Do earthworms (D. veneta) influence plant-available water in technogenic soil-like substrate from bricks and compost?

Purpose Topsoil and peat are often taken from intact rural ecosystems to supply the urban demand for fertile soils and soil-like substrates. One way of reducing this exploitation is to recycle suitable urban wastes to produce Technosols and technogenic soil-like substrates. In this study, we investigate the role earthworms can play in impacting the hydraulic properties of such a soil-like substrate. Materials and methods In a 4-month microcosm experiment, the influence of the earthworm speciesD. venetaon the hydraulic properties of brick-compost mixture was examined. Of the ten boxes filled with ca. 11 dm(3)of ground bricks (0.7 cm(3)cm(-3)) and green waste compost (0.3 cm(3)cm(-3)), five contained earthworms (W-boxes) and the remaining five were used as controls (C-boxes). The substrate was periodically irrigated and the weight of the boxes and of the drained water was monitored. At the same time, images were taken from the front of the boxes to quantify the activity of the earthworms by image analysis and soil aggregation was studied with micrographs. Before and after the experiment, water retention curves were determined from disturbed samples of the substrate using the simplified evaporation method. Results and discussion After 6 weeks, differences between the C- and the W-boxes were evident. Micrographs showed brick-compost aggregates only for the substrates processed by earthworms. The earthworm activity leads to reduced evaporation and an increased water content in the respective microcosms. The effect persists even after disturbing the substrate. The proportion of plant-available soil water is about 0.02 cm(3)cm(-3)higher for the substrate processed by earthworms (0.250 +/- 0.009 cm(3)cm(-3)) compared with the control (0.230 +/- 0.008 cm(3)cm(-3)). Conclusions This study shows that earthworms are capable of ingesting and processing crushed bricks together with compost. The earthworms produced aggregates which persisted after disturbance and had a positive influence on the water retention capacity of such a soil-like substrate constructed from waste.

Automated summary

Earthworms play a significant role in impacting the hydraulic properties of a soil-like substrate by creating soil aggregates and enhancing water retention capacity. Their activity reduces evaporation and increases water content in the microcosms, persisting even after disturbance.