@article{fdi:010011141,
  title = {{R}egulation of soil structure by geophagous earthworm activities in humid savannas of {C}{\^o}te d'{I}voire},
  author = {{B}lanchart, {E}ric and {L}avelle, {P}. and {B}raudeau, {E}rik and {L}e {B}issonnais, {Y}. and {V}alentin, {C}hristian},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he role of endogeic earthworms in the maintenance of the structure of an {A}frican savanna soil has been investigated in a 28-month field experiment. {C}hanges of aggregate size distribution, porosity and aggregate stability were analysed in undisturbed soil monoliths from which earthworms had been removed and which had then been submitted to four treatments : recolonization by natural savanna fauna (control, 12 replicates) ; introduction of a population of #{M}illsonia anomala$, a large earthworm (13 replicates) ; introduction of a population of small filiform eudrilid earthworms (13 replicates), and no recolonization by earthworms (12 replicates). {A}t the end of the experiment, significant differences were observed among the four treatments. #{M}. anomala$ was responsible for the formation of macroaggregates > 5.0 mm whereas eudrilid earthworms egested smaller aggregates (0.5-5 mm). {T}he results suggest that the presence of both types of worms is necessary to maintain the natural soil structure. {I}f one or both types of worm are excluded from the soil, the initial structure is greatly affected. ({R}{\'e}sum{\'e} d'auteur)},
  keywords = {{STRUCTURE} {DU} {SOL} ; {SAVANE} ; {LOMBRIC} ; {GRANULOMETRIE} ; {MICROMORPHOLOGIE} ; {STABILITE} {STRUCTURALE} ; {COTE} {D}'{IVOIRE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}oil {B}iology and {B}iochemistry},
  volume = {29},
  numero = {3/4},
  pages = {431--439},
  ISSN = {0038-0717},
  year = {1997},
  DOI = {10.1016/{S}0038-0717(96)00042-9},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010011141},
}