Earthworms do not increase greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂ and N₂O) in an ecotron experiment simulating a three-crop rotation system.

ABSTRACT: Earthworms are known to stimulate soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but the majority of previous studies have used simplified model systems or lacked continuous high-frequency measurements. To address this, we conducted a 2-year study using large lysimeters (5 m² area and 1.5 m soil depth) in an ecotron facility, continuously measuring ecosystem-level CO₂, N₂O, and H₂O fluxes. We investigated the impact of endogeic and anecic earthworms on GHG emissions and ecosystem water use efficiency (WUE) in a simulated agricultural setting. Although we observed transient stimulations of carbon fluxes in the presence of earthworms, cumulative fluxes over the study indicated no significant increase in CO₂ emissions. Endogeic earthworms reduced N

SUBMITTER: Forey O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10713613 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature