Distribution of earthworms in soils of Yakutia

The distribution of earthworms in 18 types of tundra, middle-taiga, alas, and floodplain soils of Yakutia has been studied. The species Eisenia nordenskioldi is typical of Yakutian soils. The area, population density, and seasonal dynamics of earthworms in permafrost-affected soils have been determined. It is shown that earthworms are absent in excessively moist peat-muck permafrost-affected soils, excessively dry soddy soils of alases (thermokarst depressions), and soddy alluvial soils under steppe communities. The best living conditions for earthworms are associated with meadow floodplain, meadow alas, and mucky calcareous soils.     

Effects of earthworms on nitrogen mineralization

The influence of earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris and Aporrectodea tuberculata) on the rate of net N mineralization was studied, both in soil columns with intact soil structure (partly influenced by past earthworm activity) and in columns with sieved soil. Soil columns were collected from a well drained silt loam soil, and before the experiment all earthworms present were removed. Next, either new earthworms (at the rate of five earthworms per 1200 cm³, which was only slightly higher than field numbers and biomass) were added or they were left out. At five points in time, the columns were analyzed for NH ₄ ⁺ , NO ₃ ^– , and microbial biomass in separate samples from the upper and lower layers of the columns. N mineralization was estimated from these measurements. The total C and N content and the microbial biomass in the upper 5 cm of the intact soil columns was higher than in the lower layer. In the homogenized columns, the C and N content and the microbial biomass were equally divided over both layers. In all columns, the concentration of NH ₄ ⁺ was small at the start of the experiment and decreased over time. No earthworm effects on extractable NH ₄ ⁺ were observed. However, when earthworms were present, the concentration of NO ₃ ^– increased in both intact and homogenized cores. The microbial biomass content did not change significantly with time in any of the treatments. In both intact and homogenized soil, N mineralization increased when earthworms were present. Without earthworms, both type of cores mineralized comparable amounts of N, which indicates that mainly direct and indirect biological effects are responsible for the increase in mineralization in the presence of earthworms. The results of this study indicate that earthworm activity can result in considerable amounts of N being mineralized, up to 90 kg N ha^–1 year^–1, at the density used in this experiment.     

Quantifying dung carbon incorporation by earthworms in pasture soils

The effect of different earthworm functional groups on the incorporation of maize (C4 plant) dung into a soil (C3 organic matter background) sown with ryegrass (C3 plant) was explored by using differences in the carbon (C) isotope ratios (¹²C and ¹³C) between plant and soil samples in a field mesocosm study. The abundance of earthworms increased with dung inputs, reaching over 4000 earthworms per m², presumably because of the increased food resources used. The amount of dung C incorporated into the soil profile in the presence of earthworms was dependent on the amount of organic matter deposited on the soil surface (925–4620 g C m^?2) and reached rates of 1200 g C m^?2 annually in the treatment receiving repeat dung applications. Dung incorporation was largely concentrated in the surface 0–75 mm, although small amounts of dung‐derived C were observed to a depth of 300 mm. This was especially so in the presence of anecic earthworms, equating to an extra 70 g C m^?2 annually for the 150–300 mm depth increment. It is important to note, in calculating C incorporation rates from earthworms, that only 10–20% of the soil surface in grazed pastures is covered by dung. After 444 days, less than 32% of the applied dung was detected within the upper 300 mm of the soil profile. This study emphasized the need for all three earthworm functional groups to be present within the soil in order to maximize the amount of surface dung that could be incorporated into soil organic matter.     

伊朗西部地区碱性土壤中共离子对Zn吸附的影响

Zinc(Zn) is essential to plant growth and relatively mobile in soils.This study was conducted to assess the effect of common ions(Ca 2+,K +,Na +,NH + 4,Cl,NO 3,and H 2 PO 4) on sorption of Zn in surface samples of ten calcareous soils from western Iran using 10 mmol L 1 KCl,KNO 3,KH 2 PO 4,Ca(NO 3) 2,NaNO 3,and NH 4 NO 3 solutions as background electrolytes.The results indicated that both NH + 4,K +,and Ca 2+ equally decreased Zn sorption as compared to Na +.Zinc sorption was decreased by H 2 PO 4 as compared to NO 3 and Cl.The Langmuir and Freundlich equations fitted closely to the sorption data of all ions.The Langmuir maximum,bonding energy constant,and Freundlich distribution coefficient for Zn sorption differed among the various ionic background electrolytes.Langmuir sorption parameters showed that the presence of H 2 PO 4 decreased the maximum Zn adsorbed,but increased the bonding energy.Although K + and NH + 4 equally influenced maximum Zn adsorbed,they differed in their effect on the distribution coefficient of Zn in soils.Values of saturation index calculated using Visual MINTEQ indicated that at the low Zn concentration,Zn solubility was controlled by sorption reactions and at the high Zn concentration,it was mainly controlled by sorption and mineral precipitation reactions,such as precipitation of Zn 3(PO 4) 2.4H 2 O,Zn 5(OH) 6(CO 3) 2,and ZnCO 3.For most ionic background electrolytes,soil pH,CaCO 3,and cation exchange capacity(CEC) were significantly correlated with sorption parameters.     

Biological and physical effects of non-native earthworms on nitrogen cycling in riparian soils

Global nitrogen cycling is being altered by anthropogenic disturbances including invasion by non-native species. European and Asian earthworms have invaded northern temperate forests in North America with dramatic consequences for litter thickness, forest floor plant diversity, and soil nitrogen cycling. Invasive earthworms present at the boundary of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (i.e., riparian zones) may alter the flux of nitrogen into adjacent aquatic ecosystems. We examined how nitrogen cycling in riparian soil responds to amendments of invasive earthworms or artificial earthworm burrows. In earthworm-free riparian plots (0.25 m²), we established treatments of invasive earthworms (60 g fresh mass·m⁻²), artificial burrows (120 m⁻²), or control plots and sampled the plots after 30 days. Before and after treatment application we measured major soil characteristics (water-filled pore space, organic matter, and pH), nitrogen pools (exchangeable NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻), and nitrogen transformation rates (net N-mineralization, net nitrification, and denitrification). Exchangeable NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ changed through time but did not differ among treatments. Net N-mineralization and net nitrification rates did not change through time and were similar across all treatments. However, denitrification rates in plots with added earthworms were 4 times greater than rates in control and burrow-only plots, which represents a large rapid increase in gaseous nitrogen flux out of these riparian soils. For all response variables, artificial burrows responded similarly to control plots, suggesting that earthworm biological activity (i.e., feeding, excretion, and mucus production) rather than physical effects (i.e., burrowing and soil aeration) drove the changes in nitrogen cycling. Examination of soil nitrogen pool and flux measurements suggest that this increase in denitrification was coupled with NH₄⁺ consumption by nitrifying bacteria, but future studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis. We conclude that the activity of invasive earthworms in riparian zones can increase the flux of N out of riparian zones, but the hydrologic context of the riparian zone (e.g., pore-water residence time) ultimately controls whether denitrification or nitrate leaching is the dominant flux of N.     

Vertical distribution of earthworms in grassland soils of the Colombian Llanos

 The vertical distribution of native earthworm species from natural and disturbed savannas in the Oxisols of the Colombian Llanos was assessed in a native savanna and in a 17-year-old grazed grass-legume pasture during a period of 17 months. Different patterns of vertical stratification were observed for all species with a strong migration of populations to deeper layers in the dry season. The correlation between the size of the earthworms and the average depth at which they were found was not significant (P>0.05), despite the fact that bigger species are located deeper in the soil. The living habits and adaptive strategies of the smallest species, Ocnerodrilidae n. sp., found in both ecosystems studied are responsible for this pattern. This endogeic species is associated with organic pools generated by an anecic species and further studies should assess the role of this species in ecosystem functioning. Mature worms of one anecic species were located deeper than immature ones in the soil (P<0.01). Soil moisture had an important effect on the vertical distribution of earthworms, although differences between immature and mature worms of the anecic Martiodrilus carimaguensis are likely to be of biotic origin. New data on the biology and ecology of these Neotropical species are shown. Received: 24 November 1999     

Interaction between earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the degradation of oxytetracycline in soils

The interactive impact of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Rhizophagus intraradices, AM fungi) on the degradation of oxytetracycline (OTC) in soils was studied under greenhouse conditions. Treatments included maize plants inoculated vs. not inoculated with AM fungi and treated with or without earthworms at low (1 mg kg⁻¹ soil DM) or high (100 mg kg⁻¹ soil DM) OTC rates. The root colonization rate, the hyphal density of mycorrhizae, the residual OTC concentration in soils, catalase, dehydrogenase, urease, soil microbial biomass C, Shannon–Wiener index (H) for microbial communities from T-RFLP profiles were measured at harvest. The results indicated that earthworms and AM fungi would individually or interactively enhance OTC decomposition and significantly decreased the residual OTC concentration at both high and low OTC rates. Both earthworms and AM fungi could promote the degradation of OTC by increasing soil microbial biomass C at both high and low OTC rates. The effect of soil enzyme activity and soil microbial diversity on OTC decomposition was different between high and low OTC rates. Hyphomicrobium and Bacillus cereus were dominant bacteria, and Thielavia and Chaetomium were dominant phyla of fungi at all occasions. Earthworm activity stimulated the growth of Hyphomicrobium and Thielavia, while AM fungi may stimulate B. cereus, Thielavia and Chaetomium, resulting in greater OTC decomposition. The interaction between earthworms and AM fungi in affecting the degradation of OTC may be attributed to different mechanisms, depending on soil microbial biomass, function (enzyme activity) and communities (the abundance of Hyphomicrobium, B. cereus, Thielavia and Chaetomium) in the soil.     

Inoculation of earthworms into reclaimed soils: the UK experience

Earthworms have positive effects on soil structure, therefore their incorporation during the process of soil reclamation is a sensible route towards the final restoration of a site. Over the past 20 years, 16 documented field trials have been conducted in the United Kingdom. These trials took place at locations with a number of previous uses, for example, landfill sites, steelworks and opencast mines. The species of earthworm used varied, as did the techniques used for introducing them into the soil. This paper assessed the suitability of the earthworms chosen for each trial and, more importantly, trial outcomes. The most appropriate species were not always selected (possibly due to availability) and the introduction technique was not always the most appropriate for the site. Monitoring of trials generally occurred over relatively short periods of time (possibly due to limited funding). It is evident that more recent trials were not always informed by previous events. It is suggested that work of this nature may only be viable if brought about through site-related legal obligations. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of earthworms on above- and belowground herbivores

Earthworms affect plant performance and can influence plant–herbivore interactions. Both primary and secondary metabolites and the expression of stress-responsive genes of plants can be affected by earthworms. Plant-mediated effects of earthworms on aboveground herbivore performance range between positive and negative. These indirect, plant-mediated effects likely depend on the altered resource uptake of plants or changes in the soil microbial community composition in presence of earthworms. Studies on belowground interactions between earthworms and root herbivores focussed almost exclusively on root-feeding nematodes. These interactions can be either direct (e.g. ingesting of nematodes) or indirect, mediated by changes in host plant performance or biotic and abiotic soil characteristics. Earthworms were documented to counteract the negative effects of root-feeding nematodes on plants. Consistently, earthworm-worked soils (vermicompost) have been reported to reduce numbers of root-feeding nematodes and plant damage by aboveground herbivores. The results suggest context dependent impacts of earthworms on herbivore performance and an alleviation of herbivore damage of plants by earthworms, besides their well-known effects on plant growth. This knowledge is crucial for understanding the impact of earthworms on plants in natural environments, and may be applied as alternative plant protection in sustainable agriculture.     

Contrasted effect of biochar and earthworms on rice growth and resource allocation in different soils

Adding biochar to soils and maintaining high earthworm biomasses are potential ways to increase the fertility of tropical soils and the sustainability of crop production in the spirit of agroecology and ecological engineering. However, a thorough functional assessment of biochar effect on plant growth and resource allocations is so far missing. Moreover, earthworms and biochar increase mineral nutrient availability through an increase in mineralization and nutrient retention respectively and are likely to interact through various other mechanisms. They could thus increase plant growth synergistically. This hypothesis was tested for rice in a greenhouse experiment. Besides, the relative effects of biochar and earthworms were compared in three different soil treatments (a nutrient rich soil, a nutrient poor soil, a nutrient poor soil supplemented with fertilization). Biochar and earthworm effects on rice growth and resource allocation highly depended on soil type and were generally additive (no synergy). In the rich soil, there were both clear positive biochar and earthworm effects, while there were generally only positive earthworm effects in the poor soil, and neither earthworm nor biochar effect in the poor soil with fertilization. The analysis of earthworm and biochar effects on different plant traits and soil mineral nitrogen content, confirmed that they act through an increase in nutrient availability. However it also suggested that another mechanism, such as the release in the soil of molecules recognized as phytohormones by plants, is also involved in earthworm action. This mechanism could for example help explaining how earthworms increase rice resource allocation to roots and influence the allocation to grains.     

Phosphorus fractionation in lowland tropical rainforest soils in central Panama

Phosphorus availability is commonly assumed to limit productivity in lowland tropical rainforests, yet there is relatively little information on the chemical forms of soil phosphorus in such ecosystems. We used the Hedley sequential fractionation scheme to assess phosphorus chemistry in five soils supporting tropical rainforest on Barro Colorado Island, Republic of Panama. The soils represented a range of orders (Inceptisols, Alfisols, and Oxisols) formed on contrasting geological substrates and topography, but under uniform climate and vegetation. Total phosphorus in surface horizons ranged between 315 and 1114 mg P kg^− 1, being lowest on a soil derived from marine sediments and highest on soils derived from andesite. The majority of the phosphorus occurred in recalcitrant forms, although between 14% and 39% occurred as organic phosphorus. Readily-available phosphate, as extracted by anion-exchange membranes, occurred in small concentrations (4–13 mg P kg^− 1), although labile phosphorus, defined as phosphate extracted by anion-exchange membrane plus inorganic and organic phosphorus extracted by 0.5 M NaHCO₃, accounted for between 4.7% and 11.4% of the total soil phosphorus. Our results indicate a strong control of geology and topography on soil phosphorus in tropical rainforests, which may have important implications for understanding the diversity and distribution of plant species in such ecosystems. Further, some of the most common soils on Barro Colorado Island, including those on the 50 ha forest dynamics plot, are rich in phosphorus despite their relatively advanced stage of pedogenesis.     

几种铵盐对土壤吸附Cd2+和Zn2+的影响

采用平衡吸附法,研究了不同铵盐对潮褐土、红壤吸附Cd2+、Zn2+的影响。结果表明,土壤对Cd2+、Zn2+的吸附量随平衡溶液中Cd2+、Zn2+浓度的增加而增加;潮褐土和红壤对Cd2+、Zn2+的最大吸附量为:Zn2+ Cd2+,且潮褐土红壤;随NH4HCO3浓度的增加,两种土壤对Cd2+、Zn2+的吸附率显著提高,NH4Cl、NH4NO3和(NH4)2SO4抑制红壤对Cd2+、Zn2+的吸附及潮褐土对Cd2+的吸附,对潮褐土Zn2+的吸附率影响不显著;铵盐浓度相同时,红壤对Cd2+吸附率为:NH4HCO3NH4ClNH4NO3≈ (NH4)2SO4,红壤对Zn2+吸附率为:NH4HCO3NH4Cl NH4NO3(NH4)2SO4。     

Differences in isotopic fractionation of nitrogen in water-saturated and unsaturated soils

Temporal variations in δ¹⁵N of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ in water-saturated and unsaturated soils were examined in a laboratory incubation study. Ammonium sulfate (δ¹⁵N=−2.6‰) was added to 25 g samples of soil at concentrations of 160 mg N kg⁻¹. Soils were then incubated under unsaturated (50% of water holding capacity at saturation, WHC) or saturated (100% of WHC) water conditions for 7 and 36 d, respectively. During 7 d incubation of unsaturated soil, the NH₄⁺-N concentration decreased from 164.8 to 34.4 mg kg⁻¹, and the δ¹⁵N of NH₄⁺ increased from −0.4 to +57.2‰ through nitrification, as evidenced by corresponding increase in NO₃⁻-N concentration and lower δ¹⁵N of NO₃⁻ (product) than that of NH₄⁺ (substrate) at each sampling time. In saturated soil, the concentration of NH₄⁺-N decreased gradually from 162.4 to 24.2 mg kg⁻¹, and the δ¹⁵N values increased from +0.8 to +21.0‰ during 36 d incubation. However, increase in NO₃⁻ concentration was not observed due to loss of NO₃⁻ through concurrent denitrification in anaerobic sites. The apparent isotopic fractionation factors (α_s/p) associated with decrease in NH₄⁺ concentration were 1.04 and 1.01 in unsaturated and saturated soils, respectively. Since nitrification is likely to introduce greater isotope fractionation than microbial immobilization, the higher value for unsaturated soil probably reflected faster nitrification under aerobic conditions. The lower value for saturated soil suggests that immobilization and subsequent remineralization of NH₄⁺ were relatively more dominant than nitrification under the anaerobic conditions.     

Contrasting response to cropping of populations of earthworms and predacious nematodes in four soils

The activities of many soil animals make a positive contribution to soil processes and they should be considered for inclusion in indices of ‘soil quality'. To assess the potential use of nematodes and earthworms as indicators, the relationships between populations of earthworms (Lumbricidae), total number of nematodes and predacious nematodes (Mononchoidea) and six soil physical factors, soil carbon and pH were investigated in four New Zealand soils. In each, soil treatments ranged from 5–90 year pastures to cropping with maize or barley for 11–29 years. With increasing cultivation, trends in bulk density, total porosity, aggregate stability and concentration of total carbon were similar in all four soils. In Manawatu (Dystric Fluventic Eutrochrept) and Kairanga (Typic Endoaquept) soils earthworm populations were negligible under continuous cropping while Mononchoidea were abundant (11 600 and 34 100 m⁻²). In contrast, in Moutoa (Fluvaquentic Endoaquoll) and Wakanui (Aquic Ustochrept) soils earthworms persisted under cultivation, while Mononchoidea were less abundant (300 and 2500 m⁻²). At these two latter sites, aggregate stability was higher (1.14 and 0.92 mm mean weight diameter (MWD)) than in Manawatu and Kairanga soils (0.38 and 0.35 mm MWD). These relationships between aggregate stability, earthworm abundance and predacious nematodes show not only that some potential indicators may have a local rather than national application, but also that there are important interactions between soil physical properties and soil fauna which require further investigation.     

低锌旱地施锌方式对小麦产量和锌利用的影响

西北地区是我国典型的旱地低锌区。本文选择黄土高原中部两个典型地点,通过田间试验,在两个施氮水平下,研究了不施锌、 土施锌、 叶喷锌和土施+叶喷锌4种方式对冬小麦产量、 锌的吸收和累积以及锌肥利用效率的影响。结果表明,不同施锌方式对小麦产量均无显著影响,但均提高了小麦子粒锌含量,提高幅度因施锌方式而异。与不施锌相比,叶喷和土施+叶喷锌肥可使小麦子粒锌含量提高40%左右,平均达到 40 mg/kg;单独土施锌肥虽使土壤有效锌提高3倍左右,但子粒锌含量无显著变化。叶喷锌肥的锌利用效率远高于土施和土施+叶喷处理,每公顷喷施1 kg锌可使小麦子粒锌含量提高6.70~13.04 mg/kg;子粒锌利用率为6.02%~9.40%, 达到土施锌肥的80倍左右;总锌利用率为19.78%~30.91%,是土施锌肥的132~221倍。施氮水平对小麦产量及锌肥利用效率均无显著影响。可见,在旱地低锌区,与土施锌相比,叶喷是更加经济有效、 环境友好的锌肥施用方式,是提高小麦锌营养品质切实可行的措施。     

农田土壤中氮同位素分级与硝化能力的关系研究

A laboratory-based aerobic incubation was conducted to investigate nitrogen(N) isotopic fractionation related to nitrification in five agricultural soils after application of ammonium sulfate((NH4)2SO4). The soil samples were collected from a subtropical barren land soil derived from granite(RGB),three subtropical upland soils derived from granite(RQU),Quaternary red earth(RGU),Quaternary Xiashu loess(YQU) and a temperate upland soil generated from alluvial deposit(FAU). The five soils varied in nitrification potential,being in the order of FAU YQU RGU RQU RGB. Significant N isotopic fractionation accompanied nitrification of NH+4. δ15N values of NH+4 increased with enhanced nitrification over time in the four upland soils with NH+4 addition,while those of NO-3 decreased consistently to the minimum and thereafter increased. δ15N values of NH+4 showed a significantly negative linear relationship with NH+4-N concentration,but a positive linear relationship with NO-3-N concentration. The apparent isotopic fractionation factor calculated based on the loss of NH+4 was 1.036 for RQU,1.022 for RGU,1.016 for YQU,and 1.020 for FAU,respectively. Zero- and first-order reaction kinetics seemed to have their limitations in describing the nitrification process affected by NH+4 input in the studied soils. In contrast,N kinetic isotope fractionation was closely related to the nitrifying activity,and might serve as an alternative tool for estimating the nitrification capacity of agricultural soils.     

Displacement of Zn through acidic light-textured soils

In order to gain understanding of the movement of pollutant metals in soil, the chemical mechanisms involved in the transport of zinc were studied. The displacement of zinc through mixtures of sand and cation exchange resin was measured to validate the methods used for soil. With cation exchange capacities of 2.5 and 5.0 cmol_c kg⁻¹, 5.6 and 8.4 pore volumes of 10 mM CaCl₂, respectively, were required to displace a pulse of ZnCl₂ . A simple Burns-type model (Wineglass) using an adsorption coefficient (K_d) determined by fitting a straight line relationship to an adsorption isotherm gave a good fit to the data (K_d=0.73 and 1.29 ml g⁻¹, respectively).Surface and subsurface samples of an acidic sandy loam (organic matter 4.7 and 1.0%, cation exchange capacity (CEC) 11.8 and 6.1 cmol_c kg⁻¹, respectively) were leached with 10 mM calcium chloride, nitrate and perchlorate. With chloride, the zinc pulse was displaced after 25 and 5 pore volumes, respectively. The K_d values were 6.1 and 2.0 ml g⁻¹, but are based on linear relationships fitted to isotherms which are both curved and show hysteresis. Thus, a simple model has limited value although it does give a general indication of rate of displacement. Leaching with chloride and perchlorate gave similar displacement and K_d values, but slower movement occurred with nitrate in both soil samples (35 and 7 pore volumes, respectively) which reflected higher K_d values when the isotherms were measured using this anion (7.7 and 2.8 ml g⁻¹, respectively). Although pH values were a little higher with nitrate in the leachates, the differences were insufficient to suggest that this increased the CEC enough to cause the delay. No increases in pH occurred with nitrate in the isotherm experiments. Geochem was used to calculate the proportions of Zn complexed with the three anions and with fulvic acid determined from measurements of dissolved organic matter. In all cases, more than 91% of the Zn was present as Zn²⁺ and there were only minor differences between the anions. Thus, there is an unexplained factor associated with the greater adsorption of Zn in the presence of nitrate.Because as little as five pore volumes of solution displaced Zn through the subsurface soil, contamination of ground waters may be a hazard where Zn is entering a light-textured soil, particularly where soil salinity is increased. Reductions in organic matter content due to cultivation will increase the hazard.     

胶体存在时不同质地土壤对锌镉的吸附试验研究

以重金属离子Zn和Cd及胶体为对象,通过等温静态批量平衡吸附试验,分析了3种不同质地土壤对Zn、Cd单一吸附和等量竞争吸附特征,胶体对土壤吸附Zn、Cd的影响,并用Langmuir和Freundlich方程对试验结果进行了拟合。结果表明,随着平衡液中Zn2+、Cd2+浓度的增加,土壤对Zn、Cd的吸附量逐渐增大;3种质地土壤对Zn、Cd吸附量顺序为砂壤>粉壤>壤砂土;Zn2+、Cd2+共存时,土壤对这两种离子的吸附量比单一离子存在的情况下明显下降;胶体存在时抑制了土壤对Zn的吸附,促进了土壤对Cd的吸附;就本试验来说,Freundlich方程拟合效果优于Langmuir方程。