Alternative combinations of tillage practices and crop rotations can foster earthworm density and bioturbation

Torppa, Kaisa A.; Taylor, Astrid

doi:10.1016/j.apsoil.2022.104460

Cited by 19 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…By including the full material derived above, we recorded a mean density of 320 individuals m − 2 , ranging from 96 to 692 individuals m − 2 across grasslands. The densities recorded are largely in line with previous studies, with the lowest densities matching those measured in cultivated soils in the same area (51-124 ind m − 2 ; Torppa and Taylor, 2022), whereas the highest densities are more than five times greater. Indeed, earthworm densities in temperate grasslands vary widely, and can be as high as 4000 individuals m − 2 .…”

Section: Earthworm Densities Are Favoured By High Soil Moisture and L...supporting

confidence: 90%

Soil Moisture and Fertility Drive Earthworm Diversity in North Temperate Semi-Natural Grasslands

Torppa¹,

Castaño²,

Glimskär³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Section: Earthworm Densities Are Favoured By High Soil Moisture and L...supporting

confidence: 90%

Soil Moisture and Fertility Drive Earthworm Diversity in North Temperate Semi-Natural Grasslands

Torppa¹,

Castaño²,

Glimskär³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…The positive difference in the abundance of earthworms in the AFS in relation to the monoculture could be explained by the microclimate variations created around the legume species. Another factor that may have contributed to the distribution of earthworms in the AFS could be the legume's high N content, making them a highly palatable resource for earthworms [59]. Price & Gordon [57] reported that the content of nutrients in the soil and microclimate formed by the tree species cause the density and biomass of the earthworms to increase.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of Agroforestry Systems in the Cultivation of Naranjilla (Solanum quitoense) Grown in the Amazon Region of Ecuador

et al. 2022

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Agroforestry systems allow conservation of natural resources and promotion of sustainable agriculture in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Nevertheless, the benefit of the associated species that are part of these production systems needs to be demonstrated. The aim of this study was to find out the influence on the crop yield, carbon sequestration, presence of earthworms, and the nutritional contribution of legume species associated with the naranjilla (Solanum quitoense) crop in an agroforestry system. The research was carried out in the Palora Experimental Farm of INIAP, using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were made up of cultivation systems (agroforestry systems with or without 50% fertilization) and monoculture as a control, with two levels of conventional fertilization (50 and 100%). In the agroforestry arrangements, Gliricidia sepium and Flemingia macrophylla were used to supply biomass. The results showed that during the three evaluation cycles, the yield of naranjilla was influenced by the quality of the biomass added to the soil and not by the amount of synthetic chemical fertilizer that was supplied. The biomass of G. sepium and F. macrophylla provided a greater amount of Mg, Mn, Zn, B, and Fe; elements that contributed to crop yield and the presence of earthworms. The results suggest that the use of legume species in agroforestry systems positively influenced naranjillla productivity, favoring sustainable agriculture in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

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“…A combination of zero tillage and undersowing cereal crops with clover have been reported previously to increase earthworm abundance by up to 50% [40]. All three earthworm functional groups are reported to benefit from the inclusion of a ley within an arable rotation compared to a purely annual cropping system [40][41][42][43]. Soil cover is maintained all year during the time it is present; there is a greater proliferation of roots in the topsoil relative to annual crop and an increase in SOM upon removal [34].…”

Section: Crop Diversification: Grass-clover Leymentioning

confidence: 97%

Earthworm Abundance Increased by Mob-Grazing Zero-Tilled Arable Land in South-East England

Trickett

Warner

2022

Earth

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Regenerative agriculture is a potential alternative to conventional agricultural systems. It integrates the components of zero-tillage, permanent soil cover, diverse crop rotations and rotational or mob-grazing by ruminant livestock. Earthworms are beneficial soil macrofauna and function as indicators of soil health. A need exists to identify how earthworm populations are affected when all four regenerative agriculture components are implemented simultaneously. This study investigates earthworm abundance in three split-plot treatments located on adjacent land within the same farm: (1) ungrazed permanent grassland, (2) a three-year grass-clover ley within an arable zero tillage system without grazing and (3) identical to treatment 2 but with mob-grazing. Earthworms were sampled using soil pits and classified into four functional groups: epigeic (surface dwellers), endogeic (sub-surface), anecic (deep soil) and juveniles. The total earthworm count, epigeic and juvenile functional groups were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher in treatment (3), the arable zero tillage system with mob-grazing. Mob-grazing increases the diversity of carbon sources available to earthworms and has a positive impact on earthworm abundance and functional group diversity within the arable rotation under evaluation.

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Alternative combinations of tillage practices and crop rotations can foster earthworm density and bioturbation

Cited by 19 publications

References 66 publications

Soil Moisture and Fertility Drive Earthworm Diversity in North Temperate Semi-Natural Grasslands

Soil Moisture and Fertility Drive Earthworm Diversity in North Temperate Semi-Natural Grasslands

Contribution of Agroforestry Systems in the Cultivation of Naranjilla (Solanum quitoense) Grown in the Amazon Region of Ecuador

Earthworm Abundance Increased by Mob-Grazing Zero-Tilled Arable Land in South-East England

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