Earthworms encouraged in CTF farming

摘要

Atrial at University of Queensland Gatton led by U. Pang-nakom has investigated the impact of tractor wheel compaction and tillage on soil earthworm populations. Earthworms are a good indicator of soil quality, are an important food source for vertebrates and have a major role in physical, chemical and biological processes in the soil. Temperature, moisture and food sources, all of which are affected by tillage, are factors influencing earthworm populations. Pangnakom says under reduced tillage, organic matter increases in the upper soil profile. For conventional tillage, residues are either burnt or incorporated deeper in the profile, where they are rapidly decomposed. The consequence of reduced tillage is that more organic matter is available to earthworms in the surface layers for a longer period leading either to higher populations or greater activity Researchers have shown that populations of shallow dwelling earthworms under zero tillage were often double those under conventional systems, while the larger deep-burrowing species benefit from reduced tillage.