@article{fdi:010007621,
  title = {{E}ffect of the endogeic earthworm {P}ontoscolex corethrurus on soil chemical characteristics and plant growth in a low-input tropical agroecosystem},
  author = {{P}ashanasi, {B}. and {L}avelle, {P}. and {A}legre, {J}.{C}. and {C}harpentier, {F}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{L}ow densities of #{P}ontoscolex corethrurus$ have been introduced into low-input cropping systems at {Y}urimaguas ({P}eru) to test their effects on soil fertility under field conditions for six succesive cropping cycles. {E}arthworm biomass was sustained at 40 g/m2 fw (ca. 3 g ash-free dry mass) on the average with peak values of 80 g at harvests 2 and 3 in treatments receiving an application of legume green manure. {A}t the 6th harvest, earthworm biomass was significantly lower in the treatment with no organic input than in treatments with crop residues and legume green manure. {E}arthworm activities did not prevent {C} and nutrient stocks from being significantly depleted although {P}, {K} and {C}a concentrations tended to be higher than in non-inoculated treatments at the 6th harvest. {P}lant production was significantly increased by 36% due to earthworm inoculation in a traditional low-input rotation (maize, rice, cowpea, rice, rice, rice) with variation between -43 and +78%, depending on the crop and climatic conditions. {I}n a continuous maize culture that received fertilizers for the last three crops, grain production was increased by 2.45-fold on average, due to earthworm inoculation. {T}hese results demonstrate that the maintenance of active earthworm populations was favourable to crop production during the time scale of our experiments (3 y). {L}onger term experiments are required to test the sustainability of the positive effects observed. ({R}{\'e}sum{\'e} d'auteur)},
  keywords = {{SYSTEME} {DE} {CULTURE} ; {FERTILISATION} {DU} {SOL} ; {LOMBRIC} ; {INOCULATION} ; {PRODUCTION} {VEGETALE} ; {ETUDE} {EXPERIMENTALE} ; {PEROU} ; {AMAZONIE} ; {YURIMAGUAS} {REGION}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}oil {B}iology and {B}iochemistry},
  volume = {28},
  numero = {6},
  pages = {801--810},
  ISSN = {0038-0717},
  year = {1996},
  DOI = {10.1016/0038-0717(96)00018-1},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010007621},
}