Effects Of Earthworms Research Articles

16S rDNA sequencing reveal synergistic effects of silkworm feces and earthworms on nutrient-poor soil microbial community structure and function in Guangxi.

16S rDNA sequencing reveal synergistic effects of silkworm feces and earthworms on nutrient-poor soil microbial community structure and function in Guangxi.

The effect of clay minerals, litter quality, and earthworms on soil organic matter storage; clay macro-porosity is more important than surface area

The effect of clay minerals, litter quality, and earthworms on soil organic matter storage; clay macro-porosity is more important than surface area

Earthworms Significantly Alter the Composition, Diversity, Abundance and Pathogen Load of Fungal Communities in Sewage Sludge from Different Urban Wastewater Treatment Plants.

Management of sewage sludge is of ongoing concern because this waste product is generated continuously and contains high levels of harmful constituents. Among these constituents, fungal pathogens are of increasing concern. Vermicomposting can reduce the amounts of bacterial pathogens in sewage sludge; however, information about the effects of earthworms on fungal pathogens is limited or non-existent. We therefore aimed to determine whether vermicomposting can control fungal pathogens present in sewage sludge. Using next-generation sequencing techniques, we characterized fungal communities in sewage sludge from eight wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and in casts (feces) of earthworms feeding on sewage sludge. Fungal communities in earthworm casts primarily included taxa that were absent from sewage sludges, indicating a significant change in fungal composition. Changes in fungal diversity depended on the source of sewage sludge (WWTP). All of the sewage sludges contained low levels of fungal pathogens, most of which were significantly reduced or eliminated by earthworms, such as Armillaria, Cystobasidium, Exophiala and Ophiosthoma. Moreover, earthworm gut transit enhanced beneficial (saprotrophic) fungi like Arthrobotrys, Aseroe, Crepidotus and Trichurus. Overall, digestion of sewage sludge by earthworms alone generated a mainly pathogen-free fungal community with a high proportion of saprotrophic taxa, which would enhance nutrient cycling rates.

Short-term effects of microplastics and earthworms on greenhouse gases emissions from a sandy-loam soil

Short-term effects of microplastics and earthworms on greenhouse gases emissions from a sandy-loam soil

Non‐Native Earthworms Alter Carbon Sequestration in Arctic Tundra Ecosystems

AbstractEarthworms, as detritivores, play a significant role in breaking down soil organic carbon (SOC). The introduction of non‐native earthworms to arctic ecosystems has, therefore, raised concerns about the potential impact they may have on one of the world's largest SOC reservoirs. Earthworms could also have considerable effects on plant productivity, and the lack of experimental studies quantifying their impact on carbon (C) reservoirs in both soil and plants makes it difficult to predict the effect of earthworms on ecosystem C storage. Here we experimentally tested how earthworms known to be non‐native to arctic ecosystems (Aporrectodea spp. and Lumbricus spp.) affect C reservoirs in soil and plants (above and belowground separately) in two common tundra vegetation types (heath and meadow). Earthworms lowered the mean SOC pool and substantially altered SOC quality in meadow soils by increasing the proportion of aromatic‐C compounds. Simultaneously, earthworms increased the C pool stored in plant biomass, which counteracted earthworm‐induced SOC losses in meadow ecosystems. A positive earthworm effect on belowground biomass in heath soil facilitated a net ecosystem uptake of ∼0.84 kg C m−2 over the 4‐year study period. The higher C uptake into plant biomass in the heath resulted in a notable increase of SOC but lower δ13C values, likely because of recently captured C being sourced from roots or litter. Our observations of vegetation‐specific feedbacks between plants, earthworms, and soils advance our understanding of non‐native earthworms' impact on SOC dynamics and C budgets in high‐latitude ecosystems.

Effects of Earthworms (Allolobophora longa) on Potassium, Zinc and Manganese Availability Enhancement in a Clay Loam Soil

Effects of Earthworms (Allolobophora longa) on Potassium, Zinc and Manganese Availability Enhancement in a Clay Loam Soil

16S rRNA sequencing reveals synergistic effects of silkworm feces and earthworms on soil microbial diversity and resilience under elevated temperatures

16S rRNA sequencing reveals synergistic effects of silkworm feces and earthworms on soil microbial diversity and resilience under elevated temperatures

Earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve salt tolerance in maize through symplastic pathways.

Symplastic pathways involving plasma membrane H+-ATPases and Na+/H+ antiporters maintain sodium (Na+) homeostasis in the symplastic pathways and protect plant functions under salt stress. In this study, we characterised the effects of earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on Na+ absorption and transport in roots. Measurements of root Na+ content, plasma membrane H+-ATPase and Na+/H+ antiporter and antioxidant enzyme activities were performed together with transcriptome analysis. The addition of earthworms and AMF under saline conditions decreased the accumulation of Na+ in maize roots and significantly increased the root K:Na ratios, as well as increasing the levels of transcripts encoding plasma membrane H+-ATPases, Na+/H+ antiporters, antioxidant enzymes and proteins involved in nitrogen and phosphorus uptake under saline conditions. The transcript changes induced by earthworms and AMF indicate that abscisic acid mediates the effects on salt tolerance. Taken together, these findings suggest that earthworms and AMF improve the salt tolerance of maize seedlings through improved symplastic pathways.

Global engineering effects of soil invertebrates on ecosystem functions.

The biogenic structures produced by termites, ants and earthworms provide key functions across global ecosystems1,2. However, little is known about the drivers of the soil engineering effects caused by these small but important invertebrates3 at the global scale. Here we show, on the basis of a meta-analysis of 12,975 observations from 1,047 studies on six continents, that all three taxa increase soil macronutrient content, soil respiration and soil microbial and plant biomass compared with reference soils. The effect of termites on soil respiration and plant biomass, and the effect of earthworms on soil nitrogen and phosphorus content, increase with mean annual temperature and peak in the tropics. By contrast, the effects of ants on soil nitrogen, soil phosphorus, plant biomass and survival rate peak at mid-latitude ecosystems that have the lowest primary productivity. Notably, termites and ants increase plant growth by alleviating plant phosphorus limitation in the tropics and nitrogen limitation in temperate regions, respectively. Our study highlights the important roles of these invertebrate taxa in global biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functions. Given the importance of these soil-engineering invertebrates, biogeochemical models should better integrate their effects, especially on carbon fluxes and nutrient cycles.

Enriched Vermicompost Made through Bio Waste of Soybean Stover (Dry Matter) and Fresh Cow Dung Using Earthworms (Eisenia fetida spp.)

This investigation was associated with different materials and techniques on bio-fertilizer application in soybean stover (dry matter) and fresh Cow dung for effect of bio fertilizer and earthworms (Eisenia fetida sp.) on bio waste decomposition. This study was analyzed by RBD (Randomized Block Design) with 6 treatments have to bio fertilizers combination i.e. (E1-control, E2- Rhizobium, E3- Rhizobium+ PSB, E4-Rhizobium+ KSB, E5-Rhizobium+ PSB+KSB, and E6-Rhizobium+ PSB+ KSB+ Trichoderma) and earthworms with 4 replications. The research was conducted at MRPC in Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, JNKVV, Jabalpur during the Rabi season of 2021-22 and 2022-23. The result interpreted by partial decomposition, duration of completion, conversion rate and recovery percentage of vermicomposting. The result revealed that partial decomposition (kg) found in enriched vermicompost higher to lower sequence i.e. E5 (7.11 kg)> E3 (7.18 kg) > E2 (7.19 kg) > E4 (7.20 kg) = E6 (7.20 kg) > E1 (7.28 kg) from initial weight (10 kg). The production of enriched vermicompost maximum found in E6 (5.58, 5.63 and 5.61 kg pot-1) within respective duration (42, 40 and 41 days) of vermicomposting in sequent years and statically pooled analysis. Conversion rate and recovery percentage of enriched vermicompost were increase with the combination of bio-agents. This investigation useful to making vermicompost using of agricultural waste through bio-fertilizer.

Effects of Earthworm (Pheretima communisima) extract on atopic dermatitis: An in vitro and in vivo study.

Effects of Earthworm (Pheretima communisima) extract on atopic dermatitis: An in vitro and in vivo study.

Rice-fish co-culture promotes multiple ecosystem services supporting increased yields

Rice-fish co-culture promotes multiple ecosystem services supporting increased yields

The effects of roots and earthworms on aggregate size distribution and their associated carbon under contrasting soil types and soil moisture conditions

The effects of roots and earthworms on aggregate size distribution and their associated carbon under contrasting soil types and soil moisture conditions

How the effect of earthworms on soil organic matter mineralization and stabilization is affected by litter quality and stage of soil development

Globally soil fauna consumes about half of the annual litter fall. An important question is how this activity affects the mineralization and stabilization of soil organic matter. Here we explore how much earthworms influence the decomposition of litter and the stabilization of organic matter in soils at various stages of soil development (various soil age) that are supplied with litter of various quality. The laboratory mesocosms consist of litter and a mineral layer. The mineral soils originated either from spruce and alder stands growing either on post-mining soils (young soils after about 50 years of soil development) or from soils in the close vicinity of post-mining sites (mature soils with several thousand years of soil development), the mineral soils were supplied by matching litter, the mesocosms were either without earthworms or with two individuals of earthworms. The earthworm effect showed statistically significant interaction with tree and soil age: earthworms increased respiration in both alder soils, but in spruce soils only in mature soil, while the opposite was true for young soils. In general, earthworms promoted the removal of litter from the soil surface and carbon accumulation in the mineral soil. Earthworms promoted C storage in mineral associated organic matter (MAOM), especially in young spruce soils. The results suggested that earthworm activity in young soils which were far from saturation (spruce on post-mining soils) promotes soil C sequestration by promoting C storage in MAOM, whereas earthworms in mature, C saturated soils tend to promote soil respiration. More broadly, earthworms effect on soil depends on stage of soil C saturation.

A pilot-scale evaluation of residual sludge quality in a worm-sludge treatment reed bed in the Mediterranean region

A pilot-scale evaluation of residual sludge quality in a worm-sludge treatment reed bed in the Mediterranean region

Response of earthworm enzyme activity and gut microbial functional diversity to carbendazim in the manured soil.

The effect of pesticide pollution on environmental microorganisms in soil has become the focus of widespread concern in society today. The response of earthworm gut and surrounding soil microbial functional diversity and enzyme activity to carbendazim (CBD) was studied in a soil-earthworm ecosystem amended with manure. In the experiment, CBD was added to the manured soil (MS). Meanwhile, the pesticide treatment without manure and the control treatment without pesticides were also set up. The activities of catalase (CAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were measured to evaluate the toxicity of CBD. The Biolog method was used to assess the functional diversity of the microbial community. In the 2 mg/kg CBD treatment, earthworm AChE activity decreased significantly in the MS after 14 d, which occurred earlier than in the un-manured soil (NS). The changes of earthworm CAT activity in the pesticide treatments showed a trend of initially increasing and then maintaining at a high activity level. However, the CAT activities at 28 d in the manured soils were clearly lower than that at 7 d for both the CBD treatments, while they remained stable in the control treatments. The carbon source utilization, Simpson index, Shannon index, and McIntosh index of soil microorganisms in the MS treatments were significantly higher than those in the NS treatments. The overall activity of earthworm gut microorganisms in the MS treated with 2 mg/kg CBD was higher than that in the control. Also, CBD treatment (2 mg/kg) increased significantly the Simpson index and McIntosh index of earthworm gut microorganisms. The results indicated that the enzyme activities in the manured soils increased before 7 d for the pesticide treatments. Furthermore, exposure to CBD at a high concentration in the MS not only led to the earlier inhibition of earthworm enzyme activity but also significantly improved the overall activity of earthworm gut microorganisms and microbial functional diversity. This study revealed the ecotoxicological effects of earthworms in response to pesticide stress following the use of organic fertilizers under facility environmental conditions, which can provide a theoretical basis for the remediation of pesticide pollution in soil in the future.

Effects of feeding earthworm or vermicompost on early life performance of broilers under challenging dietary conditions

We investigated if feeding earthworms (EW) or vermicompost (VC) to broilers improves performance and aids in coping with dietary challenges from a soluble non-starch polysaccharide (NSP)-enriched diet (negative control diet; CON-). Newly-hatched male Cobb-500 birds (N = 480) were fed either a positive (+) control diet (CON+, n = 240) or CON+ supplemented with either 1% EW (CON+EW; n = 120) or 1% VC in DM (CON+VC; n = 120) for 8 d (Period 1; P1). At the end of P1, blood and intestinal samples were taken from half the birds in each group. Half of remaining birds on CON+ stayed on CON+ for further 8 d (P2; d9-16) or switched to CON-. Birds on CON+EW and CON+VC in P1 were switched to CON- in P2 (CON-EW and CON-VC, respectively). The CON+VC improved (P < 0.05) BW and ADG in P1 through an elevated feed intake (FI) (P < 0.05) with no effect on FCR. CON+EW did not differ from the CON+ in terms of growth and FI in P1. In P2 CON- did not affect growth or DMI relative to CON+. In the end of P2, 10% of CON+ birds had pasty vent (PV). CON- increased incidence of PV and CON-VC aggravated this effect (P < 0.05), whereas CON-EW did not differ from CON+. CON- diet reduced proportion of 16S rDNA in colon digesta (P = 0.049), while CON-EW and CON-VC did not differ from CON+. Compared to CON-, CON-EW tended to decrease (P = 0.072) incidence of PV. Ceca were heavier (P < 0.05) in CON-EW than in CON+ fed birds. In conclusion, the challenge diet induced PV and reduced bacterial 16S rDNA in colon digesta, likely due to soluble NSP-induced anti-nutritive effects. VC supplementation enhanced early growth by increasing feed intake. Provision of EW did not impact performance but decreased incidence of PV and increased cecal size, suggesting that potential inoculation with beneficial microorganisms may counteract NSP effects.

Effects of earthworms on the performance of Lolium multiflorum, soil properties and microbial communities in its root-zone soil under cadmium stress

Effects of earthworms on the performance of Lolium multiflorum, soil properties and microbial communities in its root-zone soil under cadmium stress

Compost quality, earthworm activities and microbial communities in biochar-augmented vermicomposting of dewatered activated sludge: the role of biochar particle size

Vermicomposting utilizes the synergistic effect of earthworms with microorganisms to accelerate the stabilization of organic matter in biowastes. Nevertheless, the exact mechanism behind the maturity of vermicompost and the growth of earthworms exposed to biochar of varying particle sizes remains unclear. This study presents an investigation of the effect of biochar particle size on earthworm (Eisenia fetida) survival, microbial diversity, and the quality of vermicompost products. To address these issues, pelletized dewatered sludge samples from a municipal sewage treatment plant were amended with pine-based biochar with particle sizes of 1–2 mm, 25–75 μm, 200 nm, and 60 nm as the substrate for vermicomposting. This study revealed that the addition of millimeter-scale biochar and micron-scale biochar significantly promoted the degradation of organic matter since the organic matter in the treatment with 1–2 mm biochar at the end of the vermicomposting experiment decreased by 12.6%, which was equivalent to a 1.9-fold increase compared with that of the control. Excessive nanopowdering of nanobiochar significantly affected the survival of earthworms and led to 24.4–33.3% cumulative mortality, while millimeter-scale (mm) biochar and micron-scale (μm) biochar achieved zero mortality. The findings of this study could be used for evaluating the potential impact of nanoscale biochar to earthworms and guiding biochar-augmented vermicomposting.Graphical

Effects of earthworm and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation on carbon component accumulation and allocation in rocky desertification soils.

Exploring the responses of carbon component accumulation and allocation to arbuscular mycocorrhizal fungi (AM) and earthworm inoculation can provide reference for improving carbon sequestration potential and bioremediation efficiency in rocky desertification soils. In this study, we chose Fraxinus malacophylla as the host plant to inoculate with Funneliformis mosseae (FM), earthworm (E), and E+FM, using no earthworm and mycorrhizae addition as CK to examine the spatiotemporal variations in soil carbon components (i.e., total organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, easily oxidized organic carbon, and recalcitrant organic carbon) and their allocation (i.e., microbial biomass carbon/total organic carbon, easily oxidized organic carbon/total organic carbon, and recalcitrant organic carbon/total organic carbon). The results showed that 1) The respective and interactive inoculation of E and AM significantly promoted the accumulation of each carbon component. In contrast with the control, the average carbon component levels under three inoculation treatments were ranked as E+FM>E>FM. The three inoculation treatments significantly promoted soil microbial carbon/total organic carbon (30.5%-68.5%) and easily oxidized carbon/total organic carbon (31.2%-39.2%), but decreased recalcitrant organic carbon/total organic carbon (2.9%-16.2%). 2) The spatiotemporal variation in accumulation and allocation of soil carbon components varied between the inoculation treatments. The maximum value of each carbon component occurred in June. The increase in each carbon component was significantly higher in E+FM (33.0%-122.1%) than that in E (31.2%-95.4%) and FM (9.2%-41.3%). The maximum value of microbial biomass carbon/total organic carbon and easily oxidized organic carbon/total organic carbon was observed in June, while that of recalcitrant organic carbon/total organic carbon was recorded in December. In contrast with CK, the amplitude of variation in the proportion of carbon components in total organic carbon under the three inoculation treatments was ranked as E+FM>E>FM. The accumulation and allocation of all carbon components decreased (9.7%-146.2%) along the soil profile. The level of carbon components in the E treatment decreased the smallest. The microbial biomass carbon/total organic carbon and easily oxidized carbon/total organic carbon decreased the least and the recalcitrant organic carbon/total organic carbon decreased the greatest under the E+FM treatment. 3) Changes in soil physicochemical properties under the three inoculation treatments significantly affected the accumulation and allocation of organic carbon components. Soil pH was negatively correlated with carbon component accumulation and allocation, whereas other soil variables were positively correlated with them. 4) The results of principal component analysis showed that soil water content, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus were the main factors driving carbon component accumulation, while soil water content, total phosphorus, and pH were the main factors controlling carbon component allocation. Therefore, we concluded that the earthworms, AM fungi and their interaction affected the accumulation and allocation of carbon components in Yunnan rocky desertification soils, which would primarily depend on the changes of soil water content, acid-base property, as well as nitrogen and phosphorus conditions.