Abstract:
Objective To investigate the impacts of earthworms on soil acidification characteristics and aluminum (Al) fractions of latosolic red soil in South China, and provide a theoretical basis for acidification improvement of latosolic red soil in South China.
Method The earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were incubated with latosolic red soil under laboratory conditions. After 40 days of incubation, Al fractions in earthworm cast and soil, namely exchangeable (AlEx), weakly organically bound (AlOrw), organically bound (AlOr), amorphous (AlAmo), Al occluded in crystalline iron oxides (AlOxi), and amorphous aluminosilicate and gibbsite (AlAag) fractions, were determined using sequential extraction methods. Earthworm cast and soil pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were determined. The principal component analyses were applied to study the distribution of different Al fractions in different treated soils. And the soil without earthworm was set as a control.
Result Compared to the control soil, pH of earthworm casts increased by 1.27, the total nitrogen, CEC, AlOr and exchangeable K, Na, and Ca contents increased by 62.16%, 38.22%, 355.70%, 151.38%, 65.38% and 51.90%, respectively, and AlEx contents in earthworm casts and soil decreased by 50.95% and 53.14% respectively. The pH, CEC, AlOr and exchangeable K, Na, Ca contents in casts were significantly higher than those in non-ingested soil.
Conclusion Earthworms can significantly increase soil pH and AlOr, promote the release of exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+, and reduce soil AlEx content.