Earthworm abundance increases aggregate stability: A field study in a Mediterranean agroforestry system

Filipa Reis*, Eduardo Nascimento, Cristina Cruz, Teresa Dias, Katarina Hedlund, María J.I. Briones, Matty P. Berg, José Paulo Sousa, Pedro Martins da Silva

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Soil aggregate stability has been asserted as an indicator of soil quality. Earthworms are essential for the stability of soil aggregates due to their activities, including burrowing and organic matter decomposition. In this study, we focused on how differences in plant litter quality influences earthworm abundance and composition and, subsequently, macroaggregate stability in an agroforestry ecosystem. Litter from two dominant plant species (Quercus suber L. and Agrostis pourretii Willd.) were collected in an eco-intensively managed agroforestry ecosystem (eco-intensive farm) and in a neighbor conventionally managed agroforest (conventional farm). Then, a field experiment was implemented in the eco-intensive farm, composed of 6 litter treatments (control with no litter; Q. suber senescent leaves from the eco-intensive farm; A. pourretii tussocks from the eco-intensive farm; a mixture of the previous two; Q. suber senescent leaves from the conventional farm; A. pourretii tussocks from the conventional farm), replicated across 3 areas of the farm, with two blocks per area (a total of 6 replicates per treatment). Litter decomposition rates for the different treatments were quantified over 15 months. At the end of the experiment, soil from each treatment was sampled to measure macroaggregate stability and other soil parameters (i.e., moisture, organic matter, pH, TC, TOC, P, N, NO3, NH4+, humic and fulvic acids, water repellence), as well as earthworms. Earthworm abundance had a positive effect on macroaggregate stability (as expressed by the ratio between stable macroaggregates and the total amount of soil), irrespective of litter quality, while litter quality had no direct effect on macroaggregate stability. According to our study's findings, earthworms have a significant intervenient role in the stabilization of soil aggregates in Mediterranean agroforests. This emphasizes the necessity for soil management practices that maintain earthworm communities and their beneficial contributions to soil health.

Original languageEnglish
Article number105903
Pages (from-to)1-10
Number of pages10
JournalApplied Soil Ecology
Volume206
Early online date24 Jan 2025
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

  • Agroforestry
  • Earthworms
  • Plant litter
  • Soil aggregate stability

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Earthworm abundance increases aggregate stability: A field study in a Mediterranean agroforestry system'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this