Interaction of earthworm species in sewage sludge-amended soil microcosms: Lumbricus terrestris and Eisenia fetida.
Abstract
Soil microcosms were treated with combinations of sewage sludge and two species of earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris and Eisenia fetida, and incubated for 46 days at 16°C. L. terrestris increased in biomass, reduced organic matter and moisture percentages in surface layers, increased water-stable soil aggregates of 4 mm diameter and over and reduced the population density of nematodes. E. fetida increased in biomass, increased 0.5-1.0-mm diameter water-stable soil aggregates and reduced percentage moisture and the density of nematodes but did not affect the percentage of organic matter. The presence of E. fetida had a negative effect on weight gain and cast stability of L. terrestris.