Response of microannelids to tillage at soil-monitoring sites in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Authors

  • Anneke Beylich IFAB Institut für Angewandte Bodenbiologie GmbH
  • Ulfert Graefe IFAB Institut für Angewandte Bodenbiologie GmbH
  • Dirk-Christian Elsner State Agency for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Areas Schleswig-Holstein

Keywords:

Enchytraeids, r-strategists, ploughing, soil monitoring, texture

Abstract

Soil decomposer communities of farmland are strongly influenced by a diversity of management practices. Among these, tillage is one principal disturbance factor for soil fauna. Its effects depend on the frequency, depth and type of tillage practices, but also on soil properties like soil texture. A major scope of biological soil monitoring is to detect long-term changes caused by a change in environmental and anthropogenic factors, including management. Therefore, on soil monitoring sites in addition to the measurement of soil chemical and biological parameters, detailed data on management practices are collected. We analysed results from the assessment of microannelids on soil-monitoring sites in Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) in relation to tillage practices. The focus was on the effects of inverting tillage (ploughing) versus non-inverting tillage in the year of sampling and on the impact of the time span between tillage event and sampling of total microannelid abundance, species number and dominance of r-strategists (Enchytraeus-species mainly). The aim was to differentiate short-term effects of tillage from possible long-term effects on which soil-monitoring sites are targeted. Sites were grouped in sandy and loamy sites as varying effects were expected according to soil texture. Grassland sites served as comparison without tillage. They yielded a significantly lower dominance of r-strategists than tilled arable field sites. Concerning the time-span between sampling and tillage, at sandy field sites, the dominance of r-strategists was significantly higher when the soil had been ploughed a few weeks before sampling. Dominance of r-strategists and total abundance of microannelids tended to decrease with increasing time lag since the last ploughing, but this relation was weak. While in sandy soils ploughing seems to be of relative importance for total microannelid abundance and r-strategist dominance, in loamy soils the total number of tillage events seems to be more decisive. No shortterm effects of tillage practices were detected for species number. It was therefore concluded that species number and species composition related parameters are suitable to detect long-term changes of the microannelid population at soil-monitoring sites.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Barth, N., Brandtner, W., Cordsen, E., Dann, T., Emmerich, K.-H., Feldhaus, D., Kleefisch, B., Schilling, B., Utermann, J. (2000): Boden-Dauerbeobachtung – Einrichtung und Betrieb von Boden-Dauerbeobachtungsflächen. – In: Rosenkranz, D., Bachmann, G., König, W., Einsele, G. (eds): Bodenschutz. Kennziffer 9152. – Erich Schmidt Verlag, Berlin, 127 pp.

Beylich, A. & Graefe, U. (2007): Artenzahlen von Annelidengemeinschaften (Regenwürmer und Kleinringelwürmer) – Referenzwertbereiche für unterschiedliche Standortsituationen. – Mitteilungen der Deutschen Bodenkundlichen Gesellschaft 110: 745–746.

Beylich, A. & Graefe, U. (2009): Investigations of annelids at soil monitoring sites in Northern Germany: reference ranges and time-series data. – Soil Organisms 81, 2: 175–196.

Beylich, A. & Graefe, U. (2014): Gesamtgutachten zu den bodenzoologischen Untersuchungen an Boden-Dauerbeobachtungsflächen in Schleswig–Holstein für den Zeitraum 1992 bis 2012. – Abschlussbericht im Auftrag des Landesamtes für Landwirtschaft, Umwelt und ländliche Räume des Landes Schleswig-Holstein. 204 S.

Didden, W.A.M. (1990): Involvement of Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) in soil structure evolution in agricultural fields. –

Biology and Fertility of Soils 9: 152–158.

Didden, W.A.M. (1991): Population ecology and functioning of Enchytraeidae in some arable farming systems. – PhD Thesis, Agricultural University Wageningen: 116 pp.

DIN ISO 23611-3: Bodenbeschaffenheit – Probenahme von Wirbellosen im Boden – Teil 3: Probenahme und Boden-extraktion von Enchytraeen. – Beuth Verlag, Berlin: 17 pp.

Dózsa-Farkas, K. (1992): List of enchytraeid synonyma. Newsletter on Enchytraeidae 3: 16–46.

Dunger, W. & Fiedler, H.J. (1997): Methoden der Bodenbiologie. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 539 S.DWD Deutscher Wetterdienst (2010): Klimawandel im Detail –

Zahlen und Fakten zum Klima in Deutschland. – Zahlen und Fakten zur DWD-Pressekonferenz am 27. April 2010 in Berlin: 26 pp.

Graefe, U. & Schmelz, R.M. (1999): Indicator values, strategy types and life forms of terrestrial Enchytraeidae and other microannelids. – Newsletter on Enchytraeidae 6: 59–67.

Graefe, U. (1999): Die Empfindlichkeit von Bodenbiozönosen gegenüber Änderungen der Bodennutzung. – Mitteilungen der Deutschen Bodenkundlichen Gesellschaft 91, 2: 609–612.

Hendrix, P. F., Parmelee, R. W., Crossley, D. A. Jr., Coleman, D. C., Odum, E. P., Groffman, P. M. (1986): Detritus Food Webs in Conventional No-tillage Agroecosystems. – BioScience Vol. 36, 6: 374–380.

Kainiemi, V., Arvidsson, J., Kätterer, T. (2015): Effects of autumn tillage and residue management on soil respiration in a long-term field experiment in Sweden. – Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 178: 189–198.

Kasprzak, K. (1982): Review of enchytraeid (Oligochaeta, Enchytraeidae) community structure and function in agricultural ecosystems. – Pedobiololgia 23: 217–232.

Langmaack, M., Röhrig, R., Schrader, S. (1996): Einfluß der Bodenbearbeitung und Bodenverdichtung auf terrestrische Oligochaeten (Enchytraeidae und Lumbricidae) landwirtschaftlicher Nutzflächen. – Braunschweiger naturkundliche Schriften 5, 1: 105–123.

Martinsson, S., Rota, E., Erséus, C. (2015): Revision of Cognettia (Clitellata, Enchytraeidae): re-establishment of Chamaedrilus and description of cryptic species in the sphagnetorum complex. Systematics and Biodiversity 13, 3: 257–277.

Nielsen, C.O., Christensen, B. (1959): The Enchytraeidae, critical revision and taxonomy of European species. Natura Jutlandica 8-9: 160 pp.

Nielsen, C.O., Christensen, B. (1961): The Enchytraeidae, critical revision and taxonomy of European species. Supplement 1. Natura Jutlandica 10: 23 pp.

Nowak, E. (2004): Enchytraeids (Oligochaeta) in the agricultural landscape. – Polish Journal of Ecology 52, 2: 115–122.

Parmelee, R. W., Beare, M. H., Cheng, W., Hendrix, E. F., Rider, S. J., Crossley Jr., D. A., Coleman, D. C. (1990): Earthworms and enchytraeids in conventional and no-tillage agroecosystems: A biocide approach to assess their role in organic matter breakdown. – Biology and Fertility of Soils 10:1–10.

Röhrig, R., M. Langmaack, S. Schrader & O. Larink (1998): Tillage systems and soil compaction - their impact on abundance and vertical distribution of Enchytraeidae. – Soil and Tillage Research 46: 117–127.

Römbke, J., R. M. Schmelz & S. Knaebe (2009): Field studies for the assessment of pesticides with soil mesofauna, in particular enchytraeids, mites and nematodes: Design and first results. – Soil Organisms 81, 2:237–264.

Rota, E. (2013): How many lookalikes has Marionina argentea (Michaelsen, 1889) (Annelida: Clitellata: Enchytraeidae)? Three new species described from morphological evidence. Zoologischer Anzeiger 252, 1: 123–137.

Schmelz, R. M. (2003): Taxonomy of Fridericia (Oligochaeta, Enchytraeidae). Revision of species with morphological and biochemical methods. – Abhandlungen des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins in Hamburg (NF) 38: 415 pp.

Schmelz, R. M. & R. Collado (2010): A guide to European terrestrial and freshwater species of Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta). – Soil Organisms, Volume 82, 1: 1–176.

Schrader, S. & M. Lingnau (1997): Influence of soil tillage and soil compaction on microarthropods of agricultural land. – Pedobiologia 41: 202–209.

Severon, T., M. Joschko, D. Barkusky & U. Graefe (2012): The impact of conventional and reduced tillage on the Enchytraeidae population in sandy soil and their correlation with plant residue and earthworms. – Landbauforschung – vTI Agriculture and Forestry Research, Special Issue 357: 45–52.

Standen, V. (1984): Production and diversity of enchytraeids, earthworms and plants in fertilized hay meadow plots. – Journal of Applied Ecology, 21: 293–312.

Topoliantz, S., J.-F. Ponge & P. Viaux (2000): Earthworm and enchytraeid activity under different arable farming systems, as exemplified by biogenic structures. Plant and Soil 225, 1-2: 39–51.

Ulrich, S., S. Tischer, B. Hofmann & O. Christen (2010): Biological soil properties in a long-term tillage trial in Germany. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 173: 483–489.

van Capelle, C., S. Schrader & J. Brunotte (2012): Tillage induced changes in functional diversity of soil biota – A review with a focus on German data. European Journal of Soil Biology 50: 165–181.

van Vliet, P. C. J., M. H. Beare & D. C. Coleman, D. C. (1995): Population dynamics and functional roles of Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) in hardwood forest and agricultural ecosystems. – In: Collins, H.P., Robertson, G.P., Klug, M.J. (eds): The significance and regulation of soil biodiversity. – Kluwer Academic Publishers: 237–245.

van Vliet, P. C. J., D. C. Coleman & P. F. Hendrix (1995): Population dynamics of Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) in different agricultural systems. – Biology and Fertility of Soils 25: 123–129.

van Vliet, P. C. J., Gupta, V. V. S. R. & Abbott, L.K. (2000): Soil biota and crop residue decomposition during summer and autumn in south-western Australia. Applied Soil Ecology 14, 2: 111–124.

van Vliet, P. C. J., L. T. West, P. F. Hendrix & D. C. Coleman (1993): The influence of Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) on the soil porosity of small microcosms. – Geoderma 56: 287–299.

Vavoulidou, E., Römbke, J., Sidiras, N., Bilasis, D., Tsigo, R. (1999): Effects of three different soil cultivation and fertilization treatments on earthworms and enchytraeids. – In: Schmelz, R. M. & K. Sühlo (eds): Newsletter on Enchytraeidae No.6, Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Enchytraeidae, Osnabrück, Germany, 3-4 July 1998. – Universitätsverlag Rasch, Osnabrück: 91–100.

IUSS Working Group WRB (2014): World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014. International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. – World Soil Resources Reports No. 106. FAO, Rome.

Zimmermann, P. (1987): Verteilungsmuster von Enchytraeiden in der Ackerkrume auf einer Löß-Parabraunerde unter verschiedenen Anbaumaßnahmen. – Mitteilungen der Deutschen Bodenkundlichen Gesellschaft 53: 355–359.

Downloads

Published

2023-05-24

Issue

Section

ARTICLES

How to Cite

Response of microannelids to tillage at soil-monitoring sites in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. (2023). Soil Organisms, 87(2), 121–135. https://soil-organisms.org/index.php/SO/article/view/324