Effects of earthworms on plant production in the tropics Earthworm management in tropical agroecosystems /Brown, George Pashanasi, B. /Villenave, Cécile Patron, J.C. Senapati, B.K. Giri, S. Barois, I. Lavelle, P. /Blanchart, Eric Blakemore, R.J. Spain, A.V. /Boyer, Johnny LOMBRIC ESPECE TROPICALE PRODUCTION VEGETALE BIOMASSE STRUCTURE DU SOL PROPRIETE PHYSIQUE ETUDE EXPERIMENTALE ETUDE COMPARATIVE As part of the European Union-funded Macrofauna Project, 16 experiments were conducted over a 7-year period on the effects of earthworm inoculation on plant production, both at the greenhouse and field level. These experiments were undertaken in six countries, involved 14 plant species, 6 great groups of soils, and at least 13 species of earthworms. Additional data were taken from the literature, totalling more than 240 data points on the percentage change (+ or -) in above-ground production in the presence of more than 34 earthworm species. The overall average increase in shoot and grain biomass due to earthworms was +56.3% + or - 9.3%(SE) and 35.8 + or - 8.9%, significant at P less than 0.07 and P less than 0.08, respectively. Highest increases were observed in soils with sandy textures, poor in organic matter, and with a moderatly acid pH. Earthworm biomass of around 30 g/m2 or more was shown to be necessary to promote agriculturaly important (greater than 40%) grain yield increases. Earthworm species which appeared most promising in enhancing plant growth at both the yield and pot experiment levels were Pontoscolex corethrurus and Drawida willsi, both introduced with substantial results in India. Several other species showed significant advantages in particular situations, and are likely to be useful under wider conditions of crop and soil management. Plants most affected were tropical trees (in Peru), tea in India, and Panicum maximum grass, planted both in Australia and the Ivory Cost. Benefits of earthworm introduction are, therefore, particularly important in perennial cropping systems. Large and significant increases in grain biomass were observed in several situations, especially for sorghum, rice and maize. Leguminous crops appeared to be less enhanced by earthworm activities... (D'après résumé d'auteur) CABI Lavelle, P. (ed.) Brussaard, L. (ed.) Hendrix, P. (ed.) 1999 text https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010021557 fdi:010021557 Brown George, Pashanasi B., Villenave Cécile, Patron J.C., Senapati B.K., Giri S., Barois I., Lavelle P., Blanchart Eric, Blakemore R.J., Spain A.V., Boyer Johnny. Effects of earthworms on plant production in the tropics. In : Lavelle P. (ed.), Brussaard L. (ed.), Hendrix P. (ed.), . Earthworm management in tropical agroecosystems CABI, 1999, 87-147 EN PEROU COTE D'IVOIRE INDE AUSTRALIE ZONE TROPICALE