Significance of earthworms in stimulating soil microbial activity

Binet, Françoise; Fayolle, Léon; Pussard, M.

doi:10.1007/s003740050403

Cited by 133 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…In addition, the fragmentation was also associated with microbes, whose population and activity were increased by earthworms (Toyota and Kimura, 2000;Binet et al, 1998). Results obtained by our previous experiments showed that in the presence of earthworms, the population of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungus in Beijing soil were much higher than those in the absence of earthworms .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…By ingesting organic debris, they enhance soil nutrients (for example C, N and P) availability beneficial to the plant growth. By excreting mucus and urine, they change the distribution and activity of microbes and soil biota (Binet et al, 1998;Toyota and Kimura, 2000;Salmon, 2001). Moreover, it has been reported that after treatment with earthworms, the fraction distribution of heavy metals is changed significantly, thus, affecting their bioavailability (Devliegher and Verstraete, 1996;Cheng and Wong, 2002;Ma et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) on the fractionation and bioavailability of rare earth elements in nine Chinese soils

Wen

Liu

et al. 2006

Chemosphere

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The effect of earthworm (Eisenia fetida) activity on soil pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), fraction distribution pattern and bioavailability of rare earth elements (REEs) Y, La, Ce, Pr and Nd in nine Chinese soils were investigated using pot experiments. A three-step extraction procedure recommended by the European Community (Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme) was used to fractionate REEs in soils into water soluble, exchangeable and carbonate bound (B1), Fe-and Mn-oxides bound (B2) and organic matter and sulfide bound (B3). Inoculated with earthworms, the soil pH, DOC and water-soluble rare earth elements fraction increased. A significant correlation was obtained between the increased DOC and the increased water-soluble REEs. REEs in fraction B1 increased after earthworm inoculation, while those in fraction B3 decreased. No significant differences were observed for REEs in fraction B2. The biomass and the concentrations of REEs in wheat shoots and roots increased after the treatment with earthworms. The results demonstrated that earthworm activity increased the mobility and bioavailability of REEs in soils.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) on the fractionation and bioavailability of rare earth elements in nine Chinese soils

Wen

Liu

et al. 2006

Chemosphere

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“…Secondly, on the other hand, earthworms may promote atrazine mineralization because they modify the size and diversity of soil bacterial and fungal communities (Clapperton et al, 2001;Tiunov and Dobrovolskaya, 2002;Orazova et al, 2003) and their metabolic activity (Binet et al, 1998;Tiunov and Scheu, 1999;Scheu et al, 2002). Thus, worms may stimulate pesticide-degrading bacteria, either because soil that has been burrowed by earthworms is more favorable for their growth through additional C and N resources, or because the bacteria are more widely dispersed and more likely to encounter the herbicide.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lumbricid macrofauna alter atrazine mineralization and sorption in a silt loam soil

Binet

Kersanté

Munier-Lamy

et al. 2006

Soil Biology and Biochemistry

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Atrazine is a widely used herbicide and is often a contaminant in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. It is uncertain, however, how the activity of soil macrofauna affects atrazine fate and transport. Therefore, we investigated whether earthworms enhance atrazine biodegradation by stimulating herbicide degrading soil microflora, or if they increase atrazine persistence by facilitating herbicide sorption. Short (43 d) and medium term (86 d) effects of the earthworms Lumbricus terrestris and Aporrectodea caliginosa on mineralization, distribution, and sorption of Uring-14 C atrazine and on soil C mineralization was quantified in packed-soil microcosms using silt loam soil. A priming effect (stimulation of soil C mineralization) caused by atrazine supply was shown that likely lowered the earthworm net effect on soil C mineralization in atrazine-treated soil microcosms. Although earthworms significantly increased soil microbial activity, they reduced atrazine mineralization to 14 CO 2 -C from15.2 to 11.7% at 86 d. Earthworms facilitated formation of non-extractable atrazine residues within C-rich soil microsites that they created by burrowing and ingesting soil and organic matter. Atrazine sorption was highest in their gut contents and higher in casts than in burrow linings. Also, gut contents exhibited the highest formation of bound atrazine residues (non-extractable atrazine). Earthworms also promoted a deeper and patchier distribution of atrazine in the soil. This contributed to greater leaching losses of atrazine in microcosms amended with earthworms (3%) than in earthworm-free microcosms (0.003%), although these differences were not significant due to high variability in transport from earthwormamended microcosms. Our results indicated that earthworms, mainly by casting activity, facilitated atrazine sorption, which increased atrazine persistence. As a consequence, this effect overrode any increase in atrazine biodegradation due to stimulation of microbial activity by earthworms. It is concluded that the affect of earthworms of atrazine mineralization is time-dependent, mineralization being slightly enhanced in the short term and subsequently reduced in the medium term.

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“…Earthworms are ubiquitous animals living in soils, affecting soil chemical and physical properties (Lee 1985;Pallant and Hilster 1996;Boyle et al 1997;Capowiez et al 2000;Ponder et al 2000), and the distribution and activity of microbes and soil animals (Binet et al 1998;Toyota and Kimura 2000;Salmon 2001). In addition, it has been reported that after earthworm activity, the fraction distribution of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Fe, Mn, Cr, Co, and Cu) is changed significantly, thus affecting the bioavailability of these metals (Devliegher and Verstraete 1996;Cheng and Wong 2002;Ma et al 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) in influencing bioavailability of heavy metals in soils

et al. 2004

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The effects of earthworm (Eisenia fetida) activity on soil pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial populations, fraction distribution and bioavailability of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Co, Ni, and Pb) in five Chinese soils were investigated using pot experiments. A three-step extraction procedure recommended by the European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR; now Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme of the European Community) was used to fractionate the metals in soils into water soluble, exchangeable and carbonate bound (B1), Fe-oxides and Mn-oxides bound (B2) and organic matter and sulfide bound (B3). After the soils were treated with earthworms, the soil pH, watersoluble metal fraction and DOC increased. A significant correlation was obtained between the increased DOC and the increased metals in the water-soluble fraction. The heavy metals in fraction B1 increased after earthworm treatments, while those in fraction B3 decreased. No significant differences were observed for heavy metals in fraction B2. The microbial populations in soil were enumerated with the dilution plate method using several media in the presence of earthworms. The microbial populations increased due to earthworm activity. The biomass of wheat shoots and roots, and the heavy metal concentrations in wheat roots and shoots, were also increased due to the earthworm activity. The present results demonstrated that earthworm activity increases the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals in soils.

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Significance of earthworms in stimulating soil microbial activity

Cited by 133 publications

References 27 publications

Effect of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) on the fractionation and bioavailability of rare earth elements in nine Chinese soils

Effect of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) on the fractionation and bioavailability of rare earth elements in nine Chinese soils

Lumbricid macrofauna alter atrazine mineralization and sorption in a silt loam soil

The role of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) in influencing bioavailability of heavy metals in soils

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