Rapid redistribution and long-term aggregation of mulch residues by earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris)

Abstract

There has been minimal study of how ecosystem engineering anecic earthworms such as Lumbricus terrestris L. may influence the distribution of mulch amendments across the soil surface by collecting residues into middens. The two primary research objectives of this study were: (1) to determine how rapidly earthworms change the surface distribution of mulch following amendment, and (2) to produce a more spatially explicit map of earthworm aggregation of mulch. This study used a microcosm experiment to assess the immediate, short-term impacts of earthworms on recently added mulch at a small scale, and an opportunistic field study of the longer-term impacts of earthworms on the distribution of corn ‘stubble’ mulch in a former agricultural field. In the microcosm experiment, earthworms rapidly redistributed mulch within the first week post amendment, decreasing initial ground cover (15-29% decrease). Over the subsequent five weeks, initial cover continued to decrease (20-45% decrease) as mulch was spread thinly onto adjacent, initially bare soil (49-69% increase). Higher mulch amendment mitigated losses in initial cover. In the field study, earthworms aggregated mulch across the soil surface, collecting 40% of the woody corn residues into 17% of the total area in regularly distributed middens. These results demonstrate the potential for L. terrestris to alter the distribution of mulch rapidly in the first several days and weeks following application and in the longer term over several years, increasing the spatial heterogeneity of soil resources. This physical redistribution has only been minimally investigated and may help inform models of earthworm impacts on various ecological processes and improve soil amendment and residue management in earthworm-occupied soils.