Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of earthworm addition on soil nitrogen availability, microbial biomass and litter decomposition in mesocosms

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biology and Fertility of Soils Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of adding two tropical earthworm species, Rhinodrilus contortus and Pontoscolex corethrurus, to mesocosms on the availability of mineral N (NH4 + and NO3 − concentrations), soil microbial biomass (bio-N), and the decomposition rates of three contrasting leaf litter species, in a glasshouse experiment. The mesocosms were filled with forest soil and covered with a layer of leaf litter differing in nutritional quality: (1) Hevea brasiliensis (C/N=27); (2) Carapa guianensis (C/N=32); (3) Vismia sp., the dominant tree species in the second growth forest (control, C/N= 42); and, (4) a mixture of the former three leaf species, in equal proportions (C/N=34). At the end of the 97-day experiment, the soil mineral N concentrations, bio-N, and leaf litter weight loss were determined. Both earthworm species showed significant effects on the concentrations of soil NO3 − (p<0.01) and NH4 + (p<0.05). Bio-N was always greater in the mesocosms with earthworms (especially with R. contortus) and in the mesocosms with leaf litter of H. brasiliensis (6 µg N g−1 soil), the faster decomposing species, than in the other treatments (0.1–1.6 µg N g−1). Thus, earthworm activity increased soil mineral-N concentrations, possibly due to the consumption of soil microbial biomass, which can speed turnover and mineralization of microbial tissues. No significant differences in decomposition rate were found between the mesocosms with and without earthworms, suggesting that experiments lasting longer are needed to determine the effect of earthworms on litter decomposition rates.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson JM, Huish SA, Ineson P, Leonard MA, Splatt PR (1985) Interactions of invertebrates, micro-organisms and tree roots in nitrogen and mineral element fluxes in deciduous woodland soils. In: Fitter AH, Atkinson D, Read DJ, Usher MB (eds) Ecological interactions in soil. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, pp 377–392

  • Araujo Y (2000) Oligoquetos sob adição de liteira e sua relação com a disponibilidade de nitrogênio em solos de capoeira na Amazônia central. Master Thesis, INPA/UA, Manaus

  • Atlavinyte O, Lugauskas A (1971) The effect of lumbricidae on soil microorganisms. Ann Zool Ecol Anim Spec Publ 4:73–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Barois I, Verdier B, Kaiser P, Mariotti A, Rangel P, Lavelle P (1987) Influence of the tropical earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus (Glossoscolecidae) on fixation and mineralization of nitrogen. In: Boncini AM, Omodeo P (eds) On earthworms. Mucchi, Modena, pp 151–159

  • Barros E (1999) Effet de la macrofauna sur la structure et les processus physiques du sol de paturages degrades d’Amazonie. These de Doctorat, Université Paris 6

  • Barros E, Curmi P, Hallaire V, Chauvel A, Lavelle P (2001) Role of macrofauna in the transformation and reversibility of soil structure of an Oxisol during forest to pasture conversion. Geoderma 100:193–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barros E, Pashanasi B, Constantino R, Lavelle P (2002) Effects of land-use system on the soil macrofauna in western Brazilian Amazonia. Biol Fert Soils 35:338–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck L, Höfer H, Martius C, Garcia M, Franklin E, Römbke J (1998) Soil fauna and litter decomposition in primary forest, secondary forest and polyculture systems in Amazonia—study design and methodology (SHIFT Project ENV 52) In: Lieberei R, Voss K, Bianchi H (eds) Proc 3rd SHIFT Worksh, Manaus, Brazil, pp 463–469

  • Blair JM, Parmelee RW, Allen MF, McCartney DA, Stinner BR (1997) Changes in soil N pools in response to earthworm population manipulations in agroecosystems with different N sources. Soil Biol Biochem 29:361–367

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blanchart E, Bruand A, Lavelle P (1993) The physical structure of Millisonia anomala (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) casts in shrub savanna soils (Côte d’Ivoire). Geoderma 56:119–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohlen PJ, Edwards CA (1995) Earthworm effect on N dynamics and soil respiration in microcosms receiving organic and inorganic nutrients. Soil Biol Biochem 27:341–348

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brookes PC, Landman A, Pruden G, Jenkinson DS (1985) Chloroform fumigation and the release of soil nitrogen: a rapid direct extraction method to measure microbial biomass nitrogen in soil. Soil Biol Biochem 17:837–842

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Decaens T, Lavelle P, Jimenez JJ, Escobar G, Rippstein G (1994) Impact of land management on soil macrofauna in the Oriental Llanos of Colombia. Eur J Soil Biol 30:157–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Decaens T, Rangel AF, Asakawa N, Thomas J (1999) Carbon and nitrogen dynamics in ageing earthworm casts in grasslands of the Eastern Plains of Colombia. Biol Fert Soils 30:20–28

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fragoso C, Brown GG, Patrón JC, Blanchart E, Lavelle P, Pashanasi B, Senapati B, Kumar T (1997) Agricultural intensification, soil biodiversity and agroecosystem function in the tropics: the role of earthworms. Appl Soil Ecol 6:17–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González G, Zou X, Borges S (1996) Earthworm abundance and species composition in abandoned tropical croplands: comparisons of tree plantations and secondary forests. Pedobiologia 40:385–391

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerra RT (1988) Ecologia dos Oligochaeta da Amazônia. II Estudo da estivação e da atividade de Chibui bari (Glossoscolecidae, Oligochaeta), através da produção de excrementos. Acta Amazonica 18:27–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerra RT, Asakawa N (1981) Efeito da presença e do número de indivíduos de Pontoscolex corethrurus (Glossoscolecidae, Oligochaeta) sobre a população total de microorganismos do solo. Acta Amazonica 11:319–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Jennings DH (1989) Some perspectives on nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism in fungi. In: Boddy L, Marchant R, Read DJ (eds) Nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur utilization by fungi. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 1–31

  • Jiménez JJ, Moreno AG, Decaens T, Lavelle P, Fisher MJ, Thomas RJ (1998) Earthworm communities in native savannas and man-made pastures of the Eastern Plains of Colombia. Biol Fert Soils 28:101–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lavelle P (1988) Earthworm activities and the soil system. Biol Fert Soils 6:237–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavelle P (2000) Ecological challenges for soil science. Soil Sci 165:73–86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lavelle P, Pashanasi B (1989) Soil macrofauna and land management in Peruvian Amazonia (Yurimaguas, Loreto). Pedobiologia 33:283–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavelle P, Barois I, Cruz I, Fragoso C, Hernandez A, Pineda A, Rangel P (1987) Adaptive strategies of Pontoscolex corethrurus (Glossoscolecidae, Oligochaeta), a peregrine geophagous earthworm of the humid tropics. Biol Fert Soils 5:188–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavelle P, Bignell D, Lepage M, Wolters V, Roger P, Ineson P, Heal OW, Dhillion S (1997) Soil function in a changing world: the role of invertebrate ecosystem engineers. Eur J Soil Biol 33:159–193

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee K (1985) Earthworms: their ecology and relationships with soils and land use. Academic Press, New York

  • Luizão FJ (1985) Influência da calagem e adubação orgânica na mesofauna e em algumas propriedades físicas de um Latossolo Amarelo textura argilosa. Rev Bras Ci Solo 9:81–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Luizão FJ, Schubart HOR (1987) Litter production and decomposition in ‘terra firme’ forest of the Central Amazonia. Experientia 43:259–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard DG, Kalra YP (1993) Nitrate and exchangeable ammonium nitrogen. In: Carter MR (ed) Soil sampling and methods of analysis. Lewis Publishers, New York, pp 25–38

  • Palm CA, Sanchez PA (1990) Decomposition and nutrient release patterns of the leaves of three tropical legumes. Biotropica 22:330–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Parle JN (1963) A microbial study of earthworm casts. J Gen Microbiol 31:13–22

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pashanasi B, Melendez G, Szott L, Lavelle P (1992) Effect of inoculation with endogeic earthworm Ponstoscolex corethrurus (Glossoscolecidae) on N availability, soil microbial biomass and the growth of three tropical fruit tree seedlings in a pot experiment. Soil Biol Biochem 24:1655–1659

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Römbke J, Verhaagh M (1992) About earthworm communities in a rain forest and an adjacent pasture in Peru. Amazoniana 12:29–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheu S (1987) Microbial activity and nutrient dynamics in earthworm casts (Lumbricidae). Soil Biol Biochem 5:230–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw C, Pawluk S (1986) Faecal microbiology of Octolasion tyrtaeum, Aporrectodea turgida and Lumbricus terrestris and its relation to carbon budgets of three artificial soils. Pedobiologia 29:327–339

    Google Scholar 

  • Wardle D, Lavelle P (1997) Linkages between soil biota, plant litter quality and decomposition. In: Cadisch G, Giller KE (eds) Driven by nature. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 107–125

  • Wilkinson L (1996) SYSTAT 6.0 for Windows. SPSS, Chicago, Illinois

Download references

Acknowledgements

Funding was provided by projects PNOPG/CNPq 400033/99-2 and PPI 1-3200 INPA. Dr. Ilse Walker is thanked for the use of laboratory facilities in part of the work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrícolas (INIA-Mérida), Avenida Urdaneta, Edificio del Ministerio de Agricultura y Tierras, Piso 2, Mérida, Mérida, Venezuela

    Yelinda Araujo

  2. National Institute for Research in Amazonia (INPA), P.O. Box 478, 69011-970, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

    Flavio J. Luizão & Eleusa Barros

Authors
  1. Yelinda Araujo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Flavio J. Luizão
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eleusa Barros
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yelinda Araujo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Araujo, Y., Luizão, F.J. & Barros, E. Effect of earthworm addition on soil nitrogen availability, microbial biomass and litter decomposition in mesocosms. Biol Fertil Soils 39, 146–152 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-003-0696-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-003-0696-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation