@article{fdi:010057238,
  title = {{I}nteractive effects of plants and earthworms on the physical stabilization of soil organic matter in aggregates},
  author = {{F}onte, {S}. {J}. and {Q}uintero, {D}. {C}. and {V}elasquez, {E}. and {L}avelle, {P}atrick},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{P}lants and earthworms are key ecosystem engineers and important regulators of soil aggregation and {C} dynamics, yet research to date has mainly considered their impacts in isolation thereby ignoring potential interactions between these organisms. {W}e conducted a microcosm experiment under greenhouse conditions to assess the impacts of plants ({B}rachiaria decumbens) and earthworms ({P}ontoscolex corethrurus) on soil structure and {C} stabilization. {A}ggregate stability was assessed by wet-sieving. {L}arge macroaggregates (> 2 mm) were also visually separated according to origin (e.g., earthworms, roots) and then further fractionated into particle size fractions to assess aggregate composition and {C} distribution. {E}arthworms increased aboveground biomass of {B}. decumbens by nearly 30 %. {T}he presence of plant roots increased aggregate stability (mean weight diameter) by 2.6 %. {W}hile earthworms alone had no simple impacts on aggregation, a significant interaction revealed that earthworms increased aggregate stability in the presence of roots by 6 % when compared to microcosms without plants. {A}dditionally, the presence of roots increased the {C} concentration of coarse particulate organic matter in earthworm casts, while earthworms increased {C} storage in microaggregates and the silt and clay fraction within root-derived aggregates. {T}hese findings suggest that plants and earthworms are intimately linked in soil aggregate formation and that both organisms need be considered simultaneously for proper management of soils.},
  keywords = {{B}rachiaria decumbens ; {E}cosystem engineers ; {P}ontoscolex corethrurus ; {S}oil aggregation ; {T}ropical pastures},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}lant and {S}oil},
  volume = {359},
  numero = {1-2},
  pages = {205--214},
  ISSN = {0032-079{X}},
  year = {2012},
  DOI = {10.1007/s11104-012-1199-2},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010057238},
}