Earthworm Populations Research Articles

Conservation Horticulture in Mango Orchards: Comparative Effects of Conventional and Conservation Management Practices on Soil Properties of an Alfisol under Seasonally Dry Tropical Savanna Climate

<p>Conservation horticulture is a new concept in management of soil health under perennial horticultural cropping systems. Experiments conducted reasonably over a long period on such soil management systems provide valuable information about sustainability of production systems. This paper reports the results of comprehensive investigations on soil chemical, physical, biochemical and biological properties of soils under conventional and conservation horticulture practices over a long period in drylnd mango orchards on Alfisols. Effects of conservation tillage, inter cropping and cover cropping on soil carbon fractions was measured by determination of loss on ignition, organic carbon (OC) and active carbon (AC). Soil biochemical properties were evaluated by measuring glomalin and extracellular enzymatic activities viz., dehydrogenase, urease, phosphomonoestrase and arylsulphatase and measurement of soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and carbon mineralization. Biological status was evaluated by estimating bacterial, actinobacterial and fungal populations, earthworms, micro arthropods and centipedes. Soil physical status was assessed by measuring bulk density, soil moisture status and infiltration rates.</p><p>Conservation horticultural practices improved the quality of soil, especially near the surface, by lowering the bulk density and enhancing infiltration rate. The soil aggregate formation and water stability have enhanced in plots with conservation practices because of higher production of glomalin compared with vegetable and orchard plots where conventional practices were followed. Relationship between measured infiltration and soil properties showed high average IRs in conservation plots due to high organic matter content, low bulk density values and enhanced exchangeable basic cations. Vegetable plots and conventional mango plots showed complete decline in earthworm and centipede population while plots with conservation practices showed a build-up of their population. Microbial and biochemical properties significantly improved in plots with conservation horticultural practices over orchard plots with conventional practices. Legumes as inter and cover crops were found to be superior in improving soil quality than sweet potato.</p>

Vermiwash allows reduced application rates of acaricide azocyclotin for the control of two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, on bean plant (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a cosmopolitan mite. It reproduces very rapidly and can also develop resistance to chemicals easily. Vermiwash is the watery extract of vermicomposts, extracted in the presence of rich population of earthworms, with plant growth promoting effects. The study was carried out to determine the efficacy of vermiwash and its combination with acaricide azocyclotin compared to the acaricide alone for control of T. urticae on bean plant under the laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Combinations of vermiwash and the acaricide obviously reduced the population density of T. urticae on bean plant. When the 50% of recommended rate of the acaricide and vermiwash were used, percentage of mortality (100%) of T. urticae was statistically comparable to those with the full rate of acaricide (1gl−1) without vermiwash. It may be suggested that combination of vermiwash with the acaricide can be a promising candidate for biological control of T. urticae on the bean plant reducing the application of the chemical pesticide up to 50%.

Preliminary evidence of differences in cadmium tolerance in metal-free stocks of the standard earthworm test species Eisenia andrei (Oligochaeta).

To test whether metal-tolerant and metal-sensitive earthworm specimens could be an inherent part of metal-free earthworm populations, (i) we used DNA barcoding to identify and categorize earthworms from 8 populations of the standard test species Eisenia andrei, and (ii) the earthworms carrying three of the identified COI haplotypes (named Hap1, hap3 and Hap3) were paired up and exposed to Cd in order to assess the difference in Cd sensitivity between the breeding pairs. A total of six breeding pairs were exposed to 0, 25, 50 and 100mg Cd/kg for 4weeks at 20°C. The survival of the breeding pairs, their change in biomass and cocoon production were assessed. For all of the endpoints assessed, the results indicated that couple 6 (Hap3×Hap3) was the most sensitive breeding pair whereas couple 4 (Hap1×Hap3) was the least sensitive one. The analysis of Cd tissue contents revealed that with increasing Cd concentration, Cp6 (Hap3×Hap3) could accumulate significantly more Cd than any other breeding pair (p≤0.01). Our findings indicate that E. andrei may harbour intrinsically Cd-tolerant and Cd-sensitive individuals and that this may be due to individual differences in Cd accumulation kinetics. In the context of ecotoxicological testing, our results underline the importance of using genetically diverse populations in laboratory testing to prevent generating flawed data from genetically homogeneous laboratory stocks. Although we do not regard the present mitochondrial haplotypes as proxy for possibly nuclear encoded traits, we discuss the necessity of a standardised earthworm barcoding protocol that could help not only to confirm the taxonomy of laboratory earthworm stocks but also to select genetically diverse stocks suitable for laboratory testing.

Developmental response of Spodoptera litura Fab. to treatments of crude volatile oil from Piper betle L. and evaluation of toxicity to earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae Kinb.

Evaluations of biological effects of (Pb-CVO) the crude volatile oil of Piper betle leaves on the tobacco cutworm Spodoptera litura were conducted. Pb-CVO was subjected to GC-MS analysis and twenty vital compounds were isolated from the betel leaf oil. Pb-CVO was tested at four different concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%) against S. litura. The treated insects exhibited dose depended mortality. The mortality rate was significantly higher at the 1.0 and 1.5% Pb-CVO. The LC50 (Lethal concentration) were observed at 0.48% Pb-CVO. Larval and pupal durations increased in all treatment concentrations (0.25, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5%) whereas, pupal weight decreased compared to control. Adult longevity of S. litura was reduced in all treatments but predominantly in the 0.4 and 0.5% Pb-CVO. Correspondingly, mean fecundity rate was reduced at all concentrations compared to control. Histological studies of larvae mid-gut profiles of S. litura were severely damaged in 1.0 and 1.5% and showed abnormalities in mid-gut cells with 0.25 and 0.5% Pb-CVO treatments. Earthworm toxicity illustrated that 0.1% of chemical insecticides (monocrotophos and cypermethrin) varied widely in their contact toxicities compared to 0.5 and 1.0% Pb-CVO and control in both contact filter paper and artificial soil test. These findings suggest that twenty essential compounds of betel leaf oil were significant inhibitors of the development and caused behavioral changes of S. litura. Treatment with betel leaf oil at these concentrations had no adverse effect on earthworm populations.

Influence of stocking density on the vermicomposting of an effluent treatment plant sludge amended with cow dung.

This paper reports the effect of earthworm population density on the vermicomposting of effluent treatment plant sludge of a bakery industry. Four waste mixtures containing 0, 10, 20, and 30% sludge along with cow dung with five different worm population densities were established for 14weeks under controlled moisture and temperature conditions. The results showed that average worm biomass, growth and cocoon production were lesser at higher population densities. Sexual maturity was attained in 3rd to 5th week in all waste mixtures. Worm growth was inversely related to worm population density in the waste mixture. Results also indicated that lower worm population is favorable to worm biomass production. On the other hand, mineralization and stabilization of the waste mixtures were more at higher worm populations.

Effects of rubber leaf litter vermicompost on earthworm population and yield of pineapple (Ananas comosus) in West Tripura, India

Rubber leaves are the abundant agro-waste and pineapple, the most economically important fruit crop in Tripura. So, in our present study, different amounts of rubber leaf vermicompost have been applied to the soils of pineapple plantation to determine their effects on earthworms—the soil ecosystem engineers, coupled with the vegetative growth and yield of pineapples. During 30 months of field trial (2010–2012) in ICAR regional station, Lembucherra, West Tripura, the control plot (T 0) received no fertilizer, while experimental plots were fertilized with four different amounts of vermicompost viz. T 1 (5 tons ha−1 year−1), T 2 (10 tons ha−1 year−1), T 3 (20 tons ha−1 year−1) and T 4 (30 tons ha−1 year−1). A significant (p < 0.05) but gradual increase in density (up to T 3 treatment) and biomass (up to T 4 treatment) of earthworms were recorded with the increasing amounts of vermicompost. During the second year, average length and width of leaves, number of leaves per plant, plant girth, fruit weight, fruit yield and fruiting percentage were highest in the T 3 plot compared to other treated plots and control. The present study reveals that crop yield is very much related to the particular concentration of vermicompost, beyond the level of which production declines and increase in vegetative growth, fruit weight and fruiting percentage of pineapple are strongly linked with the soil pH, av. P, av. K, clay content and the earthworm density of soils.

Occasional reduced tillage in organic farming can promote earthworm performance and resource efficiency

Reduced tillage has several advantages over conventional tillage (CT), including the promotion of earthworm communities and the reduction of input of energy and labour. However, its application in organic farming is mainly hindered through increasing weed pressure. One way to counteract this drawback might be to introduce occasional reduced tillage (ORT), which means applying methods of reduced tillage only in combination with selected crops. Against this background we hypothesized that (i) ORT rapidly promotes biomass, abundance and species richness of earthworm communities and that (ii) ORT generates a financial surplus for farmers. Therefore, a field experiment was established for triticale (x Triticosecale) cultivation on loamy soils in Northern Germany. The influence of tillage regimes on earthworms was investigated in a non-randomized design with n=3 fields for the ORT and CT treatment. Earthworm biomass, abundance and species richness were investigated in October 2012 and in April and October 2013. Yields were determined for the three fields under each tillage system, each field with four non-randomized replicates, before harvest in 2013. The ORT treatment consisted of two to three tillage operations prior to seeding with a maximal cultivation depth of 15cm and without ploughing, whereas the CT treatment consisted of a ploughing depth of 25–30cm and one to four other steps for seedbed preparation prior to seeding. In total, seven earthworm species were identified. Our data revealed that earthworm biomass was significantly reduced under CT, both four weeks and about seven months after tillage. This effect holds true for the number of earthworm individuals in autumn (four weeks after ploughing), but not for the number of earthworm individuals in spring (seven months after ploughing). Results of contribution margin analysis showed no consistent trend referring to tillage measures. Two fields, which performed well under CT, showed a financial surplus (+24% and +13%) when managed with ORT. At the same time one field, performing poorly under CT, generated financial deficits (-10%) under ORT. Overall ORT had immediate positive effects on earthworm populations. Furthermore, this management scheme might have positive effects on the economic outcomes of organic crop rotations if overall growing conditions are sufficient. Along with methods usually applied to investigate earthworm performance, we checked whether the number of surface casts could help estimate earthworm performance. It became apparent that the number of surface casts cannot be used as a general predictor of earthworm performance. The number of individuals of Lumbricus terrestris, the number of anecic individuals and the total earthworm biomass can be estimated the most reliable by counting surface casts.

Soil Contamination and Its Impact on Earthworm Population Number around Areas of Paradeep Phosphate Limited, Paradeep

Soil Contamination and Its Impact on Earthworm Population Number around Areas of Paradeep Phosphate Limited, Paradeep

Comparison of earthworm populations in arable and grassland fields in the Outer Western Carpathians, South Poland

AbstractThe impact of different geographical regions (Silesian Foothills, region 1 and Maly Beskids, region 2), and method of soil use (arable field and grassland) on the main soil properties and biological activity was studied. Earthworm biomass, density and diversity, as well as dehydrogenase activity, were analysed. Significant soil physical and chemical properties were more affected by regions, whereas the type of land use had a greater impact on the biological properties. The mean earthworm density was 213 ind. m

Physiological adaptation and metabolic property of earthworms in vermifiltration for liquid-state sludge stabilization using bulk stable isotope and specific fatty acid compound stable isotope values

The presence of earthworms in vermifilter (VF) led to the significant stabilization of sludge by enhancing the reduction in volatile suspended solids by 20.9%. The proliferation of earthworms feeding on the sludge was reflected by the observed increase of earthworm biomass, which indicated that earthworms adapt to VF environment well. Further investigation conducted using bulk stable isotope combined with specific fatty acid compound stable isotope technologies to determine physiological adaptation and metabolic property of VF earthworms. The observed injury of cuticle and the dense of goblet cells demonstrated that the earthworm was suffering from environment stress. However, earthworms could adjust their antioxidant enzyme systems to maintain their normal physiological function. Analyses of the bulk stable isotope and specific fatty acid compound stable isotope showed that the physical metabolism of earthworm hatchlings was more active than that of earthworm adults, which suggested that the increasing proportion of earthworm hatchings might be an effective way to optimize earthworm population structure in the VF system. Consequently, the improved treatment performance of sludge stabilization by vermifiltration was realized.

Recalibration of the earthworm tier 1 risk assessment of plant protection products.

In the first step of earthworm risk assessment for plant protection products (PPPs), the risk is assessed by comparing the no-observed effect levels (NOELs) from laboratory reproduction tests with the predicted exposure of the PPP in soil, while applying a trigger value (assessment factor [AF]) to cover uncertainties. If this step indicates a potential risk, field studies are conducted. However, the predicted environmental concentration in soil, which can be calculated, for example, for different soil layers (ranging from 0-1 cm to 0-20 cm), and the AF determine the conservatism that is applied in this first step. In this review paper, the tier 1 earthworm risk assessment for PPPs is calibrated by comparing the NOEL in earthworm reproduction tests with effect levels on earthworm populations under realistic field conditions. A data set of 54 pairs of studies conducted in the laboratory and in the field with the same PPP was compiled, allowing a direct comparison of relevant endpoints. The results indicate that a tier 1 AF of 5 combined with a regulatory relevant soil layer of 0 to 5 cm provides a conservative tier 1 risk assessment. A risk was identified by the tier 1 risk assessment in the majority of the cases at application rates that were of low risk for natural earthworm populations under field conditions. Increasing the conservatism in the tier 1 risk assessment by reducing the depth of the regulatory relevant soil layer or by increasing the tier 1 AF would increase the number of false positives and trigger a large number of additional field studies. This increased conservatism, however, would not increase the margin of safety for earthworm populations. The analysis revealed that the risk assessment is conservative if an AF of 5 and a regulatory relevant soil layer of 0 to 5 cm is used. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016;12:643-650. © 2015 SETAC.

Enrofloxacin at environmentally relevant concentrations enhances uptake and toxicity of cadmium in the earthworm Eisenia fetida in farm soils

Individual and combined effects of enrofloxacin (EF) and cadmium (Cd) on the earthworm Eisenia fetida at environmentally relevant concentrations were investigated. EF is a veterinary antibiotic; Cd is an impurity in phosphatic fertiliser. For both, residues may accumulate in farm soils. In laboratory tests, over 98% of spiked EF was adsorbed by farm soils, with a half-life >8 weeks. However, earthworms absorbed less than 20% of spiked EF. Earthworms in soil with EF concentration 10mgkg−1 soil experienced transient oxidative stress and exhibited reduced burrowing activity and respiration after an 8-week exposure; EF at 0.1 and 1.0mgkg−1 soil did not elicit toxicity symptoms. When both were added, Cd did not affect EF uptake, but each increment of spiked EF increased Cd bioaccumulation and associated oxidative stress of earthworms, and also caused decreased burrow length and CO2 production. However, metallothionein induction was not affected. The enhanced toxicity of Cd to earthworms in the presence of EF at low environmental concentrations may have implications for the health and reproductive success of earthworm populations and highlights the importance of understanding effects of antibiotic contamination of farm soils, and of awareness of environmental effects from interaction between multiple contaminants.

Herbicides and Earthworm population

Vermibiotechnology is the technique for management of biological wastes in to valuable rich nutrients vermicompost which is the best alternative of chemicals fertilizers for growth and productivity of crops. Since last decade abundant used of chemical fertilizers and herbicides have been made our soil sick and problematic. Herbicides are the plant growth hormones or chemicals generally use by large to small farmers for remove unwanted weeds devoid any proportional ratio. The earthworms are a bio-indicator of soil habitat. The continuous use of herbicides decreased the earthworm population in soil which ultimately declined the natural soil fertility. In this review summarized the toxic effect of herbicides on the earthworm population in different combinations of feed materials along with soil.

Earthworm: A Potential and Sustainable Source for Soil Fertility – An Altitude Based Biophysical Study

An altitude based study was undertaken in the present investigation to find out the status of ecological indices of earthworms in turn to assess the fertility of the soil. Evidences are ample to prove that the physico chemical factors of the environment /soil are responsible for greater ecological indices of earthworms. In the present investigation also it was proved that the earthworm abundance is responsible for the soil fertility for which supportive studies were made on 1. the population dynamics of earthworms, 2. Size of body pores on the skin of earthworms and the secretion of coelomic fluid and the 3. Physico chemical factors of the soil in the area surveyed. It was also found that the earthworm abundance was found to be greater in Meghamalai hills of Theni district compared to that of Sirumalai hills of Dindigul district but when the plains and hills of both the district were compared the earthworm population was found to be more in the plains. Atomic force microscopic studies were also made to measure the size of the body pores of the skin of earthworms of plains and hills. It was found that the number of body pores is more and their size is also larger in the earthworms of plain lands. As a result ceolomic fluid secretion was more. The coelomic fluid contains more than forty proteins and exhibits several biological activities and it supplements the soil with nutrients. Moreover, physical parameters of the soil samples of hills and plains such as rainfall and temperature and chemical parameters such as Ec, pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Boron, were found to be conducive for the growth and multiplication of earthworms in the soil of the plain lands than the hills. Hence, it can be concluded that the earthworm population has got its influence on soil fertility; the more the number of earthworms, more availability of coelomic fluid, which indirectly influences the fertility of the soil, enhances the economy of the nation and the world at large. In total the global worming suppresses global warming.

EFFECT OF FLY ASH ON CROP YIELD AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL, MICROBIAL AND ENZYME ACTIVITIES OF SODIC SOILS

Safe utilization of fly ash (FA) and reclamation of sodic soils are important environmental problems. In this study a field experiment was carried out with Vigna radiata L. crop using fly ash (FA) and phosphogypsum (PGY) as amendments in sodic soil during 2011 at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. V. radiata L. was sown in sodic soil amended with press mud (10 t ha-1) considered as control. Besides, 10 and 20 t ha-1 doses of FA and PGY were considered as other four treatments, respectively. The growth variables such as survival, root-shoot length, biomass production, number of pods and nodules were significantly higher in soil treated with 20 t ha-1 FA. Physico-chemical, biological and biochemical properties were analysed at the time of harvest. Our results showed that FA improves soil physical properties to a greater extent in comparison to PGY. However, pH and electrical conductivity showed adverse pattern, but soil organic carbon, nitrogen, microbial biomass (MB) and population of bacteria and earthworms were highest in the soils amended with 20 t ha-1 FA. The population of fungi was unaffected through these treatments. The variations in dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and -glucosidase were significant amongst the treatments and showed enzyme specific trends. The study suggests that FA had positive effect on crop growth as well as physicochemical, microbial and enzymatic activities. Therefore, FA in combination with press mud can be used for an efficient reclamation of sodic soils.

Earthworms stimulate pasture production in sheep and beef systems: their economic value

Earthworms have long been recognised to promote plant growth but their contribution to pasture production in managed pastures may be undervalued. At three field sites pasture production was measured in an area where surface active communities were found compared to a more diverse area where the additional deep burrowing earthworm Aporrectodea longa had been introduced. Caution is needed when interpreting the results, as all data are from paired areas and not replicates. The influence of earthworms on pasture production was positively correlated with the difference in abundance of the topsoil species Aporrectodea caliginosa, with this species being more abundant in the presence of A. longa at two sites. Overall, the value of diverse earthworm communities to pasture production was estimated to be $365-$440/ha annually. In managed pasture systems there is need to recognise the value of maintaining and enhancing earthworm populations. Keywords: pasture production, earthworm functional diversity

Species Richness, Community Organization, and Spatiotemporal Distribution of Earthworms in the Pineapple Agroecosystems of Tripura, India

The impact that plant communities may have on underground faunal diversity is unclear. Therefore, understanding the links between plants and organisms is of major interest. Earthworm population dynamics were studied in the pineapple agroecosystems of Tripura to evaluate the impact of monoculture plantation on earthworm communities. A total of thirteen earthworm species belonging to four families and five genera were collected from different sampling sites. Application of sample-based rarefaction curve and nonparametric richness estimators reveal 90–95% completeness of sampling. Earthworm community of pineapple agroecosystems was dominated by endogeic earthworms andDrawida assamensiswas the dominant species with respect to its density, biomass, and relative abundance. Vertical distribution of earthworms was greatly influenced by seasonal variations. Population density and biomass of earthworms peaked during monsoon and postmonsoon period, respectively. Overall density and biomass of earthworms were in increasing trend with an increase in plantation age and were highest in the 30–35-year-old plantation. Significant decrease in the Shannon diversity and evenness index and increase in Simpson’s dominance and spatial aggregation index with an increase in the age of pineapple plantation were recorded. Soil temperature and soil moisture were identified as the most potent regulators of earthworm distribution in the pineapple plantation.

Sustainable assessment of a vegetable farm using grass mulch in Japan

Grass mulch is a traditional farming practice until the 1900’s and now only organic farmers use this practice. Farmers believes it has many benefits sush as preventing soil erosion, decreasing weed pressure, supplying nutrients to soil and preserving soil moisture. However, there is little study on grass mulch. Therefore the effects on soil properties, soil fauna and yield by grass mulch with different farming practices were examined at an experimental field in Ibaraki Universiry in Japan in 2014. The study revealed additional grass mulch and dead leaves compost increased eggplant yields with increases of soil earthworm population and micrbiological activities. Additions of these organic matters provided habitats for soil animals improved soil aggregate structure. As a result, it accelerated mineralization of nitrogen and reduced N 2 O emissions in NT sites. Therefore grass mulch could be a good practice to promote sustainable agriculture. Keywords: grass mulch, soil biodiversity, vegetable, environmentally-friendly farming

Earthworm interactions with denitrifying bacteria are scale-dependent: Evidence from physiological to riparian ecosystem scales

Earthworms are implicated in denitrification, the microbially mediated reaction that results in gaseous nitrogen (N2O and N2) loss from terrestrial ecosystems. At the physiological scale, the anaerobic earthworm gut is a favorable microsite for endemic and transient denitrifiers that produce up to 11nmolN2Og−1 earthwormh−1. Besides this direct earthworm–denitrifier interaction, the earthworm's ability to consume, fragment and mix organic residues with soil will accelerate N mineralization and create suitable conditions for opportunistic soil denitrifiers. At the drilosphere scale, earthworm biostructures (burrows, casts) and earthworm-worked soil create gradients of redox conditions and are enriched in inorganic N and soluble C substrates used by denitrifiers. Therefore, earthworms indirectly stimulate soil N2O emissions by soil denitrifiers. Although these small-scale effects may imply that ecosystems with large earthworm populations are more likely to lose N through denitrification, there is scant experimental data to confirm this supposition. Evidence from simulated streams and agroecosystems suggests that earthworms can stimulate N2O emissions at the ecosystem-scale, but environmental factors (temperature and moisture) may overwhelm earthworm-induced denitrification. A critical review of earthworm–denitrifier interactions in riparian buffers, a hotspot for both groups of organisms, indicated that hydrodynamics controls denitrification during flooding periods by profoundly changing soil moisture and substrate concentrations that favor denitrifier activity. Earthworm effects on denitrifiers may be detected during drier periods. Thus, earthworm–denitrifier interactions cannot be extrapolated from the physiological- and drilosphere-level to explain denitrification in riparian ecotones due to seasonal variation in hydrological processes occurring at this scale.

Effects of cattle manure compost combined with chemical fertilizer on topsoil organic matter, bulk density and earthworm activity in a wheat–maize rotation system in Eastern China

Cattle manure compost (CMC) combined with chemical fertilizer (CF) was applied to a wheat–maize rotation field, in Eastern China, to assess soil physical and chemical properties, biological activity and land productivity. Indicators of organic matter, carbon storage and sequestration, bulk density, water content, total N content and earthworm population from topsoil (0–20cm) were quantified. This consecutive study (2009–2014) was carried out on the base of the same total N, P, K application rate (375.0kg Nha−1yr−1, 92.4kg P2O5ha−1yr−1 and 316.3kg K2Oha−1yr−1) in each treatment that was fertilized. Six treatments were designed as: (1) CK, without any fertilizer; (2) NPK, 100% CF; (3) NPKM1, 25% CMC combined with 75% CF; (4) NPKM2, 50% CMC combined with 50% CF; (5) NPKM3, 75% CMC combined with 25% CF; and (6) CM, 100% CMC. The results demonstrated that organic matter, water content, total N content and earthworm density from topsoil were significantly and positively (P≤0.01) related to CMC input, with significantly negative correlation being observed between soil bulk density and CMC input. The average annual yield of the wheat–maize rotation system significantly increased (P≤0.05) in NPK, NPKM1, NPKM2, NPKM3, and CM compared with CK, with the highest yield being obtained from NPKM1. Applying merely CF not only led to the lower SOM, water content and total N content, but also resulted in negative effects on earthworm activity, while CMC alleviated such negative effects. Our finding may help to increase food supply by improving soil conditions with organic fertilizer compost application.