钝化剂-锌肥降低烟草镉含量长期效果研究

采用田间小区试验,通过外源添加1.5 mg kg-1镉(Cd)模拟轻度Cd污染土壤,研究赤泥、油菜秸秆、玉米秸秆及其组合并配施硫酸锌降低土壤Cd有效性和烟草各部位Cd含量的长期效果。结果表明,施用钝化剂后,烟叶产量增加了7.0%~32.1%,中上等烟叶比例提高了2.9%~20.2%,烟草经济效益提高了6.6%~31.3%。钝化剂处理土壤有效态Cd含量降低显著,2012年和2013年降幅分别为18.6%~47.4%、16.0%~27.0%。烟草各部位Cd含量排序为下部叶中部叶、上部叶茎秆,且均与土壤有效态Cd含量呈极显著正相关关系。2011—2013年钝化剂处理烟草叶片Cd平均含量较对照分别降低了28.3%、28.1%、15.2%,烟草各部位Cd含量年变化幅度下部叶最大,茎秆最小,叶位间Cd含量差异随钝化时间延长逐渐缩小。钝化剂降低土壤-烟草系统Cd生物有效性效果稳定持久,其中油菜秸秆优于玉米秸秆,有机无机复合钝化剂效果最好。配施锌肥后,2011—2013年烟草叶片Cd含量较对照分别降低了19.1%、23.3%、17.9%,且下部和中部叶片降低效果达到显著水平;中部和上部叶Cd、Zn含量呈显著负相关关系。因此,在轻度Cd污染土壤上,赤泥油菜秸秆复合钝化剂配施锌肥是降低烟叶镉含量兼顾高产的最佳生产措施。     

水热预处理对猪粪厌氧消化系统中磺胺嘧啶降解的影响

为进一步了解水热预处理对猪粪连续厌氧消化过程中磺胺嘧啶（sulfadiazine, SDZ）降解机制的影响,以及对厌氧消化系统性能的影响效果。该研究以猪粪为对象,对比研究了水热预处理对厌氧发酵模式下SDZ的降解变化规律与途径及其对猪粪产气性能的影响。研究结果表明：水热预处理（150 ℃）使中温连续厌氧反应器中的SDZ的综合去除率显著提升（P <0.05）,由40.5%～58.5%提高到54.4%～75.2%;并且通过中间降解产物推测SDZ的生物降解途径主要包括SDZ水解、羟基化、硫脱氧、氨基氧化、嘧啶环裂解等;在厌氧消化性能方面,水热预处理使稳定运行后反应器的日产沼气量提高了约34.05%（P <0.05）。此外,对反应器中微生物群落分析后,发现Syntrophomonas、Sedimentibacter与SDZ的降解高度相关,并且经过水热预处理后Sedimentibacter的相对丰度较未水热预处理显著提升。因此,水热预处理耦合厌氧消化工艺具有同步提高SDZ降解和厌氧消化性能的作用,有助于进一步提高沼液的生态安全性。     

石灰、活性炭对镉污染土壤的修复效果研究

通过模拟铬(Cr,0～300 mg kg-1)污染土壤盆栽试验,研究石灰、活性炭及石灰+活性炭对铬胁迫下小白菜生长状况的影响及对铬污染土壤的修复效果。结果表明:受铬污染的土壤明显使小白菜受到毒害,但经石灰(L1、L2)、活性炭(C2、C3)及石灰+活性炭(L1C1、L2C2)处理均缓解了重金属的毒害症状,显著促进小白菜的生长,生物量较对照提高1～2倍(p<0.05)。3种改良剂相比,在相同Cr浓度处理下,活性炭对降低污染土壤中有效态铬的效果最好,与CK相比,有效态铬的含量降低至0.086 mg kg-1,降幅达77.36%。相关分析表明:小白菜叶部铬含量和根部铬含量与土壤有效态铬含量表现出显著的正相关(p<0.01),土壤pH与土壤有效态铬含量之间呈负相关(p<0.05),所以在铬污染的土壤中,可以提高土壤的pH,以减小土壤铬的植物有效性,使其向植物迁移的风险减小。     

石灰石和海泡石组配对水稻糙米重金属积累的影响

为了研究组配改良剂(石灰石+海泡石,LS)对于重金属Pb、Cd、Cu和Zn复合污染稻田的修复效果,在湘南某矿区附近稻田中进行了组配改良剂的田间试验。结果表明:施用0~1.8 kg m-2的组配改良剂LS使土壤pH和CEC显著增加,使土壤中Pb、Cd、Cu和Zn交换态含量显著降低。土壤Pb、Cd、Cu和Zn交换态含量的降低是pH升高,土壤胶体的CEC增加及土壤吸附能力增强的共同作用。施用组配改良剂LS显著降低了3个水稻品种(黄华占、丰优9号、Ⅱ优93)糙米中Pb、Cd和Cu的累积量,最大降幅分别为55.8%、66.9%、37.4%,而对糙米中Zn的含量没有明显影响。当LS施用量为1.8 kg m-2时,能使丰优9号糙米中Cd含量(0.195 mg kg-1)达到国家食品中污染物限量标准(0.20 mg kg-1)以下。土壤中交换态Pb、Cd和Cu含量的降低是糙米中重金属累积量减少的原因。土壤交换态Pb、Cd和Cu含量的对数值(lnC交换态)与其糙米中含量(lnC糙米)的对数值之间存在显著的线性相关关系。     

Bioaugmentation of butane-utilizing microorganisms for the in situ cometabolic treatment of 1,1-dichloroethene, 1,1-dichloroethane, and 1,1,1-trichloroethane

Bioaugmentation of microbial cultures is a potential method to enhance the performance of in situ bioremediation. In this study we evaluated the bioaugmentation of aerobic microorganisms that grow on butane that can transform chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon (CAH) mixtures, such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA), 1,1-dichhloroethane (1,1-DCA) and 1,1-dichloroethene (1,1-DCE). This mixture of contaminants is of interest, since 1,1,1-TCA was a frequently used solvent at Department of Defense (DoD) facilities in the United States, and 1,1-DCE and 1,1-DCA are abiotic and biotic transformation products of 1,1,1-TCA. Kinetic studies with butane grown enrichment cultures and pure cultures isolated from the enrichment culture showed effective transformation of mixtures of these contaminants, with 1,1-DCE most rapidly transformed, followed by 1,1-DCA, and 1,1,1-TCA. In laboratory microcosm batch experiments, with aquifer material and groundwater from the field site, microcosms bioaugmented with mixed and pure cultures outperformed microcosms where indigenous butane-utilizing microorganisms were stimulated. The microcosm tests were consistent with the kinetics from mixed and pure cultures. Field studies were conducted in the saturated zone at the Moffett Field In Situ Test Facility in California. Tests were performed in an indigenous test leg along with a bioaugmented test leg, and the bioaugmented test leg outperformed the indigenous test leg. In the bioaugmented leg, 1,1-DCE was more effectively transformed, followed by 1,1-DCA, and 1,1,1-TCA, consistent with the results from laboratory kinetic studies and microcosm studies.     

不同有机物料还田对华北农田土壤固碳的影响及原因分析

中国农业面临着废弃物数量大、污染严重,农田土壤生产力低的现实问题。该研究以增加农田土壤固碳为目标对砂质农田进行有机物料还田,将秸秆、猪粪、沼渣和生物炭4种物料用尿素调节等氮还田,对农田土壤有机碳、颗粒有机碳、可溶性有机碳和微生物量碳的含量进行测定,并探究不同有机物料还田对土壤有机碳的影响原因。研究结果表明:物料还田3a后,生物炭、猪粪和沼渣处理土壤有机碳(SOC)比秸秆处理分别高262.4%、26.8%和20.7%;2014—2015年生物炭处理的土壤微生物量碳(MBC)较秸秆处理降低2.9%~35.5%,猪粪处理和沼渣处理的土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC)分别提高17.1%~60.1%和7.2%~64.8%;2014—2015年生物炭、猪粪和沼渣处理土壤颗粒有机碳(POC)较秸秆处理提高10.8%~148.2%、9.5%~58.3%和11.3%~57.6%;物料还田后,土壤总有机碳(TOC)和POC呈极显著的回归关系(R2=0.67,P0.001),土壤DOC与MBC有极显著相关性(R2=0.52,P0.001)。与秸秆还田相比,生物炭还田有利于土壤POC的累积进而促进土壤有机碳的提升,猪粪和沼渣则通过提高土壤MBC、DOC和POC的含量,促进土壤有机碳的周转和固定。从农田土壤固碳角度而言,生物炭,猪粪和沼渣还田优于秸秆还田。     

Role of compost biochar amendment on the (im)mobilization of cadmium and zinc for Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.) from contaminated soil

Journal of Soils and Sediments - This study aims to assess the effect of amendment of an alkaline Zn, Cd-contaminated soil with compost of wheat straw biochar (CB) (4, 8, 12, and 18%) and sludge...     

Enhanced anaerobic degradation of hexachlorobenzene in a Hydragric Acrisol using

Humic substances acting as an electron shuttle and nitrogen transformation process influence remarkably the electron transfer in anaerobic reaction systems and thus may affect the reductive dechlorination of hexachlorobenzene(HCB). In order to develop an efficient agricultural strategy for the remediation of organochlorine-contaminated soils, a batch incubation experiment was conducted to study the effects of humic acid, urea, and their interaction on the reductive dechlorination of HCB in a Hydragric Acrisol with high iron oxide content. After 44 d of anaerobic incubation, the five treatments, sterile control,control, humic acid, urea, and humic acid + urea decreased HCB residues by 28.8%, 47.8%, 64.7%, 57.8%, and 71.3%, respectively. The amendment of humic acid or urea significantly decreased soil Eh values and accelerated Fe(Ⅲ) reduction to Fe(Ⅱ), thus promoting markedly reductive dechlorination of HCB. Humic acid had a larger dechlorination effect than urea. Since there was a synergistic interaction between humic acid and urea that accelerated HCB dechlorination, the treatment having both amendments together was the most efficient for HCB dechlorination. The results showed that the combination of NH4⁺_-N supplied by a fertilizer and humic substance is a feasible strategy for the remediation of organochlorine-contaminated soils with abundant iron oxide.     

Crop growth,culturable bacteria,and degradation of petrol hydrocarbons (PHCs) in a long-term contaminated field soil

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted for investigating the capability of a grass (annual ryegrass), a legume (summer vetch), and a crucifer (white mustard) to grow in a soil with portions from a former coal gasification site, influence the soil bacterial community, and promote the biodegradation of petrol hydrocarbons (PHCs). Soil concentrations of 1517 mg kg⁻¹ of total petrol hydrocarbons (TPHs), including 71.4 mg kg⁻¹ of total US EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (TPAHs) have caused a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in shoot and root dry matter yields by more than 50%. Culturable bacteria and actinomycetes in soil were as much as 18-fold more abundant and the species composition was largely altered because of PHC contaminants and depending on crop species and age. After 95 days, 68.7% of initial TPH amounts and 59% of the TPAHs had disappeared from unplanted soil. Mustard and vetch fostered the removal of PHCs from soil reaching final TPH concentrations that were 15.6% and 12% lower than in unplanted soil. Both crops elicited the greatest degradative root activities and sustained particularly great populations of rhizosphere bacteria that are known hydrocarbon degraders. None of the crops aided the reduction of TPAHs in soil.     

Short-term effects of dairy slurry amendment on carbon sequestration and enzyme activities in a temperate grassland

Land application of animal wastes from intensive grassland farming has resulted in growing environmental problems relating to greenhouse gas emissions, ammonia volatilisation, and nitrate and phosphorus leaching into surface and groundwater. We examined the short-term effects of dairy slurry amendment on carbon sequestration and enzyme activities in a temperate grassland (Southwest England). Slurry was collected from cows fed either on perennial ryegrass (C₃) or maize (C₄) silages. Fifty m³ ha⁻¹ of each of the obtained C₃ or C₄ slurries (δ¹³C=−30.7 and −21.3‰, respectively) were applied to a C₃ pasture soil with δ¹³C of −30.0±0.2‰. We found that water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) content was two to three times higher in the slurry amended plots compared with the unamended control. No significant change in the soil microbial biomass (SMB) carbon content was observed in the four weeks (772 h) following slurry application. Natural abundance ¹³C isotope analysis suggested a rapid initial incorporation (>25% within 2 h of application) of slurry-derived C in the SMB-C and WSOC pools of the 0-2 cm layer. Linear relationships were found between slurry-derived C in the whole soil, SMB, and WSOC for the 0-2 cm depth in the soil. Applied slurry-derived C was sequestered in the SMB pool in two phases. The first phase (0-48 h) was dominated by the incorporation of labile slurry C from the liquid phase, whereas beyond 48 h slurry-derived C was mainly from less mobile particulate C. No significant differences between treatments were found for invertase and xylanase. Urease activity was always higher in slurry treatments. Cellobiohydrolase, β-N-acetyl-glucosamidase, β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase activities became significantly higher in slurry treatments after 336 h. However, the observed temporal changes in enzyme activities were not correlated with the amounts of slurry-C incorporated in the SMB and WSOC pool.     

Effects of modified Pb-, Zn-, and Cd- availability on the microbial communities and on the degradation of isoproturon in a heavy metal contaminated soil

The effects of modified heavy metal (HM) availability on the microbial community structure and on the microbe-mediated degradation of herbicide isoproturon (IPU) were evaluated in soil with a long-term HM contamination. The fate of ¹⁴C-ring labelled IPU was investigated for over 60 days under controlled microcosm conditions. Phosphate mineral apatite and a water solution of Pb, Zn, and Cd salts were previously homogeneously mixed into the soil material to reduce and to increase the proportion of bioavailable HM, respectively. The availability of Pb, Zn, and Cd was determined by HM fractionation and plant uptake 110 days after the addition of amendments, shortly before IPU addition. Apatite treatment reduced the availability of HM, but did not affect the microbial biomass and the microbial community structure on the genotype level (total soil DNA-RAPD). However, it changed the microbial community structure on the phenotype level, based on the composition of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) at the end of the degradation experiment. The degradation of IPU did not change. In contrast to apatite treatment, HM supplementation increased the bioavailability of Pb, Zn and Cd, which resulted in biomass reduction and changes of microbial community structure on the genotypic (total soil DNA-RAPD) and phenotypic (PLFA) level. Increased bioavailability of HM also significantly reduced the rate of IPU degradation and mineralisation. The total mineralisation over a period of 60 days decreased from 12 to 5% of initial ¹⁴C. Increased HM bioavailability did not influence the degradation pathways and kinetics of IPU.     

Effect of biosolid amendment on enzyme activities in earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) casts

We studied the effect of amendment of sewage sludge biosolids on enzyme activity in soil and earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) casts. Enzyme activities and contents of nutrients and organic matter of surrounding soil were compared with the corresponding properties of earthworm casts. This short time experiment was conducted at 20 ± 0.5 °C in the laboratory, simulating field conditions of biosolid treatments. In general, all of doses of biosolid treatments influenced the enzyme activity and contents of nutrients and organic matter of earthworm casts and surrounding soil. Enzyme activity such as urease (UA), alkaline phosphatase (APA), and arylsulfatase (ASA) and the contents of organic matter and nutrients N and P in earthworm casts and surrounding soil increased with increasing biosolid application. Without biosolid additions, enzyme activities in cast of L. terrestris exceeded those in the soil. In contrast, when biosolid was added, DHA in casts was lower than the soil. Activities of UA and APA were consistently higher in L. terrestris casts than in soil of all biosolid treatments. Biosolid amendments generally increased ASA at low doses, but at higher doses, ASA decreased. In general, organic matter and contents of N and P were higher in surface casts of L. terrestris and soils than in the control soil. Activities of UA, APA, the contents of organic carbon and nutrients N and P in soil and casts showed positive correlations. On the contrary, ASA and DHA were negatively correlated with the contents of organic matter and nutrients.     

外源木炭对苄嘧磺隆在土壤中吸附-解吸的影响

采用振荡平衡法研究了除草剂苄嘧磺隆在3个不同粒径木炭和2种不同类型土壤中的吸附-解吸特征,重点考察了外源木炭对苄嘧磺隆在土壤中吸附-解吸过程的影响。结果表明,苄嘧磺隆在土壤和木炭中的吸附-解吸符合Freundlich方程。木炭对苄嘧磺隆有很强的吸附能力,木炭粒径越小,吸附能力越强。添加木炭能显著提高土壤对苄嘧磺隆的吸附量,木炭添加量越多,苄嘧磺隆吸附量越大,相对的解吸量越少。苄嘧磺隆在土壤和木炭中的解吸过程呈明显的滞后效应,且滞后效应随着苄嘧磺隆初始浓度增大和土壤中木炭添加量增大而逐渐加强。该项研究表明,以木炭作为人工添加吸附剂可有效的减少苄嘧磺隆从土壤中的流失。     

土壤厌氧消毒对青枯病的控制及土壤细菌群落结构的影响

近年来,土壤厌氧消毒(Anaerobic soil disinfestation,ASD)作为一种非化学、环境友好型土壤消毒方法,在缓解连作障碍和防治土传病害方面具有显著效果,但其作用机理尚不完全清楚。本研究设置6个处理,即对照、添加米糠(DRB)、麦麸(DWB)、茶麸(DTB)、秸秆(DRS)和不添加物料(D)5种土壤厌氧消毒处理,分析不同处理对青枯病防控效果、土壤理化性质及土壤细菌群落结构组成及多样性的影响。结果表明,与CK相比,添加4种物料厌氧消毒处理对青枯病的防效均达100%,单纯厌氧处理防效为83.3%,且除了DRB外各厌氧处理均能大幅度促进番茄生长。各ASD能显著提高土壤温度、p H和电导率,降低Eh和土壤青枯菌数量。田间试验表明,与CK相比,ASD的番茄青枯病发病率降低29.4%~42.7%,产量增加2.5倍~4.7倍。利用16S r DNA对土壤测序表明,ASD降低了土壤细菌α多样性指数,不同处理间土壤细菌物种种类、丰富度及多样性均存在显著差异。添加不同有机物料的ASD厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)相对丰度大幅度提高,成为优势群落;该门中的厌氧型细菌梭菌科(Clostridiaceae)、瘤胃菌科(Ruminococcaceae)和耐受性细菌芽孢杆菌科(Bacillaceae)等相对丰度也大幅度提高。本研究表明,土壤厌氧消毒处理显著改变了土壤细菌群落结构组成及多样性,厌氧和耐受型细菌丰度大幅度增加,这可能是ASD防控土传病害青枯病的作用机理之一。     

生物质炭添加对华南双季稻田碳排放强度的影响

中国农田有机物料资源化利用是一项巨大挑战。为研究生物质炭农田施用的生态效应,探讨华南双季稻田碳排放强度(greenhouse gas intensity,GHGI)对生物质炭添加的响应,开展了基于静态箱-气相色谱法的连续两年野外观测。田间试验共设6个处理,即当地农民习惯(CK,化肥,无稻草还田),3个不同用量生物质炭添加处理,即BC1(5 t/hm2)、BC2(10 t/hm2)和BC3(20 t/hm2),和2个稻草还田处理(直接还田和稻草+腐熟剂还田)。结果表明,相比当地农民习惯和稻草还田处理生物质炭添加有效抑制了双季稻田温室气体排放(平均降低温室气体排放当量49.87%),显著降低了土壤容重,增强作物的碳氮养分吸收能力,稳定了水稻产量(平均增产3.54%),降低了稻田碳排放强度(平均降低52.13%)。4个生长季平均而言,相比CK、RS和RI,生物质炭3个处理分别降低稻田100a尺度上温室气体排放当量27.53%,58.65%和63.43%(P0.05),分别增产3.21%,5.11%和2.29%(P0.05),进而分别降低100a尺度上GHGI 30.57%,61.00%和64.82%(P0.05),综合而言,BC3具有较好的减排增产潜力。相关矩阵和主成分分析可视化表达了在生物炭添加影响下,稻田碳排放强度与水稻生长参数及土壤理化特性的关系。生物质炭添加影响着水稻产量、收获指数、土壤有机质、总碳和植株吸氮量等环境变量的分布。通过多元决策回归树分析,发现可通过水稻收获指数(0.5)定量判别其碳排放强度。该研究结果表明,通过优化田间管理,适量生物质炭回田(20 t/hm2)利用是增强土壤固碳、稳定水稻产量、降低稻田碳排放强度和应对气候变化不利影响的可行途径。该研究可为中国秸秆资源科学利用提供基础研究案例。     

Effects of dissolved organic matter on the mobility of copper in a contaminated sandy soil

Changes in land use can result in increased soil organic matter content, and decreases in Ca and pH which will affect the mobility of Cu in soil. We studied how the mobility and coagulation of dissolved organic matter and pH affected the mobility of Cu in contaminated sandy soil by batch and column experiments in the laboratory. The soil, with pH ranging from 3.8 to 5.7, had been polluted with Cu in the range 0.13–1.9 mmol kg^?1 more than a decade ago. Calcium and Cu bound by dissolved organic matter (purified humic acid) was determined in the pH range 4–8; Cu²⁺ concentration ranged from 10^?4 to 10^?12M and Ca²⁺ concentration from 10^?3 to 10^?6M. Binding of Cu by dissolved organic matter as affected by Ca and pH could be predicted well with the non-ideal competitive adsorption (NICA) model. Coagulation of dissolved organic matter was affected by the amount of trivalent (Al³⁺) and divalent (Ca²⁺ and Cu²⁺) cations in solution. There was little effect of pH on coagulation between pH 4 and 6. The concentration of the divalent cations, Ca²⁺ and Cu²⁺, at which coagulation of dissolved organic matter appeared could be explained by differences in the binding of Ca and Cu by dissolved organic matter. Binding of Cu by dissolved organic matter as well as by solid organic matter, both affected by Ca and pH, could be described well with the NICA model. We investigated the coagulation and mobility of dissolved organic matter in column experiments and found that they enhanced Cu mobility. Three processes, Cu desorption by soil, dissolved organic matter coagulation and Cu complexation by dissolved organic matter, act simultaneously in the soil columns. All three with counteracting effects on Cu mobility are influenced by Ca and pH and could be adequately represented by the multicomponent NICA model.     

Enhanced anaerobic degradation of hexachlorobenzene in a Hydragric Acrisol using humic acid and urea

Humic substances acting as an electron shuttle and nitrogen transformation process influence remarkably the electron transfer in anaerobic reaction systems and thus may affect the reductive dechlorination of hexachlorobenzene(HCB). In order to develop an efficient agricultural strategy for the remediation of organochlorine-contaminated soils, a batch incubation experiment was conducted to study the effects of humic acid, urea, and their interaction on the reductive dechlorination of HCB in a Hydragric Acrisol with high iron oxide content. After 44 d of anaerobic incubation, the five treatments, sterile control,control, humic acid, urea, and humic acid + urea decreased HCB residues by 28.8%, 47.8%, 64.7%, 57.8%, and 71.3%, respectively. The amendment of humic acid or urea significantly decreased soil Eh values and accelerated Fe(Ⅲ) reduction to Fe(Ⅱ), thus promoting markedly reductive dechlorination of HCB. Humic acid had a larger dechlorination effect than urea. Since there was a synergistic interaction between humic acid and urea that accelerated HCB dechlorination, the treatment having both amendments together was the most efficient for HCB dechlorination. The results showed that the combination of NH_4~+-N supplied by a fertilizer and humic substance is a feasible strategy for the remediation of organochlorine-contaminated soils with abundant iron oxide.     

Effects of ivermectin in dung pats on earthworm (Megascolecidae) populations and pat degradation in Japanese grassland

The effects of residual ivermectin in dung pats on earthworm activity and dung decomposition in Japanese grassland, where Megascolecidae are the dominant group of dung decomposers, were studied. Artificial cowpats containing 0, 0.1, and 1 mg ivermectin kg⁻¹ dung were prepared and deposited on grassland in October 2003. Pats were collected again for analysis 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks after deposition. Earthworms were collected from the soil around pats at a depth of 0–10 cm. The Megascolecidae, Pheretima (Amynthas) heteropoda and Pheretima (Amynthas) divergens, together accounted for more than 90 and 99% of earthworm individuals and biomass, respectively. Earthworms aggregated around the pats regardless of the ivermectin treatment. Dung-degradation rate was also unaffected by the ivermectin treatments. Dung decomposition appeared to be due mainly to earthworm activity, as dung beetles were rare at this site. These results suggest that ivermectin may have no adverse effects on Megascolecidae activity and on the degradation of cowpats in pastureland sites where earthworms dominate the dung decomposer community.