Impact of soil compaction on earthworm burrow systems using X-ray computed tomography: preliminary study

Jégou, Danielle; Brunotte, Joachim; Rogasik, Helmut; Capowiez, Yvan; Diestel, Heiko; Schrader, Stefan; Cluzeau, Daniel

doi:10.1016/s1164-5563(02)01148-2

Cited by 68 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…3a), which generate macropores that significantly impact water infiltration and thus are important for supplying crops with water, as well as controlling surface runoff and erosion. Burrowing is driven by earthworm activities such as feeding, reaction to drought or cold temperatures, avoidance of predators, and soil oxygenation (Jegou et al 2002). Pore morphology varies depending on the earthworm ecological group.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Earthworm services for cropping systems. A review

Bertrand

Barot

Blouin

et al. 2015

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

277

143

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Intensive agriculture is often criticized for negative impacts on environment and human health. This issue may be solved by a better management of organisms living in crop fields. Here, we review the benefits of earthworms for crops, and we present techniques to increase earthworm abundance. The major points are the following: (1) Earthworms usually improve soil structural stability and soil porosity and reduce runoff. (2) Earthworms modify soil organic matter (SOM) and nutrient cycling. Specifically, earthworms stabilize SOM fractions within their casts, and they also increase the mineralization of organic matter in the short term by altering physical protection within aggregates and enhancing microbial activity. (3) The positive correlation between earthworm abundance and crop production is not systematic, and contrasting effects on yields have been observed. Earthworms induce the production of hormone-like substances that improve plant growth and health. (4) Direct drilling increases earthworm abundance and species diversity, but the beneficial effect of reduced tillage depends upon the species present and tillage intensity. (5) Organic amendments enhance earthworm abundance. (6) Earthworms feeding at soil surface are the most exposed to pesticides and other agrochemicals. Finally, we discuss how to combine management practices, including inoculation, to increase the earthworm services. We conclude that using earthworm services in cropping systems has potential to boost agricultural sustainability.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Earthworm services for cropping systems. A review

Bertrand

Barot

Blouin

et al. 2015

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

277

143

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“…From the scarce examples of ecological studies, the most studied animals have been arthropods and annelids, and in a lesser extend other kingdoms such as plants and fungi (Figure 3). It is particularly evident that one of the most popular topics so far is soil ecology (Davey et al., 2011; Harrison, Gardner, Tollner, & Kinard, 1993; Tollner, 1991), and specifically the study of worm burrows (Amossé, Turberg, Kohler‐Milleret, Gobat, & Le Bayon, 2015; Auclerc, Capowiez, Guérold, & Nahmani, 2013; Capowiez, Monestiez, & Belzunces, 2001; Capowiez, Pierret, & Moran, 2003; Francis, Tabley, Butler, & Fraser, 2001; Jégou, Capowiez, & Cluzeau, 2001; Jégou, Cluzeau, Hallaire, Balesdent, & Tréhen, 2000; Jégou, Cluzeau, Wolf, Gandon, & Tréhen, 1998; Jégou, Hallaire, Cluzeau, & Tréhen, 1999; Jégou et al., 2002; Langmaack, Schrader, Rapp‐Bernhardt, & Kotzke, 1999; Pagenkemper et al., 2015; Pelosi, Grandeau, & Capowiez, 2017; Rogasik, Schrader, Onasch, Kiesel, & Gerke, 2014; Schrader, Rogasik, Onasch, & Jegou, 2007), mostly because of the ease of studying this type of sample. Soil can be considered a matrix where the components can be detected through X‐ray CT without any preparation (i.e., staining).…”

Section: Application Of X‐ray Computed Tomography In Ecological Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

X‐ray computed tomography and its potential in ecological research: A review of studies and optimization of specimen preparation

Gutiérrez

Ott

Töpperwien

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Imaging techniques are a cornerstone of contemporary biology. Over the last decades, advances in microscale imaging techniques have allowed fascinating new insights into cell and tissue morphology and internal anatomy of organisms across kingdoms. However, most studies so far provided snapshots of given reference taxa, describing organs and tissues under “idealized” conditions. Surprisingly, there is an almost complete lack of studies investigating how an organism′s internal morphology changes in response to environmental drivers. Consequently, ecology as a scientific discipline has so far almost neglected the possibilities arising from modern microscale imaging techniques. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments of X‐ray computed tomography as an affordable, simple method of high spatial resolution, allowing insights into three‐dimensional anatomy both in vivo and ex vivo. We review ecological studies using this technique to investigate the three‐dimensional internal structure of organisms. In addition, we provide practical comparisons between different preparation techniques for maximum contrast and tissue differentiation. In particular, we consider the novel modality of phase contrast by self‐interference of the X‐ray wave behind an object (i.e., phase contrast by free space propagation). Using the cricket Acheta domesticus (L.) as model organism, we found that the combination of FAE fixative and iodine staining provided the best results across different tissues. The drying technique also affected contrast and prevented artifacts in specific cases. Overall, we found that for the interests of ecological studies, X‐ray computed tomography is useful when the tissue or structure of interest has sufficient contrast that allows for an automatic or semiautomatic segmentation. In particular, we show that reconstruction schemes which exploit phase contrast can yield enhanced image quality. Combined with suitable specimen preparation and automated analysis, X‐ray CT can therefore become a promising quantitative 3D imaging technique to study organisms′ responses to environmental drivers, in both ecology and evolution.

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“…There is a huge variety of image processing and image analysis methods that are all tailored for the ultimate goal to quantify the complex, structural heterogeneity based on a few meaningful parameters (Kaestner et al, 2008;Vogel et al, 2010;Schlüter et al, 2014). The changes in the internal structure can be assessed statistically, e.g., by comparing the pore size distribution or pore connectivity averaged over different samples at two points in time (Jégou et al, 2002;Schlüter et al, 2011). Evidently, spatially explicit information about the internal displacement of particles or aggregates is excluded from analysis in such an approach.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

X-ray microtomography analysis of soil structure deformation caused by centrifugation

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Centrifugation provides a fast method to measure soil water retention curves over a wide moisture range. However, deformation of soil structure may occur at high angular velocities in the centrifuge. The objective of this study was to capture these changes in soil structure with X-ray microtomography and to measure local deformations via digital volume correlation. Two samples were investigated that differ in texture and rock content. A detailed analysis of the pore space reveals an interplay between shrinkage due to drying and soil compaction due to compression. Macroporosity increases at moderate angular velocity because of crack formation due to moisture release. At higher angular velocities, corresponding to capillary pressure of ψ < −100 kPa, macroporosity decreases again because of structure deformation due to compression. While volume changes due to swelling clay minerals are immanent in any drying process, the compaction of soil is a specific drawback of the centrifugation method. A new protocol for digital volume correlation was developed to analyze the spatial heterogeneity of deformation. In both samples the displacement of soil constituents is highest in the top part of the sample and exhibits high lateral variability explained by the spatial distribution of macropores in the sample. Centrifugation should therefore only be applied after the completion of all other hydraulic or thermal experiments, or any other analysis that depends on the integrity of soil structure.

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Impact of soil compaction on earthworm burrow systems using X-ray computed tomography: preliminary study

Cited by 68 publications

References 17 publications

Earthworm services for cropping systems. A review

Earthworm services for cropping systems. A review

X‐ray computed tomography and its potential in ecological research: A review of studies and optimization of specimen preparation

X-ray microtomography analysis of soil structure deformation caused by centrifugation

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