Interaction of earthworm species in sewage sludge-amended soil microcosms: Lumbricus terrestris and Eisenia fetida.

Published online
26 Apr 1989
Content type
Journal article
Journal title
Journal of Applied Ecology
DOI
10.2307/2403750

Author(s)
Hamilton, W. E. & Dindal, D. L. & Parkinson, C. M. & Mitchell, M. J.

Publication language
English

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.

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