@incollection{fdi:010021558,
  title = {{E}ffects of earthworms on soil structure and physical properties},
  author = {{B}lanchart, {E}ric and {A}lbrecht, {A}lain and {A}legre, {J}. and {D}uboisset, {A}rnaud and {G}ilot, {C}{\'e}cile and {P}ashanasi, {B}. and {L}avelle, {P}. and {B}russaard, {L}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he effects of earthworms on soil structure and the resulting physical properties in natural or cultivated systems were studied in different sites of the {M}acrofauna project. {F}our main results were obtained from these experiments : (1) {I}n kaolinitic soils ({L}amto, {M}anaus, {Y}urimaguas), irrespective of clay content, andogeic earthworms play a major role in soil structure formation and maintenance, while in smectitic soils ({M}artinique), the effects of earthworms on soil structure formation and maintenance are not as clear. {I}n the {V}ertisols of {M}artinique, the effect of roots and organic materials seem predominant in soil structure development and earthworms play a secondary role. (2) {E}ndogeic earthworm species have different effects on soil properties. {L}arge earthworms such as #{P}ontoscolex corethrurus$ or #{M}illsonia anomala$ egest large and compact casts. {T}hey increase the proportion of large aggregates in soil and the bulk density ; they are called "compacting species". {C}onversely, small earthworm species such as eudrilid worms feed at least partly on large compact casts and egest smaller and fragile aggregates. {T}hey decrease the proportion of large aggregates in soil and the bulk density ; they are called "decompacting species". {T}he effects of "compacting species" on soil structure formation seem to be linked to the presence of organic residues at the soil surface. {I}n agroecosystems of {Y}urimaguas ({P}eru), the intense activity of #{P}. corethrurus$ and the coalescence of surface casts lead to the formation of a compact surfacecrust with impedes water infiltration in the absence of organic residues, but a favourable macroaggregate structure develops in the presence of organic residues and leguminous mulch. (3) {T}he introduction of earthworms in agroecosystems changes soil physical properties and especially water retention and infiltration... ({D}'apr{\`e}s r{\'e}sum{\'e} d'auteur)},
  keywords = {{LOMBRIC} ; {STRUCTURE} {DU} {SOL} ; {PROPRIETE} {PHYSIQUE} ; {INFILTRATION} ; {FERTILITE} {DU} {SOL} ; {EROSION} ; {RESISTANCE} ; {ERODIBILITE} {DU} {SOL} ; {ETUDE} {EXPERIMENTALE} ; {ETUDE} {COMPARATIVE} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE} {HUMIDE} ; {COTE} {D}'{IVOIRE} ; {MEXIQUE} ; {PEROU} ; {BRESIL} ; {MARTINIQUE} ; {INDE} ; {LAMTO} ; {LA} {MANCHA} ; {YURIMAGUAS} ; {MANAUS} ; {SAINTE} {ANNE} ; {IYERPADI}},
  booktitle = {{E}arthworm management in tropical agroecosystems},
  numero = {},
  pages = {149--172},
  address = {{W}allingford},
  publisher = {{CABI}},
  series = {},
  year = {1999},
  ISBN = {0-85199-270-6},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010021558},
}