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Relationships between earthworm populations and management intensity in cattle-grazed pastures in Ireland
- Source :
- Applied Soil Ecology. 39:58-64
- Publication Year :
- 2008
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2008.
-
Abstract
- Earthworm (Lumbricidae) populations were assessed in three replicated, field experiments with different management intensities conducted on grassland research farms on medium-textured mineral soils, located at Solohead (Co. Tipperary), Grange (Co. Meath) and Johnstown Castle (Co. Wexford), Ireland. The experiment at Solohead involved four levels of mineral fertilizer application (80, 175, 225 and 350 kg N ha−1), and the plots were rotationally grazed by dairy cows. Three levels of mineral fertilizer application were compared at Johnstown Castle (0, 225 and 390 kg N ha−1) and two at Grange (100 and 225 kg N ha−1), and the plots at these sites were rotationally grazed by suckler cows and followers or dry cattle. Between 10 and 15 earthworm species were recorded per site, with Allolobophora chlorotica and Aporrectodea caliginosa being dominant. Other abundant species included Aporrectodea rosea, Aporrectodea longa, Lumbricus terrestris, Lumbricus friendi, Lumbricus festivus, Lumbricus rubellus and Satchellius mammalis. Mean earthworm population densities per treatment ranged from 203 to 324 individuals m−2 and biomass from 60 to 176 g m−2. ANCOVA revealed significant overall positive relationships between management intensity (as indicated by N application rate) and earthworm abundance (F = 4.47, p
- Subjects :
- geography
geography.geographical_feature_category
Ecology
biology
Earthworm
Soil Science
Allolobophora chlorotica
biology.organism_classification
Lumbricus rubellus
Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
Pasture
Agronomy
biology.animal
Grazing
Lumbricidae
Aporrectodea rosea
Lumbricus terrestris
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 09291393
- Volume :
- 39
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Applied Soil Ecology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........736e879ed7fa03ecd12b6d7a2f55c419