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Green Corridors May Sustain Habitats for Earthworms in A Partially Converted Grassland

Simon, Barbara; Boziné Pullai, Krisztina; Selmeczi, Dóra; Sebők, András; Tóthné Bogdányi, Franciska; Weldmichael, Tsedekech G.; Zalai, Mihály; Nsima, Justine Phenson and Tóth, Ferenc (2022) Green Corridors May Sustain Habitats for Earthworms in A Partially Converted Grassland. Agronomy, 12 (4), p. 793.

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Summary

Permanent grasslands provide a healthy and undisturbed environment. We investigated how mulching altered the soil physicochemical parameters, earthworm abundance, biomass, species composition and vegetation cover compared to grassland and cultivated alfalfa field. Microplots (2 × 2 m) were mulched with either weed control fabric (WF) alone or WF combined with straw (WF + S) on a grassland to grow tomato in Ősagárd (Nógrád county, Hungary) between 2018 and 2021. We had two other microhabitats: a conventionally cultivated alfalfa field (CA) and grassland (GR). We measured soil parameters (physical: soil moisture content (SMC), soil penetration resistance (SPR); chemical: pH, soil organic matter; and biological: earthworm abundance, biomass, species composition and vegetation). SMC was significantly higher on covered plots (WF; WF + S) compared to CA and GR. SPR values were the highest in CA and GR at 20 cm depth. The abundance and biomass of earthworms were the highest in GR and lowest in CA in all seasons. Plant abundance was highly influenced by season and habitat. Despite the higher compaction and lower SMC figures, grass vegetation still provided a more suitable environment for earthworms than mulched plots (WF, WF + S). Therefore, where there is agricultural production on grassland, we suggest leaving uncultivated and uncovered patches as biodiversity corridors.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Keywords:grassland conversion; agronomical alternative; biodiversity; soil quality; Allolobophora chlorotica; Aporrectodea rosea; Aporrectodea caliginosa
Agrovoc keywords:
Language
Value
URI
English
grassland management
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3364
English
agronomic practices
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_330610
English
biodiversity
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_33949
English
Allolobophora
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_30864
English
Aporrectodea caliginosa
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_36009
Subjects: Environmental aspects > Biodiversity and ecosystem services
Environmental aspects > Landscape and recreation
Research affiliation: Hungary > Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture
DOI:10.3390/agronomy12040793
Deposited By: Csajbók, Edit
ID Code:44769
Deposited On:01 Dec 2022 16:18
Last Modified:01 Dec 2022 16:18
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

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