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| Titel |
Temporal variation in earthworm abundance and diversity along
hedgerow-to-field transects in contrasting agricultural land uses |
| VerfasserIn |
Miranda T. Prendergast-Miller, David Jones, Mark E. Hodson |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2017
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
en
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 19 (2017) |
| Datensatznummer |
250142101
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 EGU/EGU2017-5676.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Earthworms are regarded as ecosystem engineers, integral to soil processes such as
aggregation, nutrient cycling, water infiltration, plant growth and microbial function.
Earthworm surveys were conducted for one year on hedge-to-field transects in arable and
pasture fields (Yorkshire, UK). The transects incorporated hedgerow and field margin habitats
and extended 60 m into the arable or pasture field. At defined distances, earthworm
abundance and biomass were recorded, and earthworms were identified to species and
ecological group. Soil density, moisture and temperature were also measured. Additional
transects were surveyed on experimental plots with arable-to-ley conversions in the arable
fields (wheat crop to grass-clover ley), and tilled plots in the pasture fields (grass-clover ley to
wheat crop). The conversion plots were established to determine the benefit of grass-clover
leys on soil function; and the tilled pasture plots were established to compare the
impact of conventional or minimum tillage practices on earthworm abundance and
diversity.
A baseline survey was conducted before establishment of the experimental ley and tillage
plots. The results showed differences in earthworm abundance, with greater earthworm
numbers in the pasture soils compared to arable soils. In both soils, abundance of ecological
group was endogeic > epigeic > anecic, and each group was dominated by the same
species: Allolobophora chlorotica, Lumbricus castaneus and Apporectodea longa.
After one year of treatment, there was some indication of increased earthworm
abundance in the arable-to-ley conversion strips. Conversely, tillage in the pasture plots
tended to reduce earthworm abundance, and conventional tillage tended to have the
greater impact. However, within these major changes, there was also evidence of
spatial (distance along transect; field location) and temporal (seasonal) variation on
earthworm abundance. Although conversion to ley or tillage did not alter the pattern of
ecological grouping, there were changes in species diversity which will also be
discussed.
This earthworm study is part of a larger project which aims to (1) link soil biodiversity
(microbes, soil fauna) with soil function (productivity, water infiltration, drought resilience),
and (2) demonstrate the benefits of grass-clover leys and minimum tillage in boosting
soil biodiversity, soil function, and hence, sustainable agricultural productivity. |
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