@article{fdi:010080417,
  title = {{A}ge matters : dynamics of earthworm casts and burrows produced by the anecic {A}mynthas khami and their effects on soil water infiltration},
  author = {{L}e {M}er, {G}. and {J}ouquet, {P}ascal and {C}apowiez, {Y}. and {M}aeght, {J}ean-{L}uc and {T}ran, {T}. {M}. and {D}oan, {T}. {T}. and {B}ottinelli, {N}icolas},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}y creating vertical and continuous burrows, anecic earthworms accelerate the transfer of water in soils. {H}owever, the degradation mechanisms and lifespan of burrows and the consequence of changes in burrow characteristics for water infiltration remain poorly known. {I}n this study, the dynamics of the degradation and hydraulic properties of burrows made by the anecic earthworm {A}mynthas khami in a clayey soil were investigated in a meadow and in a woodland in {N}orth {V}ietnam. {W}e selected three categories of surface casts, namely, (i) fresh (a few days old), (ii) dry ( > 1 month old) and (iii) degraded by rain (older than the dry casts), as proxies of the age of burrows. {T}he physical and chemical properties of casts were measured and compared to the surrounding soil aggregates without visible earthworm activity (control). {S}oil cores were sampled below casts and control and the 3{D} structure of burrows was characterized using {X}-ray tomography. {T}hen, water infiltration was measured in the saturated soil cores. {F}resh and degraded casts had a lower water stability than control aggregates, whereas higher values were found in dry casts. {W}ater infiltration was twice higher in columns below fresh and dry casts than in the control. {H}owever, below degraded casts, the positive effect on water infiltration was reduced or disappeared in some cases. {T}he degradation of burrows led to significant increase in the specific surface area, decrease in their minimum diameter and increase in the abundance of cracks connected to burrows. {O}ur results indicate that anecic burrows persist at least for months below degraded casts but that aging due mainly to physical processes reduces water infiltration. {T}his study highlights the importance of taking into account the lifetime of burrows in the soil when assessing the effect of earthworms on soil structure and water transfer.},
  keywords = {{M}acrofauna ; {B}iopores ; {B}ioturbation ; {H}ydraulic conductivity ; {VIET} {NAM}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{G}eoderma},
  volume = {382},
  numero = {},
  pages = {114709 [7 ]},
  ISSN = {0016-7061},
  year = {2021},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010080417},
}