Changes in soil carbon mineralization related to earthworm activity depend on the time since inoculation and their density in soil.

ABSTRACT: Earthworms play a key role in soil carbon mineralization, but their effect is highly uncertain and suspected to vary as a function of several factors, particularly the earthworm density and time from earthworm inoculation. We conducted a meta-analysis considering these factors based on 42 experiments comparing carbon mineralization in the absence and presence of earthworms at different times. The results reveal an average carbon mineralization increase of 24% (sd 41%) in the presence of earthworms with an initial median earthworm density of 1.95 mg/g soil DM (Dry Mass) (sd 48%). We show that carbon mineralization due to earthworms was related to their density and time from inoculation. From a simple regression model using these two variables, the estimated impact of earthworms on carbon mi

SUBMITTER: Garnier P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9365797 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature