Response of Nitrous Oxide Flux to Addition of Anecic Earthworms to an Agricultural Field

Authors

José A. Amador, University of Rhode IslandFollow
Edward J. Avizinis

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

6-2013

Abstract

The burrowing and feeding activities of earthworms may have a strong effect on the flux of N₂O from agricultural soils. As such, shifts to agricultural management practices that increase the number of earthworms require an understanding of the role of earthworms in N₂O dynamics. We conducted a field experiment to examine the effects of addition of anecic earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) on N₂O flux in a field previously planted with corn (Zea mays) in southern Rhode Island, USA. Plots were amended with (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ and either 0 (CTL) or 48 L. terrestris m^-2 (EW). The flux of N₂O, ¹⁵N₂O and ¹⁵N₂ was measured over 28 days between October and November 2008. The EW treatment had a significantly higher flux of N₂O and ¹⁵N₂O 1 - 3 days after ¹⁵NH₄ addition. No treatment effects were observed on ¹⁵N₂ flux. The addition of earthworms significantly increased (Day 1) and decreased (Day 12) the mole fraction of N₂O relative to the CTL. Our results suggest that anecic earthworm additions can increase N₂O flux from inorganic fertilizer N amendments, but the effects appear to short-lived.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

J. Amador and E. Avizinis, "Response of Nitrous Oxide Flux to Addition of Anecic Earthworms to an Agricultural Field," Open Journal of Soil Science, Vol. 3 No. 2, 2013, pp. 100-106. doi: 10.4236/ojss.2013.32011

Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojss.2013.32011

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.