@article{fdi:010057301,
  title = {{M}orphological characterisation of weathered earthworm casts by 2{D}-image analysis},
  author = {{B}ottinelli, {N}. and {J}ouquet, {P}ascal and {T}ran, {T}. {D}. and {H}allaire, {V}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{E}arthworm casts weathered by rainfall are difficult to differentiate from surrounding soil aggregates. {W}e tested the hypothesis that morphological characterisation of soil aggregates by 2{D}-image analysis helps to perform this differentiation. {C}ompact surface casts produced by {A}mynthas khami and surrounding aggregates lacking visible signs of biological activity (control) were left to disaggregate by natural rainfall and were separated into five size classes (10-5, 5-2, 2-0.5, 0.5-0.25 and < 0.25 mm). {T}he external shape and pore-space characteristics of aggregates were measured by image analysis. {C}asts > 2 mm were characterised by less surface roughness and similar round shape than control aggregates. {H}owever, casts and control aggregates < 2 mm had a similar external shape. {T}he structural porosity of casts > 0.25 mm was lower than that of control aggregates, whereas their textural porosity was similar. {T}herefore, this study demonstrates that measuring the porosity of soil aggregates by 2{D}-image analysis is a better indicator of earthworm-aggregate origin than external shapes.},
  keywords = {{S}hape of soil aggregates ; {P}ore-space characterisation ; 2{D}-image analysis},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{B}iology and {F}ertility of {S}oils},
  volume = {48},
  numero = {7},
  pages = {845--849},
  ISSN = {0178-2762},
  year = {2012},
  DOI = {10.1007/s00374-012-0674-5},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010057301},
}