%0 Journal Article
%9 ACL : Articles dans des revues avec comité de lecture répertoriées par l'AERES
%A Blanchart, Eric
%A Albrecht, Alain
%A Chevallier, Tiphaine
%A Hartmann, Christian
%T The respective roles of roots and earthworms in restoring physical properties of vertisol under a Digitaria decumbens pasture (Martinique, WI)
%B Soil processes under pastures in intertropical areas
%D 2004
%E Brossard, Michel
%E Boddey, R.M.
%E Blanchart, Eric
%L fdi:010034039
%G ENG
%J Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
%@ 0167-8809
%K ERODIBILITE DU SOL ; CONSERVATION DU SOL ; PATURAGE ; PLANTE FOURRAGERE ; POROSITE ; RACINE ; LOMBRIC ; BIOMASSE ; STRUCTURE DU SOL ; PROPRIETE PHYSIQUE ; STABILITE STRUCTURALE ; AGREGAT ; ZONE TROPICALE HUMIDE
%K MARTINIQUE
%M ISI:000222490600008
%N 2
%P 343-355
%R 10.1016/j.agee.2003.12.012
%U https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010034039
%> https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2022-08/010034039.pdf
%V 103
%W Horizon (IRD)
%X Sloping Vertisols having large exchangeable sodium contents are erodible. In Martinique, French West Indies, intensive market gardening during 15 years decreased their organic matter content, biological activity (roots, earthworms, mesofauna, microorganisms),



soil porosity, and increased soil losses due to erosion. Conversely, old irrigated pastures (Digitaria decumbens, Pangola grass) on these soils maintained organic matter content, biological activity, soil porosity and aggregate stability. A research programme was set out in 1991



in the south-eastern part of Martinique in order to study the respective roles of grass roots and earthworms in the restoration of the properties of a degraded Vertisol. Plots with and without plants, with and without earthworms were tested and physical properties were followed



during 4 years and compared with properties existing under market crops and old pastures. The restoration of physical properties was more rapid and more important in treatments with plants than in treatments without plants. Plants played a dominant role through rhizosphere



effects and possible carbon rhizodeposition. The effect of earthworms was less important. Earthworms particularly increased the stability of aggregates of 200-500 ?m size, and decreased clay dispersion.
%$ 068EROSOL