Effect of earthworm on growth of late succession plant species in postmining sites under laboratory and field conditions
2009
Abstract
Earlier studies of postmining heaps near Sokolov, Czech Republic (0-46 years old) showed that massive changes in plant community composition occur around 23 year of succession when the heaps are colonized by the earthworms Lumbricus rubellus (Hoffm.) and Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny). The aim of the current study was to test the hypothesis that the introduction of earthworms into a postmining soil enhances growth of late succession plant species.
In a laboratory experiment, earthworms significantly increased biomass of Festuca rubra, Trifolium hybridum grown in soil from a 17-year-old site. The biomass increase corresponded to a significant decrease in pH and an increase in oxidable C, total N, and exchangeable P, K, and Ca content.