Soil tillage and fertilisation effect on earthworm communities

Magistritöö Põllumajandussaaduste tootmise ja turustamise õppekavalKäesoleva magistritöö eesmärk oli uurida, kuidas mõjutavad mahe- ja tavaviljeluse külvikordades mullaharimine, talvised vahekultuurid, väetamine ja põhikultuurid vihmausside arvukust ja biomassi. Vihmaussid koguti septembrikuus Tartumaal Eerikale rajatud katsealadelt ning kahe Lõuna-Eestis asuva tootmisettevõtte Hummuli Agro OÜ ja Rannu Seeme OÜ tootmispõldudelt. Saadud tulemusi võrreldi varasemalt kirjandusest välja toodud katsete tulemustega. Eerika katsepõllu katsevariandid jagunesid järgnevalt: Mahe 0 – maheviljeluse kontroll (vahekultuurideta); Mahe I – talvised vahekultuurid haljasväetisena; Mahe II – vahekultuurid koos sõnnikuga 40 t ha-1 ; Tava 0 – tavaviljeluses kontrollvariant, kus teostati taimekaitsetöid; Tava 150 – intensiivselt väetatud (N150P25K95) ning samuti kasutati taimekaitsevahendeid. Külvikorras olid: punane ristik „Varte“, oder „Anni“ punase ristiku allakülviga, kartul „Maret“, hernes „Tudor“ (2016. aastal „Starter“) , talinisu „Fredis“. Vihmaussid koguti käsitsi kaevest mõõtudega 40x40 ja 20 cm sügavuselt neljas korduses. Tootmispõldude Hummuli Agro OÜ katses võrreldi lägaga väetatud ning lägata varianti. Rannu Seeme OÜ tootmispõldude katses võrreldi küntud ja minimeeritud harimisega põlde. Vihmaussid koguti tootmispõldudelt käsitsi kaevest mõõtudega 20x20 ja 30 cm sügavuselt, kolmes korduses. Eerika katsepõllu töö tulemusena selgus, et kasvatatavatest kultuuridest omasid positiivset mõju vihmausside arvukusele ja biomassile hernes ja talinisu. Vihmausside väiksem arvukus ja mass oli kartuli ja ristiku allakülviga odra kasvatamisel. Talviste vahekultuuride kasvatamine haljasväetisena ning kompostitud tahesõnnik suurendasid vihmausside arvukust ja biomassi. Samas vähendas tavaviljeluses kasutatav mineraalväetis usside arvukust ja biomassi. Tootmispõldude võrdlusena oli minimeeritud harimisel arvukus veidi kõrgem võrreldes küntud alaga, kuid statistiliselt usutavat erinevust ei esinenud. Vedelsõnniku kasutamine suurendas vihmausside arvukust, kuid oluline statstiline mõju esines usside biomassile, mis tähendab paremat toitumist väetatud alal.The aim of the master theses was to study in organic and conventional farming how soil tillage, cover crops growth, fertilization and crops influenced the abundance and biomass of earthworms. Earthworms were collected in September at Eerika in Tartu County and from two south Estonian farms Hummuli Agro OÜ and Rannu Seeme OÜ. The results were compared with the earlier studies found in literature. The treatments in Eerika experiment were as following: Organic 0 – organic farming control plot; Organic I – cover crops as green fertilisers; Organic II – cover crops and manure (40 t per ha -1 on average per rotation) used; Conventional 0 – conventional farming control plot where pesticides were used; Conventional 150 – intensive fertilisation (N150P25K95) and pesticides used. The crops in the rotation were: pea Tudor (2016 Starter), potato Maret, barley Anni with red clover undersowing, red clover Varte, winter wheat Fredis. The earthworms were collected by hand from the pits with measures of 40 by 40 cm from the depth of 20 cm four times. In farm Hummuli Agro OÜ compared experiment were taken from fields which were fertilized with and without slurry. In Rannu Seeme OÜ farm experiment compared ploughed and minimal tillage fields. The earthworms were collected by hand from the pits with measures of 20 by 20 cm from the depth of 30 cm thrice. The result of Eerika field experiment revealed that pea and winter wheat had positive effect on the abundance and biomass of the earthworms. The lowest number and mass of earthworms was in the plots with potato and barley with clover undersowing. Winter cover crops as green fertilizer and composted manure had a favorable effect on earthworms’ abundance and biomass. While in conventional farming used mineral fertilizer decreased earthworms’ abundance and mass. The results of two South Estonia fields’ experiments revealed that in minimal tillage field earthworm abundance was slightly larger than in field which was ploughed. However, there were no statistical significant difference between ploughed and minimal tillage fields. Use of slurry increased earthworm abundance, but statistical significant effect was on biomass of earthworms, which refers to more favorable habitats

Mullaharimise ja väetamise mõju vihmaussikooslusele

Tänapäeval toimub pidev maakasutuse intensiivistamine, mis omakorda mõjutab mullaorganismide elutegevust. Vihmaussid on maakasutuse ja mullaviljakuse jälgimiseks head indikaatorid. Nende arvukus on suur, nad on kergesti identifiseeritavad ja erinevatest põllumajandustöödest otseselt mõjutatavad. Vihmaussidel on mullas mitmeid ülesandeid. Nad osalevad orgaanilise aine lagunemisel ja mulla mineraliseerumise protsessis, suurendavad selle poorsust, õhutavad ning parandavad veehoiuvõimet ja toitainete olemasolu mullas (Edward ja Bohlen, 1996) suurendades sellega taimekasvu (Brown jt., 2004). Liikudes läbi mulla jätavad vihmaussid endast maha koproliite (Edwards, 2004), mis parandavad lämmastiku, fosfori, kaaliumi, kaltsiumi ja magneesiumi kättesaadavust mullast (Pierzynski jt., 2005). Kuna erinevad liigid reageerivad välistele mõjutajatele kiiresti (mullaomadused ja inimtegevus) on ussid mulla bioloogilisele seisundile kiireks ja lihtsaks hinnangu andmiseks kõige sobivamad. Töö eesmärgiks oli uurida mahe- ja tavaviljeluse külvikordades mullaharimise, talviste vahekultuuride, väetamise ja põhikultuuride mõju vihmausside arvukusele ja biomassile

Viljelusviisi ja väetamise mõju vihmaussidele

Earthworms are the easiest detectable species to evaluate soil conditions on arable land. The aim of current study was to investigate conventional and organic farming practices, including different fertilization schemes effect on earthworms’ abundance, biomass and species diversity. Data were collected in autumn of 2012 from a 5-year crop rotation experiment (pea, potato, barley undersown with red clover, red clover and winter wheat), established near Tartu, at Eerika on sandy loam Albic Stagnic Luvisol in 2008. This rotation was managed under 5 farming systems, two conventional: Conventional I (not fertilized but with addition of chemical pesticides) and Conventional II (mineral fertilized plots with a final fertilization rate of N150P25K95 and with the addition of chemical pesticides); and three organic: Organic 0 (without any fertilization), Organic I (with winter cover crops used lately as green manure) and Organic II (plots with the same cover crops plus a yearly amendment of 40 t ha–1 of cattle manure). Earthworms were collected from humus layer of the soil, counted by species and weighted. The dominating species on all treatments were Aporrectodea caliginosa L. and Lumbricus rubellus L. Only some individuals of Aporrectodea rosea L. were found under conventional farming in both fertilization treatment, but they were found almost on every plot under Organic I and II treatments. As it was expected, the highest number and biomass of earthworms was by using cattle manure. However, as the residues goes back into the soil in this experiment, there was no significant differences in earthworm abundance and biomass between highly fertilized conventional treatment and organic treatments with cover crops. Earthworms favoured red clover and pea and less potato and barley. The results revealed slightly improving effect of organic farming on earthworms. However, the main factor on earthworms seems to be the availability of suitable food (plant residues, manure) than farming practice itself

Winter cover crops improve soil properties in organic cropping systems.

An introduction of winter cover crops (wcc) into the crop rotation had a positive impact on soil quality in organic cropping systems. Wcc alone and in combination with composted manure enriched soil with organic matter, activated soil life (increased number of earthworms and higher soil microbial activity - FDA), increased soil pH value, and supported nutrient cycling and soil formation

Otsekülvi mõju mulla kvaliteedile Eesti tootmispõldudel

Finding out the best agricultural management practices for certain climatic regions and soils is crucial to maintain soils quality. One of the practices, to stop soil erosion, reduce leaching and increase soil organic carbon content, is no-tillage. No tillage is coming more popular also in Estonia. It helps to reduce fuel and labour costs. However, as there is missing decades long practice of no-tillage in Estonia, its effect on soil quality is not clear. At the same time, easy methods to detect soil quality are needed next to the laboratory analyses. During the project iSQPER the visual assessment tool was developed for easy detection of soil quality. The aim of the current study was to compare visual assessment with laboratory measurements on Estonian no-till fields in the 2016. The study was done on sandy loam Gleyic Stagnic Luvisol in Põlva and sandy loam Stagnic Luvisol in Tartu County. Visual assessment was made from the soil upper 30 cm layer, laboratory measurements from 5–10 cm and 25–30 cm depth. The parameters studied were: erodibility, water logging, soil structure and slaking, colour, porosity, plough pan, organic carbon content, penetration resistance and amount of earthworms. The study revealed slightly better soil quality under no-tillage by visual assessment. In most cases laboratory analyses confirmed these results. Structural distribution was better by ploughing compared with no tillage. However, fine aggregate (0.25–2 mm) stability was higher under no-tillage compared with ploughing. There were no significant differences in number of earthworms between practices.Uurimistööd on toetanud Euroopa Liidu Horizont 2020 teaduse ja innovatsiooni grant Nr 635750 iSQAPER

Field management and fertilisation effect on earthworm communities

Käesoleva bakalaureusetöö eesmärk oli uurida, kuidas kasvatatavad kultuurid, talvised vahekultuurid ja kasutatud taimekaitsevahendid mõjutavad vihmausside arvukust, biomassi ja liigirikkust mahe- ja tavaviljeluslikus 5-väljalises külvikorras. Saadud tulemusi võrreldi varasemalt kirjandusest välja toodud katsete tulemustega. Katse on rajatud 2008. aastal Tartumaale Eerikale, millelt vihmaussid koguti 2014. aastal. Katsevariandid jagunesid järgnevalt: Tava 0 – tavaviljeluses kontrollvariant, kus teostati taimekaitsetöid; Tava 150 – intensiivselt väetatud (N150P25K95) ja kasutati samuti taimekaitsevahendeid; Mahe 0 – maheviljeluse kontroll (vahekultuurideta); Mahe I – talvised vahekultuurid haljasväetisena; Mahe II – vahekultuurid koos sõnnikuga. Külvikorras olid punane ristik ’Varte’ – oder ’Anni’ punase ristiku allakülviga – kartul ’Maret’ – hernes ’Tudor’ – talinisu ’Fredis’. Vihmaussid koguti 2014. aasta juunikuu alguses ja septembri keskpaigas käsitsi kaevetest mõõtudega 40 x 40 cm ja 20 cm sügavuselt kahes korduses. Määrati vihmausside arvukus, biomass ja suguküpsetel isenditel liik. Kokku leiti kuus vihmaussiliiki, kellest dominantliigiks oli harilik mullauss (Aporrectodea caliginosa). Juveniilsete vihmausside, kelle liiki ei olnud võimalik määrata, osakaal koosluses oli suve alguses 58% ja sügisel 46%. Töö tulemusena selgus, et kasvatatavatest kultuuridest omasid positiivset mõju vihmausside arvukusele ja biomassile punane ristik ja hernes. Vihmausside väikseim arvukus ja mass oli kartuli ja ristiku allakülviga odra kasvatamisel. Talviste vahekultuuride kasvatamine haljasväetisena mõjus vihmaussidele soodsalt, suurendades nende arvukust ~ 17% ning biomassi ja mitmekesisust ~ 8% võrra võrreldes variandiga, kus vahekultuure ei kasvatatud. Tava- ja maheviljeluse kontrolllappide võrdluse tulemusena leiti rohkem vihmausse maheviljeluses olevalt alalt, mis näitas, et taimekaitsevahenditel oli negatiivne mõju vihmausside arvukusele ja biomassile.The aim of the present thesis was to study how crops, cover crops growth and pesticides use influenced the abundance, biomass and variety of earthworms in organic and conventional farming in five field crop rotation. The results were compared with the earlier studies found in literature. The field experiment was established at Eerika in Tartu County in 2008 and the earthworms were collected in 2014. The treatments were as follows: Conventional 0 – conventional farming control plot where pesticides were used; Conventional 150 – intensive fertilisation (N150P25K95) and pesticides used; Organic 0 – organic farming control plot; Organic I – cover crops as green fertilisers; Organic II – cover crops and manure (40 t per ha-1 on average per rotation) used. The crops in the rotation were: red clover Varte, barley Anni with red clover undersowing, potato Maret, pea Tudor, winter wheat Fredis. In the plots Organic I and Organic II a mixture of rye and turnip rape was used as the cover crops after harvesting winter wheat, after harvesting pea, turnip rape was sown and after potato rye was used. The earthworms were collected by hand from the pits with measures 40 by 40 cm from the depth of 20 cm twice at the beginning of June and in the middle of September. The abundance, biomass and species of mature individuals were determined. Altogether 6 species were found, the dominant species was the common earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa. The amount of juvenile earthworms which species was not possible to identify was 58% at the beginning of summer and 46% in autumn. The result of the study revealed that red clover and pea had a positive effect on the abundance and biomass of the earthworms. The lowest number and mass of earthworms was in the plots with potato and barley with clover undersowing. Winter cover crops as green fertiliser had a favourable effect on earthworms increasing their abundance by ~ 17%, and biomass and number of species by ~ 8% compared to the plot where cover crops were not grown. When comparing conventional and organic farming control plots, more earthworms were found in the organic plot, which showed that pesticides had a negative effect on the abundance and biomass of the earthworms

Fertilization and field crops effect on earthworms

Soil quality can be estimated through soil chemical, physical and biological properties, from which the detection of biological indicators is the most difficult. Usually the earthworms are the easiest detectable species to evaluate sustainability of soil biota on arable land

Winter cover crop effects on soil structural stability and microbiological activity in organic farming

In a field experiment based on a five-year crop rotation (pea, potato, barley undersown with red clover, red clover and winter wheat), several soil parameters, porosity, number and biomass of earthworms, total nitrogen, organic carbon, percentage of water stable aggregates and enzymatic activity, were studied during 2013 and 2014, the first and second year, respectively, since the first rotation concluded. This rotation was managed under three organic farming systems: Organic 0 (control), Organic I (with winter cover crops lately incorporated into the soil as green manure) and Organic II (with the same cover crops plus a yearly amendment of 40 t ha−1 of cattle manure). Crop rotation had a yearly positive effect on the soil bulk density, and enhanced the percentage of air filled pores; nonetheless, despite the leguminous crops in the rotation, all the systems presented a yearly decrease in total nitrogen in 2014. Cover crops along with manure only had a significant effect on enzymatic activity; however no significant effect was found in soil organic carbon content, soil particle aggregability or number and biomass of earthworms. This was connected with the intensive tillage carried out in the systems, the weather conditions and the characteristics of the organic amendments. However according to other studies these results could be transient and further long-term investigations will be needed