Green Corridors May Sustain Habitats for Earthworms in A Partially Converted Grassland
Permanent grasslands provide a healthy and undisturbed environment. We investigated how mulching altered the soil physicochemical parameters, earthworm abundance, biomass, species composition and vegetation cover compared to grassland and cultivated alfalfa field. Microplots (2 × 2 m) were mulched w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/4/793 |
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| author | Barbara Simon Krisztina Boziné Pullai Dóra Selmeczi András Sebők Franciska Tóthné Bogdányi Tsedekech G. Weldmichael Mihály Zalai Justine Phenson Nsima Ferenc Tóth |
| author_facet | Barbara Simon Krisztina Boziné Pullai Dóra Selmeczi András Sebők Franciska Tóthné Bogdányi Tsedekech G. Weldmichael Mihály Zalai Justine Phenson Nsima Ferenc Tóth |
| author_sort | Barbara Simon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Permanent grasslands provide a healthy and undisturbed environment. We investigated how mulching altered the soil physicochemical parameters, earthworm abundance, biomass, species composition and vegetation cover compared to grassland and cultivated alfalfa field. Microplots (2 × 2 m) were mulched with either weed control fabric (WF) alone or WF combined with straw (WF + S) on a grassland to grow tomato in Ősagárd (Nógrád county, Hungary) between 2018 and 2021. We had two other microhabitats: a conventionally cultivated alfalfa field (CA) and grassland (GR). We measured soil parameters (physical: soil moisture content (SMC), soil penetration resistance (SPR); chemical: pH, soil organic matter; and biological: earthworm abundance, biomass, species composition and vegetation). SMC was significantly higher on covered plots (WF; WF + S) compared to CA and GR. SPR values were the highest in CA and GR at 20 cm depth. The abundance and biomass of earthworms were the highest in GR and lowest in CA in all seasons. Plant abundance was highly influenced by season and habitat. Despite the higher compaction and lower SMC figures, grass vegetation still provided a more suitable environment for earthworms than mulched plots (WF, WF + S). Therefore, where there is agricultural production on grassland, we suggest leaving uncultivated and uncovered patches as biodiversity corridors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:18:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd6c4723e7c5434c9d14ccab00904f41 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:18:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd6c4723e7c5434c9d14ccab00904f412023-12-01T00:26:00ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-03-0112479310.3390/agronomy12040793Green Corridors May Sustain Habitats for Earthworms in A Partially Converted GrasslandBarbara Simon0Krisztina Boziné Pullai1Dóra Selmeczi2András Sebők3Franciska Tóthné Bogdányi4Tsedekech G. Weldmichael5Mihály Zalai6Justine Phenson Nsima7Ferenc Tóth8Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, HungaryDoctoral School of Plant Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2103 Gödöllő, HungaryInstitute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, HungaryInstitute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, HungaryImMuniPot Independent Research Group, 2100 Gödöllő, HungaryInstitute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, HungaryDepartment of Integrated Plant Protection, Institute of Plant Protection, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, HungaryDoctoral School of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2103 Gödöllő, HungaryDepartment of Zoology and Ecology, Institute for Wildlife Management and Nature Protection, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 2100 Gödöllő, HungaryPermanent grasslands provide a healthy and undisturbed environment. We investigated how mulching altered the soil physicochemical parameters, earthworm abundance, biomass, species composition and vegetation cover compared to grassland and cultivated alfalfa field. Microplots (2 × 2 m) were mulched with either weed control fabric (WF) alone or WF combined with straw (WF + S) on a grassland to grow tomato in Ősagárd (Nógrád county, Hungary) between 2018 and 2021. We had two other microhabitats: a conventionally cultivated alfalfa field (CA) and grassland (GR). We measured soil parameters (physical: soil moisture content (SMC), soil penetration resistance (SPR); chemical: pH, soil organic matter; and biological: earthworm abundance, biomass, species composition and vegetation). SMC was significantly higher on covered plots (WF; WF + S) compared to CA and GR. SPR values were the highest in CA and GR at 20 cm depth. The abundance and biomass of earthworms were the highest in GR and lowest in CA in all seasons. Plant abundance was highly influenced by season and habitat. Despite the higher compaction and lower SMC figures, grass vegetation still provided a more suitable environment for earthworms than mulched plots (WF, WF + S). Therefore, where there is agricultural production on grassland, we suggest leaving uncultivated and uncovered patches as biodiversity corridors.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/4/793grassland conversionagronomical alternativebiodiversitysoil quality<i>Allolobophora chlorotica</i><i>Aporrectodea rosea</i> |
| spellingShingle | Barbara Simon Krisztina Boziné Pullai Dóra Selmeczi András Sebők Franciska Tóthné Bogdányi Tsedekech G. Weldmichael Mihály Zalai Justine Phenson Nsima Ferenc Tóth Green Corridors May Sustain Habitats for Earthworms in A Partially Converted Grassland Agronomy grassland conversion agronomical alternative biodiversity soil quality <i>Allolobophora chlorotica</i> <i>Aporrectodea rosea</i> |
| title | Green Corridors May Sustain Habitats for Earthworms in A Partially Converted Grassland |
| title_full | Green Corridors May Sustain Habitats for Earthworms in A Partially Converted Grassland |
| title_fullStr | Green Corridors May Sustain Habitats for Earthworms in A Partially Converted Grassland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Green Corridors May Sustain Habitats for Earthworms in A Partially Converted Grassland |
| title_short | Green Corridors May Sustain Habitats for Earthworms in A Partially Converted Grassland |
| title_sort | green corridors may sustain habitats for earthworms in a partially converted grassland |
| topic | grassland conversion agronomical alternative biodiversity soil quality <i>Allolobophora chlorotica</i> <i>Aporrectodea rosea</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/4/793 |
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