Summary
The equilibrium solution phosphate concentrations of mixtures of surface wormcasts and soil obtained from different depths were measured and from these concentrations, indices of the immobilization, by soil, of soluble phosphate from the wormcasts were derived. These were found to correlate with the nett P-adsorption capacity of soil taken from the same depths. It is suggested that the decrease in availability of soluble phosphate from wormcasts with increase in depth may result from an increase in adsorptive capacity for phosphate by the surrounding soil.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Asher C J and Loneragan J F 1967 Response of plants to phosphate concentration in solution culture. I. Growth of plants and phosphorus content. Soil Sci, 103, 225–233.
Bouche M B 1981 Contribution des lombriciens aux migrations d'elements dans les sols temperes. C. R. Colloq. Int. Cent. Nat. Rech., Nancy No. 303, 145–153.
Bouche M B 1983 Ecophysiologie des lombriciens: acquis recents et perspectives. Proc. VIII Int. Colloq. Soil Zool. Ed. Ph. Lebrunet al. Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 321–333.
Bouche M B, Rafidison Z and Toutain, F 1983 Etude de l'alimention et du brassage pedo-intestinal du lombricien Nicodrilus velox (Annelida, Lumbricidae) par l'analyse elementaire. Rev. Ecol. Biol. Sol 20, 49–75.
Cowie J D 1978 Soils and agriculture of Kairanga County. N.Z. Soil Bur. Bull. 33, 92 p.
Darwin, C 1881 The formation of vegetable mould through the action of worms with observations of their habits. John Murray, London, 326 p.
Evans A C 1948 Studies in the relationships between earthworms and soil fertility II. Some effects of earthworms on soil structure. Ann. Appl. Biol. 35, 1–3.
Jackman R H and Mouat M C H 1972 Competition between grass and clover for phosphate. II. Effect of root activity, efficiency of response to phosphate, and soil moisture. N. Z. J. Agric. Res. 15, 667–675.
Lunt H A and Jacobson M G M 1944 The composition of earthworm casts. Soil Sci. 58, 367–375.
Mackay A D, Springett J A, Syers J K and Gregg P E H 1983 Origin of the effect of earthworms on the availability of phosphorus in a phosphate rock. Soil Biol. Biochem. 15, 63–73.
Mansell G P, Syers J K and Gregg P E H 1981 Plant availability of phosphorus in dead herbage ingested by surface-casting earthworms. Soil Biol. Biochem. 13, 163–167.
Mouat M C H 1983 Phosphate uptake from extended soil solutions by pasture plants. N. Z. J. Agric. Res. 26, 483–487.
Mouat M C H 1984 Solution-phosphate concentration and maintenance-P applications in a hill soil. Proc. N. Z. Grassl. Assoc. 45, 77–82.
Mouat M C H and Keogh R G 1985. Enhancement of soluble phosphate in the soil profile by earthworms. Proc. N. Z. Grassl. Assoc. 47, 283–287.
Murphy J and Riley J P 1962. A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Anal. Chim. Acta 27, 31–36.
Sharpley A N and Syers J K 1976 Potential role of earthworm casts for the phosphorus enrichment of runoff waters. Soil. Biol. Biochem. 8, 341–346.
Sharpley A N and Syers J K 1977 Seasonal variation in casting activity and in the amounts and release to solution of phosphorus forms in earthworm casts. Soil Biol. Biochem. 9, 227–231.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mouat, M.C.H., Keogh, R.G. Adsorption by soil of water-soluble phosphate from earthworm casts. Plant Soil 97, 223–231 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374945
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374945