Earthworm communities in relation to agricultural management in a landscape context Joana Frazão, Mirjam Pulleman, Jack Faber, Jeroen Groot, Lijbert Brussaard 9 th April 2015
Earthworms in arable systems Functional group Soil processes Lumbricus rubellus Epigeics (strooiseleters) Decomposition Lumbricus terrestris Anecics (pendelaars) Nutrient cycle Aporrectodea caliginosa Endogeics (grondeters) Soil structure (pores and aggregates) Based on Keith & Robinson, 2012
Main questions of my work A) Effect of soil properties, arable management and surrounding landscape on earthworm communities in arable fields/field margins Survey in the Hoeksche Waard B) Influence of residue availability on local earthworm communities, on introduced L. terrestris and their interactions in conventionally and non inversion tilled fields Field experiment in the Hoeksche Waard C) Further understanding (under controlled conditions) of species performance and behaviour as affected by residue placement Laboratory experiment with dominant species from each functional group
Main questions of my work A) Effect of soil properties, arable management and surrounding landscape on earthworm communities in arable fields/field margins Survey in the Hoeksche Waard
A) Survey in an arable landscape Hoekse Waard Crop Horticulture Grassland Orchard Nature Sample point 26 fields, 15 margin grass or grass herb Earthworm samples (6/field; 4/margin) Soil samples (Ntotal, ph, moisture, LOI, soil texture) Management past 5 years (residue management, tillage, crop types/rotation)
A) Survey: Preliminary results Earthworm abundance (ind/m2) 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Total abundance Margin CT NIT Earthworm biomass (g/m2) 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Total biomass Margin CT NIT Species richness 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Richness Margin CT NIT 600 Strooiseleter abund. 250 Pendelaar abund. 1800 Grondeter abund. Epigeic abundance (ind/m2) 500 400 300 200 100 Anecic abundance (ind/m2) 200 150 100 50 Endogeic abundance (ind/m2) 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Margin CT NIT 0 Margin CT NIT 0 Margin CT NIT
A) Survey: Next steps Proportion of land-use types within radii of 50, 100, 250 and 500m from sample point Management activities (present and past) Soil properties Multivariate analysis Understand relative importance of the 3 drivers in shaping EW communities in fields and margins Data analysis in progress...
Main questions of my work B) Influence of residue availability on local earthworm communities, on introduced L. terrestris and their interactions in conventionally and non inversion tilled fields Field experiment in the Hoeksche Waard
B) Field experiment Site: PPO Westmaas, Hoeksche Waard 1 CT; 1 NIT 24 plots created in each field (6x6m) Manipulations: EW community: L. terrestris introduced in half of the plots in each field (20 ind/m2) Food position in CT Food quantity in NIT
2 sampling campaigns completed in 2014 1 planned for fall 2015 Work in progress...
Main questions of my work C) Further understanding (under controlled conditions) species performance and behaviour as affected by residue placement Laboratory experiment with dominant species from each functional group
C) Lab experiment Species: - L. terrestris (pendelaar) - A. caliginosa (grondeter) - L. rubellus (strooiseleter) - L.terrestris + A. caliginosa - L.terrestris + L. rubellus Food - Winter wheat stubble and straw + radish Data analysis in progress...
Experiments expected results will aid on... Understanding if residue management improves earthworm communties in arable fields Understanding if it is feasible to introduce anecic species, and necessary management adaptations Understanding the effects of residue placement on earthworm performance (single, multi species) earthworm burrowing behaviour
Stakeholders H-Wodka / FAB farmers in Hoeksche Waard Hoekse Waards Landschap (NGO) Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment European Learning Network for Functional Agrobiodiversity (ELN-FAB)
Involvement of stakeholders HWodKa Participatory platform, farmers with large interest in soil quality interact with researchers; Implementation of precision agriculture and reduced tillage systems to decrease soil disturbance Pulleman, M., Crittenden, S. & Frazão, J. 2013. Diversiteit van regenwormen - Effecten van grondbewerking en akkerranden, Hoeksche Waard 4/11/2013 ELN-FAB ELN-FAB Seminar Functional agrobiodiversity in North-West Europe, Multistakeholder event facilitated by Mirjam Pulleman, Brussels 11/12/2013. Stichting Veldleeuwerik Pulleman et al. 2013. Onderzoeksresultaten bodemleven en effecten van grondbewerking. Presentation at Studiemiddag Bodembiodiversiteit, grondbewerking en kwaliteit van reststoffen in de akkerbouw, Lelystad 3/9/2013.
Involvement of stakeholders Presentations and Seminars - Pulleman, M., Crittenden, S. & Frazão, J. 2013. Diversiteit van regenwormen - Effecten van grondbewerking en akkerranden, Hoeksche Waard 4/11/2013 (HWodka) - ELN-FAB Seminar Functional agrobiodiversity in North-West Europe, Multistakeholder event facilitated by Mirjam Pulleman, Brussels 11/12/2013. - Pulleman et al. 2013. Onderzoeksresultaten bodemleven en effecten van grondbewerking. Presentation at Studiemiddag Bodembiodiversiteit, grondbewerking en kwaliteit van reststoffen in de akkerbouw, Lelystad 3/9/2013. Several workshops with stakeholders in collaboration with the projects of Willemien Geertsema and Paul van Rijn
Relevance for stakeholders-researcher s vision Develop knowledge for Policies encouraging belowground biodiversity and ecosystem services in arable landscapes Management of landscape elements that serve the arable fields in terms of earthworm communities Earthworm friendly arable management: tillage options, residue management, cover crop use, implementation of field margins Feasibility of introducing anecic earthworms
Relevance for stakeholders-researcher s vision Farmers/HWodKa Earthworm friendly arable management: tillage options, residue management, cover crop use, implementation of field margins Viability of introducing anecic earthworms Hoekse Waards Landschap Improve knowledge on landscape elements that serve the arable fields in terms of earthworm communities Ministry Policies that stimulate above and belowground biodiversity and ecosystem services in arable landscapes ELN-FAB: Later stage: platform on European level for multi-stakeholders communication on functional agrobiodiversity
Relevance for stakeholders-stakeholders vision Policies for sustainable use of natural capital (biodiversity ecosystem services) Input for platform on European level for multi-stakeholders communication on functional agrobiodiversity Guide management of semi-natural landscape elements to encourage belowground biodiversity Inform farmer s decision making for arable management adjustments and/or changes (tillage, residue management, field margins)
Thanks! A. Klompe A.P. van den Hoek H. Scheele C. Schelling B. Ampt L.W. Ampt L.D. de Geus L. de Jong L. Noordam G.J. van Dueren den Hollander H. Ravestijn B. Niemansverdriet H. Westerlaken J.C. van de Maas M. Tramper M. Vlaswinkel And many colleagues...