Assessment of earthworm burrowing efficiency in compacted soil with a combination of morphological and soil physical measurements |
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Authors: | M Joschko H Diestel O Larink |
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Institution: | (1) Institut für Bodenbiologie, Forschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft, Bundesallee 50, D-3300 Braunschweig, Germany;(2) Institut für Landschaftsbau, TU Berlin, AlbrechtThaer-Weg 2, D-1000 Berlin 33;(3) Zoologisches Institut, TU Braunschweig, Pockelsstrasse 10a, D-3300 Braunschweig, Germany |
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Abstract: | Summary Column experiments were carried out to quantify the effect of earthworms on compacted soil. The earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) were able to burrow into soil which was artificially compacted to a pore volume as low as 40%; they may also penetrate an artificial plough pan deep in the soil. The effect of the burrowing activity of Lumbricus terrestris was quantified by measuring hydraulic conductivities and infiltration rates through the whole soil column (19 cm wide, 40 cm long). Morphological parameters, mainly the vertically projected burrow depth, were correlated with the saturated hydraulic conductivity. The amount of casts deposited by Lumbricus terrestris on the soil surface increased with the degree of soil compaction. The bulk density of casts was always less than that of the original soil. |
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Keywords: | Earthworm burrows Casts Macropores Bulk density Soil compaction Water movement Lumbricus terrestris |
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