Comparative Effects of No-dig and Conventional Cultivation with Vermicompost Fertilization on Earthworm Community Parameters and Soil Physicochemical Condition

Abstract

Because of the numerous ecosystem services provided by soil, such as elemental cycling, food production, and water filtration and storage, this resource requires special protection to maintain total efficiency of these services. However, standard agricultural practices can have a degrading effect, not only on the physical and chemical properties of soil, but may also threaten soil invertebrate communities. Soil macrofauna, and earthworms in particular, play a critical role in soil ecosystems because their activities affect the availability of nutrients for plants, shape soil structure, and significantly impact organic matter dynamics. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of two systems used in plant cultivation (no-dig and conventional digging). Both used vermicompost as an organic fertilizer and looked at selected characteristics of Lumbricidae groupings and the dynamics of selected soil physicochemical properties. This study was conducted over three years in the same area to ensure that the soil characteristics were the same. The NDG (no-dig) and DG (conventional digging) sites were prepared as appropriate with a perennial hay meadow (MW) used as a control site. An electrical extraction (octet) method was used to collect earthworms. The same six species of earthworm were found at each site: Dendrodrilus rubidus (Sav.), Lumbricus rubellus (Hoff.), Aporrectodea caliginosa (Sav.), Aporrectodea rosea (Sav.), Octolasion lacteum (Örley), and Lumbricus terrestris (L.). Earthworm abundance and biomass were found to be significantly higher at the NDG site compared to DG (NDG > DG; abundance by 24% (p < 0.05), biomass by 22% (p < 0.05)). No significant differences between NDG and MW were shown. Moisture, temperature, and soil organic carbon content likely influenced the abundance and biomass of Lumbricidae. The NDG site showed significantly higher organic carbon and moisture content and significantly lower temperatures than the DG site. The average number of earthworms damaged by digging was 0.85 ind. m−2, but did not significantly affect the other results. Overall, NDG is preferable to DG for enhancing the earthworm and physicochemical parameters of soil.