Effect of Inoculation of Earthworms and Soil Microorganisms on Soil Structure and Productivity of Alfalfa

Year 2018, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 22 - 29, 31.08.2018

Hristo Valchovski

Abstract

The paper
deals with exploration the influence of earthworms and soil microorganisms on
soil structure and productivity of alfalfa. The observation was carried out on
Chromic-Vertic Luvisols (fine texture) from Sofia field (Bulgaria) in pot
experiment. The inoculations were made with three ecological groups of
lumbrids: anecic (Lumbricus terrestris),
epigeic (Eisenia fethida) and
endogeic (Aporrectodea rosea, Aporrectodea caliginosa and Octolasion lacteum) earthworms. The
inoculation with soil microorganisms was provided with nitrogen-fixing bacteria
from genus Rhizobium. The soil structure of studied treatments was
characterized by indicators derived from the soil water retention curve and
total porosity. The most pronounced effect of inoculations of earthwоrms and
microorganisms was found in the volume of macropores which increased with depth
while in the control variant it decreased with depth. The results showed that
interaction between earthworms and soil microflora increased the biomass of
alfalfa. Our study demonstrated that earthworms and soil microorganism have
positive effect on the aeration of roots and yield of forage crops.

Keywords

Alfalfa, Earthworms, Forage crops, Soil microorganisms

References

• Bratanov, K., 1987. Agricultural encyclopedia, Vol II, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, p. 704. (in Bulgarian).Butt, K. R., 2011. The Earthworm Inoculation Unit Technique: Development and Use in Soil Improvement Over Two Decades, In: A. Karaca (Ed.), Biology of Earthworms. Springer, Berlin, 87–105.Doran, JW, Sarrantonio M, Liebig MA, 1996. Soil health and sustainability, Advanced Agronomy. 56:2–54.Edwards, C. A., J. R. Lofty, 1980. Effects of earthworm inoculation upon the growth of direct drilled cereals, Journal of Applied Ecology, 17, 533–543.Georgieva, N. and I. Nikolova, 2012. Density and reduction of the stand at alfalfa varieties (Medikago sativa L.), Banat’s Journal of Biotechnology, 3(2), p.18-22.Lavelle P., S. Barot, M. Blouin, Th. Decaëns, J.J. Jimenez, P. Jouquet, 2007. Earthworms as key factors in self-organized soil systems. In: Cuddington K.J.E.B., W.G. Wilson, A. Hastings (Eds.): Ecosystem Engineers: From Plants to Protists, Theoretical Ecology Series, V chapter. The Netherlands. Elsevier, p. 77-106.Lenkov, L., 1973. Horticulture, Zemizdat, p.264. (in Bulgarian).Nikolova, M., E. Andres and K. Glas, 1995. Potassium – nutrient element for yield and quality, International Potash Institute, Basel, Switzerland. p.60. Six, J., Bossuyt, H., Degryze, S., Denef, K., 2004. A history of research on the link between (micro) aggregates, soil biota, and soil organic matter dynamics, Soil Tillage Research, 79, p.7–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2004.03.008Turbé A, A. Toni, P. Benito, P. Lavelle, N. Ruiz, W.H. Van Der Putten, E. Labouze, S. Mudgal, 2010. Soil biodiversity: functions, threats and tools for policy makers. Bio Intelligence Service, IRD, and NIOO. Report for EC, p.250.Van Elsas JD, Trevors JT., 1997. Modern Soil Microbiology, New York: Marcel Dekker.