Abstract

The influence of the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa on the biomass and the proportion of active and dormant soil microorganisms after the addition of cut perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) to upper soil from agricultural field was studied in a microcosm experiment. During a 2-month period, soil samples were taken 1, 8, 22, 36, 50, and 64 days after cut grass addition. A substrate-induced respiration (SIR) method was used to analyse the samples for total microbial biomass and the distribution of active and dormant microbial biomass. It was found that the addition of grass increased the microbial biomass (SIR) because of an increase in the active microbial biomass. After the initially high values, the active microbial biomass decreased slowly, and at day 64, it was still higher in the grass-amended soils than in the control treatment without grass addition. After 1 day, the active microbial biomass was higher in the soil with A. caliginosa than without the earthworm. At the subsequent samplings, there were no differences in microbial biomass or the proportion of dormant vs active microorganisms between the grass-amended soils. The average from all sampling occasions of SIR was higher in earthworm-treated soil

Published in

Biology and Fertility of Soils
2007, Volume: 44, number: 1, pages: 223-228
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Svensson, Kalle

  • Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Friberg, Hanna

  • Department of Entomology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use
Agricultural Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-007-0200-3

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/15302