Earthworms as a vector of aspergillus niger dispersal to enhance the decomposition of oil palm trunks

Effective plant residue management is crucial in the replanting operation of mature oil palm plantations. Control of the large amount and volume of the fallen palm trunks is challenging. Biological agents such as earthworms and fungus could enhance organic matter decomposition. Thus, this study aime...

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Main Authors: Okto Prandi Sihombing, Sarifuddin, dan Tengku Sabrina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Soil Science Society of Pakistan (SSSP) 2020-12-01
Series:Soil & Environment
Subjects:
Online Access:http://se.org.pk/File-Download.aspx?archivedpaperid=891
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author Okto Prandi Sihombing
Sarifuddin
dan Tengku Sabrina
author_facet Okto Prandi Sihombing
Sarifuddin
dan Tengku Sabrina
author_sort Okto Prandi Sihombing
collection DOAJ
description Effective plant residue management is crucial in the replanting operation of mature oil palm plantations. Control of the large amount and volume of the fallen palm trunks is challenging. Biological agents such as earthworms and fungus could enhance organic matter decomposition. Thus, this study aimed to explore the dispersal of cellulose decomposing fungi with the help of earthworms. This study examined the role of earthworm species (endogeic and anecic) on dispersing Aspergillus niger from one oil palm trunk to another. To study this effect, an open container was divided into two compartments (A and B). Earthworms and the inoculated oil palm trunk pieces with A. niger were applied at compartment A that consisted of sterile soil. On the other hand, compartment B was filled with sterile soil and sterile pieces of oil palm trunk. The compartment barrier between A and B was then opened for 40 days. Earthworm treatments for A included control (without earthworm), four anecic, eight anecic, two anecic+two endogeic, four endogeic, eight endogeic, four anecic+four endogeic earthworms. Measurements included percentage of earthworms that moved from compartment A to B, the presence of A. niger in earthworms’ intestine and on the oil, palm pieces in B, and C and N concentration of palm pieces. The results showed that endogeic worms had higher movement compared to anecic worms. Earthworms moved from the denser population site to the less populated one. The species and abundance of earthworms had a significant effect on the presence of A.niger in the worms’ intestine and on oil palm pieces in compartment B. In particular, anecic worms induced the highest A.niger population. Nevertheless, the decomposition of oil palm pieces was mostly controlled by the abundance of earthworms. Carbon of palm trunk was reduced by 20% in the treatment with the largest population of earthworms. This study demonstrated that the earthworms could be used to enhance the decomposition of oil palm trunk pieces and disperse beneficial fungi.
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spelling doaj.art-45a2ec43a99d49dfaa13b4139a204dfc2022-12-21T22:25:55ZengSoil Science Society of Pakistan (SSSP)Soil & Environment2074-95462075-11412020-12-0139214515110.25252/SE/2020/91824Earthworms as a vector of aspergillus niger dispersal to enhance the decomposition of oil palm trunksOkto Prandi Sihombing0Sarifuddin1dan Tengku Sabrina2Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Kampus Padang Bulan Medan 20155, IndonesiaFaculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Kampus Padang Bulan Medan 20155, IndonesiaFaculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Kampus Padang Bulan Medan 20155, IndonesiaEffective plant residue management is crucial in the replanting operation of mature oil palm plantations. Control of the large amount and volume of the fallen palm trunks is challenging. Biological agents such as earthworms and fungus could enhance organic matter decomposition. Thus, this study aimed to explore the dispersal of cellulose decomposing fungi with the help of earthworms. This study examined the role of earthworm species (endogeic and anecic) on dispersing Aspergillus niger from one oil palm trunk to another. To study this effect, an open container was divided into two compartments (A and B). Earthworms and the inoculated oil palm trunk pieces with A. niger were applied at compartment A that consisted of sterile soil. On the other hand, compartment B was filled with sterile soil and sterile pieces of oil palm trunk. The compartment barrier between A and B was then opened for 40 days. Earthworm treatments for A included control (without earthworm), four anecic, eight anecic, two anecic+two endogeic, four endogeic, eight endogeic, four anecic+four endogeic earthworms. Measurements included percentage of earthworms that moved from compartment A to B, the presence of A. niger in earthworms’ intestine and on the oil, palm pieces in B, and C and N concentration of palm pieces. The results showed that endogeic worms had higher movement compared to anecic worms. Earthworms moved from the denser population site to the less populated one. The species and abundance of earthworms had a significant effect on the presence of A.niger in the worms’ intestine and on oil palm pieces in compartment B. In particular, anecic worms induced the highest A.niger population. Nevertheless, the decomposition of oil palm pieces was mostly controlled by the abundance of earthworms. Carbon of palm trunk was reduced by 20% in the treatment with the largest population of earthworms. This study demonstrated that the earthworms could be used to enhance the decomposition of oil palm trunk pieces and disperse beneficial fungi.http://se.org.pk/File-Download.aspx?archivedpaperid=891anecicaspergillus nigerendogeicoil palmvectororganic matter decomposition
spellingShingle Okto Prandi Sihombing
Sarifuddin
dan Tengku Sabrina
Earthworms as a vector of aspergillus niger dispersal to enhance the decomposition of oil palm trunks
Soil & Environment
anecic
aspergillus niger
endogeic
oil palm
vector
organic matter decomposition
title Earthworms as a vector of aspergillus niger dispersal to enhance the decomposition of oil palm trunks
title_full Earthworms as a vector of aspergillus niger dispersal to enhance the decomposition of oil palm trunks
title_fullStr Earthworms as a vector of aspergillus niger dispersal to enhance the decomposition of oil palm trunks
title_full_unstemmed Earthworms as a vector of aspergillus niger dispersal to enhance the decomposition of oil palm trunks
title_short Earthworms as a vector of aspergillus niger dispersal to enhance the decomposition of oil palm trunks
title_sort earthworms as a vector of aspergillus niger dispersal to enhance the decomposition of oil palm trunks
topic anecic
aspergillus niger
endogeic
oil palm
vector
organic matter decomposition
url http://se.org.pk/File-Download.aspx?archivedpaperid=891
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AT dantengkusabrina earthwormsasavectorofaspergillusnigerdispersaltoenhancethedecompositionofoilpalmtrunks