Effect of Earthworms on Soil Moisture Changes and Physical Properties in Agricultural Fields Under No-tillage

doi:10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb2022-0429

Abstract

Abstract:

The study aims to investigate the effects of earthworm activity on soil moisture content, soil aggregates and soil bulk density in agricultural fields under no-tillage condition, and to reveal the influencing mechanism of earthworm population size on soil moisture changes and physical properties. Under no-tillage condition, four inoculation levels of NT₀ (control, 0 earthworm/m²), NT₂₀ (2 earthworms/m²), NT₅₀ (5 earthworms/m²) and NT₁₀₀ (11 earthworms/m²) were set as experimental variables. The results showed that: (1) earthworm activity increased soil moisture content (0.32%-20.06%) at 0-100 cm soil depth, and soil moisture content was influenced by the number of earthworms inoculated; (2) earthworm activity increased the number and stability of soil macroaggregates, increased the percentage of soil agglomerates in the 0.25-0.5, 2-5 and >5 mm grain classes; (3) inoculation with sufficient numbers of earthworm reduced soil bulk density in the surface layer (0-10 cm), and inoculation with earthworm increased soil bulk density in the bottom layer of the plough (10-20 cm); (4) soil moisture content was significantly negatively correlated (P<0.01) with 2-5 mm grain-size aggregates and significantly positively correlated (P<0.05) with soil bulk density (10-20 cm). The results of the study could provide a scientific basis and technical support for finding suitable tillage methods and appropriate number of earthworm inoculation in the Guanzhong small mound area.

Key words: earthworm activity, soil moisture content, soil aggregates, soil bulk density, relevance analysis

XIONG Lijun, MA Li, LIU Meize, LI Yinan. Effect of Earthworms on Soil Moisture Changes and Physical Properties in Agricultural Fields Under No-tillage[J]. Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin, 2023, 39(16): 77-81.

Figures/Tables 5

References 19

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处理	有机碳/(g/kg)	全氮/(g/kg)	全磷/(g/kg)	黏粒/%	粉粒/%	砂粒/%
NT₀	6.44	0.88	0.79	33.16	40.43	26.41
NT₂₀	6.69	0.78	0.74	32.14	38.66	29.21
NT₅₀	6.92	0.67	0.67	33.30	41.08	25.62
NT₁₀₀	7.40	0.80	0.73	33.01	41.38	25.61

处理	有机碳/(g/kg)	全氮/(g/kg)	全磷/(g/kg)	黏粒/%	粉粒/%	砂粒/%
NT₀	6.44	0.88	0.79	33.16	40.43	26.41
NT₂₀	6.69	0.78	0.74	32.14	38.66	29.21
NT₅₀	6.92	0.67	0.67	33.30	41.08	25.62
NT₁₀₀	7.40	0.80	0.73	33.01	41.38	25.61

处理	平均重量直径 (MWD)/mm	平均几何直径 (GMD)/mm	土壤容重/(g/cm³)
处理	平均重量直径 (MWD)/mm	平均几何直径 (GMD)/mm	0~10 cm	10~20 cm
NT₀	3.39±0.08b	1.45±0.01ab	1.28±0.03b	1.32±0.06b
NT₂₀	3.27±0.02b	1.36±0.02c	1.45±0.05a	1.49±0.05a
NT₅₀	3.41±0.12ab	1.42±0.02b	1.29±0.07b	1.48±0.06a
NT₁₀₀	3.61±0.05a	1.49±0.01a	1.22±0.05b	1.37±0.02b

处理	平均重量直径 (MWD)/mm	平均几何直径 (GMD)/mm	土壤容重/(g/cm³)
处理	平均重量直径 (MWD)/mm	平均几何直径 (GMD)/mm	0~10 cm	10~20 cm
NT₀	3.39±0.08b	1.45±0.01ab	1.28±0.03b	1.32±0.06b
NT₂₀	3.27±0.02b	1.36±0.02c	1.45±0.05a	1.49±0.05a
NT₅₀	3.41±0.12ab	1.42±0.02b	1.29±0.07b	1.48±0.06a
NT₁₀₀	3.61±0.05a	1.49±0.01a	1.22±0.05b	1.37±0.02b

	土壤含水量	<0.25 mm	0.25~0.5 mm	0.5~1 mm	1~2 mm	2~5 mm	>5 mm	GMD	MWD	土壤容重(0~10 cm)	土壤容重(10~20 cm)
土壤含水量	1
<0.25 mm	0.769	1
0.25~0.5 mm	0.785	0.980^*	1
0.5~1 mm	-0.063	0.491	0.549	1
1~2 mm	-0.548	-0.513	-0.358	0.353	1
2~5 mm	-0.996^**	-0.723	-0.731	0.153	0.59	1
>5 mm	0.188	-0.371	-0.434	-0.991^**	-0.449	-0.277	1
GMD	-0.13	-0.456	-0.586	-0.899	-0.525	0.039	0.885	1
MWD	-0.27	-0.513	-0.653	-0.832	-0.472	0.183	0.803	0.987^*	1
土壤容重(0~10 cm)	0.5	0.936	0.915	0.736	-0.337	-0.436	-0.644	-0.606	-0.61	1
土壤容重(10~20 cm)	0.971^*	0.88	0.908	0.179	-0.464	-0.945	-0.053	-0.34	-0.462	0.674	1