ, UK |
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Abstract: | The effect of liming and earthworms on the composition and function of soil microbial communities was investigated in an upland
soil from the UK in order to understand interactions between the biotic and abiotic components of soil systems. A factorial
experiment was established using soils from the Sourhope Farm, near Kelso, with lime or no lime added, with or without earthworms
added and a combined treatment of both lime and earthworm additions. The soils were incubated and destructively sampled after
180 days. Measurements of soil microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity, phenotypic structure (by phospholipid fatty acid
analysis (PLFA) and responses to four carbon substrates (d-glucose, l-arginine, α-ketoglutaric acid, α-cyclodextrin) were determined. Statistically significant results were limited to the litter
layers, with no significant observations in either the H or Ah horizons. There were significant decreases in the soil microbial
biomass and microbial activity in the litter layers caused by the addition of earthworms; liming reduced microbial biomass
only. The addition of earthworms caused a significant difference in the PLFA principle component analysis (PCA) profile, as
did liming. For the PLFA PCA profile, earthworm plus lime treatment was indistinguishable from the liming result. Addition
of earthworms significantly suppressed the response to glucose; this effect was removed by liming. This indicates that liming
may significantly alter the ecological interactions between earthworms and the microbial community. |
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Keywords: | Earthworms Microbial Liming Community dynamics Sourhope |
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