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Cited by 342Composting and Vermicomposting TechniquesSoil Carbon and Nitrogen DynamicsAgricultural Science and Fertilization

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 37 of the 38 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Effects of earthworm casts and compost on soil microbial activity and plant nutrient availability

Chaoui, Hala I, Zibilske, Larry M, Ohno, Tsutomu·2003·Soil Biology and Biochemistry
DOI 10.1016/s0038-0717(02)00279-1
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Abstract

Vermicomposting differs from conventional composting because the organic material is processed by the digestive systems of worms. The egested casts can be used to improve the fertility and physical characteristics of soil and potting media. In this study, the effects of earthworm casts (EW), conventional compost (CP) and NPK inorganic fertilizer (FT) amendments on N mineralization rates, microbial respiration, and microbial biomass were investigated in a laboratory incubation study. A bioassay with wheat (Triticum aestivium L.) was also conducted to assess the amendment effects on plant growth and nutrient uptake and to validate the nutrient release results from the incubation study. Both microbial respiration and biomass were significantly greater in the CP treatment compared to EW treatment for the initial 35 days of incubation followed by similar respiration rates and biomass to the end of the study at 70 days of incubation. Soil NO3- increased rapidly in the EW and CP treatments in the initial 30 days of incubation, attaining 290 and 400 mg N kg-1 soil, respectively. Nitrate in the EW treatment then declined to 120 mg N kg-1 soil by day 70, while nitrate in the CP treatment remained high. While ammonium levels decreased in the CP treatment as nitrate level increased with increasing incubation time, a low level of ammonium was maintained in the EW treatment throughout the incubation. The wheat bioassay study included two additional cast treatments (EW-N and EW2) to have treatments with higher levels of N input. Plants grown with CP or FT treatment had a lower shoot biomass and higher shoot N content than in EW-N and EW-2 treatments, and also showed symptoms of salinity stress. Ionic strength and other salinity indicators in the earthworm cast treatments were much lower than in the CP treatment, indicating a lower risk of salinity stress in casts than in compost. All cast and compost amendments significantly increased wheat P and K uptake compared to either the non-amended control or the mineral fertilizer treatment. The results show that casts are an efficient source of plant nutrients and that they are less likely to produce salinity stress in container as compared to compost and synthetic fertilizers.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0038-0717(02)00279-1

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Show all 38 references

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Lui, S.X., Xiong, D.Z., Wu, D.B. (1991). Studies on the effect of earthworms on the fertility of red-arid soil. Advances in management and conservation of soil fauna, Proceedings of the 10th International Soil Biology Colloquium, held at Banglador, India, August 7–13.
  2. Saciragic, 1986, Effect of worm compost on soil fertility and yield of vegetable crops cabbage leeks and sorghum hybrid yield, Agrohemija, 3, 343
  3. Tomati, 1994, Plant metabolism as influenced by earthworm casts, Mitteilungen aus dem Hamburgischen Zoologischen Museum and Institute, 89, 179
  4. Zhao, S.W., Huang, F.Z., 1988. The nitrogen uptake efficiency from 15N labeled chemical fertilizer in the presence of earthworm manure (cast). Advances in management and conservation of soil fauna, Proceedings of the 10th International Soil Zoology Colloquium, Banglador, India.

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Metadata

Authors
Chaoui, H. I., Zibilske, L. M., & Ohno, T.
Affiliations
The Ohio State University (US)
Corresponding author
Ohno, Tsutomu
ORCID
Ohno, Tsutomu
Venue
Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2003-02
Volume
35
Issue
2
Pages
295-302
ISSN
0038-0717 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/s0038-0717(02)00279-1
OpenAlex
W1979981036
Cited by
342
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 16
FWCI
5.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
Soil Biology and Biochemistry (publishedVersion)
Funders
Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Composting and Vermicomposting Techniques
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Agricultural Science and Fertilization
Keywords
earthworm casts, vermicompost, compost, soil microbial activity, microbial respiration, microbial biomass, nitrogen mineralization, nitrate, ammonium, wheat, plant nutrient uptake, salt stress, potting media, organic amendments

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