Leachate from Earthworm Castings Breaks Seed Dormancy and Preferentially Promotes Radicle Growth in Jute

Ayanlaja, S.A.; Owa, S. O.; Adigun, M.O.; Senjobi, Bola; Olaleye, A. O.

doi:10.21273/hortsci.36.1.143

Cited by 31 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…As indicated in Fig. 6, earthworms affect four of seven life stages directly (survival of post‐dispersal seed predation: Grant 1983, Thompson et al 1994, storage in soil: Thompson et al 1994, germination: Ayanlaja et al 2001 and seedling survival: Lee 1985) reflecting the capacity of earthworms to drive plant recruitment and plant community composition. Surprisingly, the majority of the previous studies concentrated on indirect effects of earthworms on plants (reviewed by Scheu 2003, Brown et al 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Surface‐foraging species such as Lumbricus terrestris are effective in burying seeds, while the surface casts produced by many species often contain seeds (McRill and Sagar 1973, Grant 1983, Thompson et al 1994, Milcu et al 2006). Thereby, earthworms may affect seedling establishment by a variety of mechanisms, through selective ingestion and digestion of seeds (McRill and Sagar 1973, Shumway and Koide 1994, Eisenhauer 2008), downward or upward seed transport (Grant 1983, Eisenhauer et al 2008) and acceleration (Ayanlaja et al 2001, Eisenhauer 2008) or delaying of seed germination (Grant 1983, Decaens et al 2001). A grassland field study by Thompson et al (1994) indicated that the composition of seeds in bulk soil and earthworm casts differ; seeds in earthworm casts were substantially smaller (<0.3 mg) than the majority of plant seeds of the soil seed bank (0.3–1 mg).…”

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Invasibility of experimental grassland communities: the role of earthworms, plant functional group identity and seed size

Eisenhauer¹,

Scheu²

2008

Oikos

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Invasions of natural communities by non-indigenous species threaten native biodiversity and are currently rated as one of the most important global-scale environmental problems. The mechanisms that make communities resistant to invasions and drive the establishment success of seedlings are essential both for management and for understanding community assembly and structure. Especially in grasslands, anecic earthworms are known to function as ecosystem engineers, however, their direct effects on plant community composition and on the invasibility of plant communities via plant seed burial, ingestion and digestion are poorly understood.In a greenhouse experiment we investigated the impact of Lumbricus terrestris, plant functional group identity and seed size of plant invader species and plant functional group of the established plant community on the number and biomass of plant invaders. We set up 120 microcosms comprising four plant community treatments, two earthworm treatments and three plant invader treatments containing three seed size classes.Earthworm performance was influenced by an interaction between plant functional group identity of the established plant community and that of invader species. The established plant community and invader seed size affected the number of invader plants significantly, while invader biomass was only affected by the established community. Since earthworm effects on the number and biomass of invader plants varied with seed size and plant functional group identity they probably play a key role in seedling establishment and plant community composition.Seeds and germinating seedlings in earthworm burrows may significantly contribute to earthworm nutrition, but this deserves further attention. Lumbricus terrestris likely behaves like a 'farmer' by collecting plant seeds which cannot directly be swallowed or digested. Presumably, these seeds are left in middens and become eatable after partial microbial decay. Increased earthworm numbers in more diverse plant communities likely contribute to the positive relationship between plant species diversity and resistance against invaders.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasibility of experimental grassland communities: the role of earthworms, plant functional group identity and seed size

Eisenhauer¹,

Scheu²

2008

Oikos

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“…2003). Selective ingestion and digestion of seeds (McRill & Sagar 1973; Shumway & Koide 1994); downward or upward seed transport (Hurka & Haase 1982; Grant 1983); acceleration (Ayanlaja et al . 2001); or delaying seed germination (Grant 1983; Decaens et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) affect plant seedling recruitment and microhabitat heterogeneity

2006

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Summary1. The effects of the anecic earthworm Lumbricus terrestris L. on plant seedling recruitment and spatial aggregation were investigated in a microcosm glasshouse experiment by varying plant seed size (small and large); functional groups (grasses, legumes, herbs); plant species diversity (1, 3, 6); and plant functional group diversity (1, 3). 2. Generally, earthworms buried seeds quickly irrespective of seed size and species. Secondary seed dispersal (phase II dispersal) by earthworms affected plant community composition depending mainly on seed size but less on plant functional group identity and diversity: small-seeded species were repressed whereas large-seeded were promoted. 3. Although, in general, recruitment of seedlings was less in the presence of L. terrestris , recruited seedlings benefited from establishing in the vicinity of earthworm burrows. The strong aggregation of plants in the vicinity of earthworm burrows resulted in plant communities with a more heterogeneous small-scale architecture. Earthworm burrows and middens acted as an important regeneration niche for emergent seedlings by reducing microsite and nutrient limitations. 4. In conclusion, seed dispersal, seed burial, seedling recruitment, and the spatial distribution of seedlings of plant species of different functional groups and with a wide range of seed size are strongly affected by L. terrestris , and this probably affects plant community composition.

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“…Indeed, physicochemical and microbiological properties are closely interlinked and contribute together to nutrient cycling in casts (Brown et al, 2000;Scheu, 1987;Sheehan et al, 2008). On a larger scale, the impact of such soil-earthworm interactions on cast properties should be better describe to predict the subsequent effects on seed germination, seedling and plant growth (Ayanlaja et al, 2001;Decaëns et al, 2003;Forey et al, 2011;Scheu, 2003). A better understanding of the way earthworm effects on cast properties depend on soil type would help predict the effects of invasive earthworms on natural habitats (Hendrix and Bohlen, 2002).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The interactions between soil type and earthworm species determine the properties of earthworm casts

Clause

Richard

Decaëns

et al. 2014

Applied Soil Ecology

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Leachate from Earthworm Castings Breaks Seed Dormancy and Preferentially Promotes Radicle Growth in Jute

Cited by 31 publications

References 8 publications

Invasibility of experimental grassland communities: the role of earthworms, plant functional group identity and seed size

Invasibility of experimental grassland communities: the role of earthworms, plant functional group identity and seed size

Earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) affect plant seedling recruitment and microhabitat heterogeneity

The interactions between soil type and earthworm species determine the properties of earthworm casts

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