@article{fdi:010049448,
  title = {{E}arthworms accelerate soil porosity turnover under watering conditions},
  author = {{B}ottinelli, {N}. and {H}enry-des-{T}ureaux, {T}. and {H}allaire, {V}. and {M}athieu, {J}. and {B}enard, {Y}. and {T}ran, {T}. {D}. and {J}ouquet, {P}ascal},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{E}ndogeic earthworms significantly modify soil aggregation and porosity, which in turn control water flow in soil. {T}his study aimed to determine how the earthworm casting activity influences soil porosity and its dynamics. {T}he main hypothesis was that the deposition of belowground water-stable casts increases soil porosity and its water stability. {F}irst we quantified cast production by the endogeic earthworm species {M}etaphire posthuma under laboratory conditions for 15 days. {S}econdly, casts and the bulk soil were analysed for structural stability to water and were packed in soil and subjected to wetting under various conditions and energy levels. {T}he shape and size of pores were measured by image analysis. {A}lmost all casts (98%) were produced belowground. {M}. posthuma produced approximately five times its own weight per day. {C}asts were depleted in {C} and were more easily disaggregated by water than the bulk soil. {A}lthough casts initially led to larger soil porosity (on average 50%), their structure was unstable. {A}s a consequence, water inputs led to a faster decrease in soil porosity in the presence of casts. {L}arge pores in between casts were rapidly replaced by small elongated and rounded pores. {T}hese results suggest that cast lifespan and associated porosity are of primary importance in the regulation of soil porosity turnover and the ecological functions that are under its control. {O}ur findings suggest that in the field, the low stability of casts is likely to lead to a rapid compaction of the soil after rainfall events. {H}owever, high levels of cast production may prevent soil porosity from being broken down. {S}oil structural porosity thus depends on the balance between the production and degradation of casts. {I}mprovements to the soil structure will occur when the former predominates.},
  keywords = {{E}ndogeic earthworm ; {W}ater stability ; {C}ast production ; {P}orosity dynamic ; {M}etaphire posthuma},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{G}eoderma},
  volume = {156},
  numero = {1-2},
  pages = {43--47},
  ISSN = {0016-7061},
  year = {2010},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.geoderma.2010.01.006},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010049448},
}