Quantitative analysis of earthworm burrow systems with respect to biological soil-structure regeneration after soil compaction |
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Authors: | M Langmaack S Schrader U Rapp-Bernhardt K Kotzke |
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Institution: | Zoologisches Institut der Technischen Universit?t, Arbeitsgruppe Bodenzoologie, Spielmannstrasse 8, D-38092 Braunschweig, Germany e-mail: M.langmaack@tu-bs.de, Tel.:+49-531-3912373, Fax: +49-531-3918198, DE Zentrum für Radiologie, Klinik für Diagnostische Radiologie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universit?t, Leipziger Strasse 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany, DE KK DV-Consulting, Am Schatzkampe 5, D-30163 Hannover, Germany, DE
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Abstract: | On arable land, tilled with conventional tillage (CT) and conservation tillage (CS) respectively, plots were compacted by
wheeling them 6 times with a 5 Mg wheel load in spring 1995. Immediately after compaction, undisturbed soil monoliths were
excavated from the compacted and uncompacted plots. The monoliths were defaunated and inoculated with either Lumbricus terrestris or Aporrectodea caliginosa. One monolith from each plot remained uninoculated as a control. After 6 months the monoliths were defaunated again and then
scanned with X-ray helical computed tomography. The data were transformed, the void systems inside the monoliths were reconstructed
and visualised, and the parameters total void length, total void volume, tortuosity and continuity were quantified. The parameters'
values were generally lower in the controls than in the inoculated monoliths. Differences in burrow construction could be
explained by the different life strategies of the two earthworm species. Changes in burrow morphology due to tillage system
and soil compaction were minor. Only the continuity of the burrow systems clearly changed: decreasing for L. terrestris and increasing for A. caliginosa. This can be explained by a change in the earthworms' burrowing activity to minimise energy expenditure in compacted soil.
By extrapolating field data, we concluded that earthworms have great potential for biologically regenerating the soil structure
after a single compaction event. Due to higher earthworm abundances in soil managed by CS the regeneration of the soil structure
is assumed to be better in these plots than those tilled by CT.
Received: 17 December 1997 |
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Keywords: | Earthworms Soil compaction Burrow systems X-ray computed tomography Biological soil-structure regeneration |
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