Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 320-323 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Soil and Tillage Research |
| Volume | 104 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2009 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Earthworms are the major component of the soil fauna in temperate agro-ecosystems. Land use and soil management are widely reported to influence earthworm populations. We report simple laboratory experiments in which earthworm survival was tested against uniaxial loads for a range of soil conditions. Across all the experimental conditions 86% of earthworms survived. While greater loads (up to 800 kPa) over longer exposure times (up to 60 s) decreased survival; even under the most severe test conditions 33% of earthworms survived. Our results suggest that decreased earthworm populations in compacted soil are not due to uniaxial loading alone, but may be the result of shearing the soil during loading or from changes to the soil properties.
Keywords
- Earthworms, Soil compaction, Stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Agronomy and Crop Science
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Soil Science
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
- Earth-Surface Processes
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Soil and Tillage Research, Vol. 104, No. 2, 07.2009, p. 320-323.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Soil compaction by uniaxial loading and the survival of the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa
AU - McKenzie, B. M.
AU - Kühner, S.
AU - MacKenzie, K.
AU - Peth, S.
AU - Horn, R.
PY - 2009/7
Y1 - 2009/7
N2 - Earthworms are the major component of the soil fauna in temperate agro-ecosystems. Land use and soil management are widely reported to influence earthworm populations. We report simple laboratory experiments in which earthworm survival was tested against uniaxial loads for a range of soil conditions. Across all the experimental conditions 86% of earthworms survived. While greater loads (up to 800 kPa) over longer exposure times (up to 60 s) decreased survival; even under the most severe test conditions 33% of earthworms survived. Our results suggest that decreased earthworm populations in compacted soil are not due to uniaxial loading alone, but may be the result of shearing the soil during loading or from changes to the soil properties.
AB - Earthworms are the major component of the soil fauna in temperate agro-ecosystems. Land use and soil management are widely reported to influence earthworm populations. We report simple laboratory experiments in which earthworm survival was tested against uniaxial loads for a range of soil conditions. Across all the experimental conditions 86% of earthworms survived. While greater loads (up to 800 kPa) over longer exposure times (up to 60 s) decreased survival; even under the most severe test conditions 33% of earthworms survived. Our results suggest that decreased earthworm populations in compacted soil are not due to uniaxial loading alone, but may be the result of shearing the soil during loading or from changes to the soil properties.
KW - Earthworms
KW - Soil compaction
KW - Stress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67349226133&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.still.2009.04.004
DO - 10.1016/j.still.2009.04.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:67349226133
VL - 104
SP - 320
EP - 323
JO - Soil and Tillage Research
JF - Soil and Tillage Research
SN - 0167-1987
IS - 2
ER -