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Characteristics of Soil Moisture and Evaporation under the Activities of Earthworms in Typical Anthrosols in China

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  • Li Ma

    (Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    Key Laboratory of Disaster Monitoring and Mechanism Simulating of Shaanxi Province, Baoji University of Arts and Sciences, Baoji 721013, China)

  • Ming’an Shao

    (Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Tongchuan Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China)

Abstract

Earthworms have an important influence on the terrestrial ecological environment. This study assesses the effect of different earthworm densities on soil water content (SWC) and evaporation in a laboratory experiment. Four earthworm densities (0 no-earthworm, control [C]; 207 earthworms m −2 , low density [LDE]; 345 earthworms m −2 , medium density [MDE]; and 690 earthworms m −2 , high density [HDE]) are tested in soil columns. Results show that cumulative evaporation occurs in the decreasing order of densities: C (98.6 mm) > LDE (115.8 mm) > MDE (118.4 mm) > HDE (124.6 mm). Compared with the control, earthworm activity decreases cumulative soil evaporation by 5.0–20.9%, increases soil temperature to 0.46 °C–0.63 °C at 8:00, and decreases soil temperature to 0.21 °C–0.52 °C at 14:00 on the soil surface. Temperature fluctuations reduce with increasing earthworm densities. A negative correlation is found between cumulative soil evaporation and earthworm density ( R 2 = 0.969, p < 0.001). Earthworms significantly ( p < 0.05) decrease the surface SWC loss (0–20 cm) soil layer but increase the subsoil SWC loss (60–100 cm) by adjusting the soil temperature and reducing soil water evaporation. Earthworm activities (burrows, casts…) improve the soil water holding ability by adjusting soil temperature and reducing soil water evaporation. Thus, the population quantity of earthworms may provide valuable ecosystem services in soil water and heat cycles to save water resources and realize sustainable agricultural development.

Suggested Citation

  • Li Ma & Ming’an Shao & Tongchuan Li, 2020. "Characteristics of Soil Moisture and Evaporation under the Activities of Earthworms in Typical Anthrosols in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-11, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:16:p:6603-:d:399321
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yanpei Li & Mingan Shao & Jiao Wang & Tongchuan Li, 2020. "Effects of Earthworm Cast Application on Water Evaporation and Storage in Loess Soil Column Experiments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-13, April.
    2. Theodore A. Evans & Tracy Z. Dawes & Philip R. Ward & Nathan Lo, 2011. "Ants and termites increase crop yield in a dry climate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-7, September.
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    2. Long Kang & Rui Zhao & Kening Wu & Zhe Feng & Huafu Zhao & Sicheng Zhang, 2023. "Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Soil Biological Indicators in Typical Farmland Soils," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-14, March.
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