Abstract
In most terrestrial ecosystems, earthworms are considered to be excellent bioindicators of biodiversity and soil quality. However, their diversity and abundance encountered depend on the systems considered and on the anthropic pressure exerted. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of a land use on the earthworm community. Earthworms were collected in TSBF (Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility) type monoliths by the direct manual sorting method in three types of farms (fallow, rubber plantation and mangosteen plantation) in the locality of Azaguié. Measurements of the physicochemical parameters of the soil, in particular, the total organic carbon level, the organic matter rate, the nitrogen rate, the conductivity, the hydrogen potential (pH) and the total phosphorus were carried out at the Laboratory Central of Agrochemistry and Ecotoxicology (LCAE) from 200 g of clod of soil sampled in different monoliths. These studies showed that in all the plots analyzed, the endogeic polyhumic worms presented the highest densities while the epigeic detritivorous worms presented the lowest densities. The distribution of earthworms in the mangosteen plot was homogeneous, unlike that of the other plots. However, the physico-chemical parameters of the soils were higher in the fallow. The canonical correspondence analysis carried out to assess the relationship between the variability of the earthworm density of the plots and the physicochemical parameters measured showed that the physicochemical parameters measured explained only a substantial part of this distribution of earthworms while the other part is possibly linked to other environmental factors.
Highlights
Environmental degradation due to inappropriate land use is a global problem that is becoming a growing concern in sustainable agricultural production systems (Ayoubi et al, 2011)
The canonical correspondence analysis carried out to assess the relationship between the variability of the earthworm density of the plots and the physicochemical parameters measured showed that the physicochemical parameters measured explained only a substantial part of this distribution of earthworms while the other part is possibly linked to other environmental factors
Given the importance of earthworms in agricultural practices, this study aims to assess the impact of some land-use patterns on the earthworm community in the Azaguiéregion
Summary
Environmental degradation due to inappropriate land use is a global problem that is becoming a growing concern in sustainable agricultural production systems (Ayoubi et al, 2011). Many agricultural tillage activities have been identified as having irreversible consequences on the structure and dynamics of soil organisms such as earthworms, ants and termites (Montgomery, 2007; Evans et al, 2011). These organisms play an important role in transforming the litter available for ecosystem functioning (Wardle, 2002). They are qualified as ecosystem engineers because of their great contribution to the recycling of biogeochemicals, which are the source of many ecosystem services (Lavelle et al, 2006) These organisms participate in the decomposition of organic matter and the bioavailability of nutrients for plants and soil microorganisms. Other studies carried out on farms have shown that earthworm densities are generally between 50 and 400 worms per
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