Short-term effects of land-use on earthworm communities and soil physico-chemical properties (Belgium)

Earthworms are known to play integral roles in soils, and are often referred to as vital soil and ecosystem engineers. They have the ability to influence a wide range of chemical, physical, and biological properties of soil environment. Therefore, it is important to understand how earthworm communities are impacted by tillage practices and exportation of crop residues. In the present study, earthworm and soil samples were collected from wheat cultivated fields in Gembloux, Belgium under four different agricultural practices: (1) conventional tillage with crop residues incorporated into the soi... Mehr ...