Phosphorus availability in casts of an anecic savanna earthworms in Colombian oxisol

Earthworms are considered soil ecosystem engineers that play an important role in soil organic matter dynamics and physical structure. Due to both their size and activities these organisms can accelerate the decomposition and mineralization of organic matter by reducing the size of residues to parti...

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Main Authors: Jiménez Jaén, J.J., Cepeda, A, Friesen, Dennis K., Decaëns, Thibaud, Oberson, Astrid
Format: Book Chapter
Language:Inglés
Published: International Center for Tropical Agriculture 2001
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55178
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author Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
Cepeda, A
Friesen, Dennis K.
Decaëns, Thibaud
Oberson, Astrid
author_browse Cepeda, A
Decaëns, Thibaud
Friesen, Dennis K.
Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
Oberson, Astrid
author_facet Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
Cepeda, A
Friesen, Dennis K.
Decaëns, Thibaud
Oberson, Astrid
author_sort Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Earthworms are considered soil ecosystem engineers that play an important role in soil organic matter dynamics and physical structure. Due to both their size and activities these organisms can accelerate the decomposition and mineralization of organic matter by reducing the size of residues to particles more available to microflora. Consequently, their impact in nutrient availability and cycling in natural and agricultural ecosystems can be considerable. Three experiments were performed in a natural herbaceous savanna and in a selected Brachiaria decumbens and Pueraria phaseoloides ("Kudzu") pasture: one field study and two laboratory/incubation studies, at the CIAT-CORPOICA research station at Carimagua in the isohyperthermic savannas on the Colombian Orinoco basin. Total P content was higher in earthworm casts than in the surrounding soil in field samples, i.e., 50% in native savanna soil and more than 100% in pasture soil, but not (or very little) in laboratory casts (10%-20%). Under field conditions almost without exception, all P fractions increased in casts compared with the control soil. Increases were relatively greater in the labile inorganic P fractions. Except in the native savanna under field conditions, the phosphatase activity was reduced on casting. Our results suggest that earthworms in the field incorporate P from litter or undecomposed plant and root material which is not normally measured in the analysis of bulk (non-cast) soil. This P from litter enters into all P fractions (organic and inorganic) but to a greater extent into labile Pi fractions. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of an abundant native anecic earthworm on phosphorus availability in Oxisols of supposedly low fertility characteristics.
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spelling CGSpace551782024-01-09T09:49:43Z Phosphorus availability in casts of an anecic savanna earthworms in Colombian oxisol Jiménez Jaén, J.J. Cepeda, A Friesen, Dennis K. Decaëns, Thibaud Oberson, Astrid lumbricidae cycling phosphorus soil fauna savannas ciclo biogeoquímico fósforo fauna del suelo sabanas Earthworms are considered soil ecosystem engineers that play an important role in soil organic matter dynamics and physical structure. Due to both their size and activities these organisms can accelerate the decomposition and mineralization of organic matter by reducing the size of residues to particles more available to microflora. Consequently, their impact in nutrient availability and cycling in natural and agricultural ecosystems can be considerable. Three experiments were performed in a natural herbaceous savanna and in a selected Brachiaria decumbens and Pueraria phaseoloides ("Kudzu") pasture: one field study and two laboratory/incubation studies, at the CIAT-CORPOICA research station at Carimagua in the isohyperthermic savannas on the Colombian Orinoco basin. Total P content was higher in earthworm casts than in the surrounding soil in field samples, i.e., 50% in native savanna soil and more than 100% in pasture soil, but not (or very little) in laboratory casts (10%-20%). Under field conditions almost without exception, all P fractions increased in casts compared with the control soil. Increases were relatively greater in the labile inorganic P fractions. Except in the native savanna under field conditions, the phosphatase activity was reduced on casting. Our results suggest that earthworms in the field incorporate P from litter or undecomposed plant and root material which is not normally measured in the analysis of bulk (non-cast) soil. This P from litter enters into all P fractions (organic and inorganic) but to a greater extent into labile Pi fractions. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of an abundant native anecic earthworm on phosphorus availability in Oxisols of supposedly low fertility characteristics. 2001 2015-01-28T14:17:31Z 2015-01-28T14:17:31Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55178 en Open Access International Center for Tropical Agriculture Jiménez Jaén, Juan José; Cepeda, A.; Friesen, Dennis Keith; Decaëns, Thibaud; Oberson, Astrid. 2001. Phosphorus availability in casts of an anecic savanna earthworms in Colombian oxisol. In: Jiménez Jaén, Juan José; Thomas, Richard J. (eds.). Nature`s plow: Soil macroinvertebrate communities in the neotropical savannas of Colombia. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Cali, CO. p. 199-211. (CIAT publication no. 324)
spellingShingle lumbricidae
cycling
phosphorus
soil fauna
savannas
ciclo biogeoquímico
fósforo
fauna del suelo
sabanas
Jiménez Jaén, J.J.
Cepeda, A
Friesen, Dennis K.
Decaëns, Thibaud
Oberson, Astrid
Phosphorus availability in casts of an anecic savanna earthworms in Colombian oxisol
title Phosphorus availability in casts of an anecic savanna earthworms in Colombian oxisol
title_full Phosphorus availability in casts of an anecic savanna earthworms in Colombian oxisol
title_fullStr Phosphorus availability in casts of an anecic savanna earthworms in Colombian oxisol
title_full_unstemmed Phosphorus availability in casts of an anecic savanna earthworms in Colombian oxisol
title_short Phosphorus availability in casts of an anecic savanna earthworms in Colombian oxisol
title_sort phosphorus availability in casts of an anecic savanna earthworms in colombian oxisol
topic lumbricidae
cycling
phosphorus
soil fauna
savannas
ciclo biogeoquímico
fósforo
fauna del suelo
sabanas
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55178
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