Back to Search
Start Over
Earthworm impact on the global warming potential of a no-tillage arable soil.
- Source :
- Biogeosciences Discussions; 2015, Vol. 12 Issue 15, p6325-6359, 35p, 5 Charts, 3 Graphs
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- We studied the effect of the deep-burrowing earthworm Lumbricus terrestris on the greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes and global warming potential (GWP) of arable no-till soil using both field measurements and a controlled 15 week laboratory experiment. In the field, the emissions of nitrous oxide (N<subscript>2</subscript>O) and carbon dioxide (CO<subscript>2</subscript>) were on average 43 and 32% higher in areas occupied by L. terrestris (the presence judged by the surface midden) than in adjacent, unoccupied areas (with no midden). The fluxes of methane (CH<subscript>4</subscript>) were variable and had no consistent difference between the midden and non-midden areas. Removing the midden did not affect soil N<subscript>2</subscript>O and CO<subscript>2</subscript> emissions. The laboratory results were consistent with the field observations in that the emissions of N<subscript>2</subscript>O and CO<subscript>2</subscript> were on average 27 and 13% higher in mesocosms with than without L. terrestris. Higher emissions of N<subscript>2</subscript>O were most likely due to the higher content of mineral nitrogen and soil moisture under the middens, whereas L. terrestris respiration fully explained the observed increase in CO<subscript>2</subscript> emissions. The activity of L. terrestris increased the GWP of field and laboratory soil by 50 and 18%, but only 6 and 2% of this increase was due to the enhanced N<subscript>2</subscript>O emission. Our results suggest that high N<subscript>2</subscript>O emissions commonly observed in no-tillage soils can partly be explained by the abundance of L. terrestris under no-till management and that L. terrestris can markedly regulate the climatic effects of different cultivation practises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- EARTHWORMS
GLOBAL warming
GREENHOUSE gases
CARBON dioxide
EMISSION control
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 18106277
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 15
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Biogeosciences Discussions
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 109031966
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-12-6325-2015