Applied Soil Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Effects of anthropogenic activities on soil microbial community structure and methane anaerobic oxidation rate in coastal wetlands of Yellow River Delta, China","authors":"Chenmiao Liu ,&nbsp;Zihao Wang ,&nbsp;Xia Gao ,&nbsp;Kun Li ,&nbsp;Lei Yu ,&nbsp;Jingyu Sun ,&nbsp;Hongjie Di ,&nbsp;Xiaoya Xu ,&nbsp;Qingfeng Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106044","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106044","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) is widely recognized in wetland soils as an important sink for methane (CH₄), a potent greenhouse gas, and an important pathway for CH₄ reduction. However, the process of AOM in coastal wetland soil in the context of various anthropogenic impacts and the impacts on microorganisms are not clear due to the intricate interplay among numerous factors in nature and the impacts of anthropogenic activities. Therefore, in this study, laboratory culture methods integrated with molecular biology techniques were used to investigate the rate of AOM in soils of different depths under the influence of several typical anthropogenic activities in the Yellow River Delta, as well as the mechanisms of influence on environmental and microbiological factors. The findings of the study indicated that AOM rates decrease with depth; the effects of various forms of nitrogen (N) on the anaerobic oxidation of soil methane in different soil horizons were inconsistent; and inorganic nitrogen (NH₄⁺, NO₂⁻) was found to affect AOM processes by influencing some of the functional communities (ANME-2d, ANME, and <em>Geobacter</em>), as well as some microorganisms (Euryarchaeota, Methanosarcinales) that indirectly affect the AOM process. Moreover, <em>Geobacter</em>, ANME, and ANME-2d were the key functional microorganisms influencing the AOM process in the anthropogenic samples and served as crucial factors in the AOM process. Therefore, this study could provide data support and a theoretical basis for mitigating global warming.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 106044"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143748205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Shrub encroachment modulates soil microbial assembly, stability, and functional dynamics in temperate marshes: Emphasizes the key role of bacterial two-component systems","authors":"Ziliang Yin ,&nbsp;Xin Sun ,&nbsp;Jing Yang ,&nbsp;Shirui Jiang ,&nbsp;Weihui Feng ,&nbsp;Tijiu Cai ,&nbsp;Xiaoxin Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106073","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106073","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The physical and chemical changes that accompany shifts in plant community composition directly impact marsh soil microbial communities. This leads to uncertainty in microbial communities and plant feedback, which limits our ability to predict marsh biogeochemical cycling and microorganism responses to changes in plant community composition. Therefore, this study employed high-throughput sequencing to elucidate the mechanisms regulating marsh soil microbial community assembly, stability, and functional profiles in response to varying levels of shrub encroachment. The results showed that shrub encroachment significantly altered the composition of soil microorganisms, leading to increased phylogenetic conservation within bacterial and fungal communities. Following shrub encroachment, bacteria sensed, responded, and adapted to environmental changes through the two-component system, shifting community assembly from deterministic (variable selection) to stochastic (homogenizing dispersal) processes. However, fungal community assembly was weakly responsive to shrub encroachment remained primarily stochastic, with the dominant mode transitioning from undominated processes to homogenizing dispersal, largely due to the differential expression of metabolic pathways and interactions (exchange of material, energy, and signaling) with bacterial two-component systems. Additionally, shrub encroachment enhances the networks scale and complexity of soil microorganism, promotes competitive behaviour, and increases community stability while reshaping functional profiles. Further investigation into these issues will contribute to our understanding of microbial ecology theory, thereby providing more effective strategies and methods for the management and conservation of marsh ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 106073"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143748206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stacking soil health practices is necessary to enhance soil ecosystem multifunctionality of semi-arid almond agroecosystems","authors":"Krista Marshall ,&nbsp;Amanda K. Hodson ,&nbsp;Timothy Bowles ,&nbsp;Katherine Jarvis-Shean ,&nbsp;Amélie C.M. Gaudin","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106066","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106066","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Identifying strategies to rebuild healthy, living soil ecosystems is critical to alleviate widespread soil degradation and enhance the multitude of soil functions fundamental to sustainability, resilience, and agroecological transitions. This is particularly true in California's almond agroecosystems where a combination of semi-arid climates and historical emphasis on aboveground production components has left soils degraded and the most effective strategies to build healthy soil remain unclear. We used a regionally specific survey of commercial orchards to evaluate relationships between adoption of soil health building practices, soil ecosystem functional outcomes, and soil ecosystem multifunctionality. Orchards with applications of single or few principles without orchard redesigns didn't differentiate from bare soils and had the lowest multifunctionally score across the Alley and Tree management zones. In contrast, orchards with stacked application of multiple soil health building practices, such as diverse vegetative understories with animal grazing had the highest soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, soil protein, available P, soil respiration, and robust and diverse soil nematode communities, which resulted in the highest soil multifunctionality score. Results from this study indicate that a diverse and stacked application of soil health principles is the most effective strategy to enhance multiple soil ecosystem functions in perennial semi-arid agroecosystems. It also demonstrates the potential for this approach to uncover the nuanced outcomes of soil health building principles in growers' orchards. As research continues to show the context-specific nature of management's relationships to soil outcomes, this study offers new insights into regional soil health potential and the efficacy of adopting several practices to promote synergistic soil ecosystem functionality in in irrigated semi-arid agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 106066"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143748207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Organic versus conventional agriculture in Cyprus: An analysis of soil bacterial communities in apple orchards and barley field","authors":"Omirou Michalis ,&nbsp;Fasoula A. Dionysia ,&nbsp;Constantinou Louiza ,&nbsp;Ioannidou Sotiroula ,&nbsp;Ioannides M. Ioannis","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106030","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106030","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to elucidate the influence of agricultural systems on the soil bacterial communities in barley fields and apple orchards. Employing high-throughput sequencing, we profiled the bacterial communities in both crops under organic and conventional farming systems. Although no significant variations were observed at the phylum level, substantial differentiation was evident at lower taxonomic levels, highlighting the importance of farming practices on shaping soil microbiota. Under organic farming, we observed an enrichment of certain bacterial genera, potentially playing vital roles in enhancing soil health and fertility. On the contrary, unique bacterial genera thrived under conventional farming practices. Redundancy analysis revealed a significant role of soil physicochemical properties in determining bacterial community composition, accounting for &gt;50 % of the observed variance. Notably, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, P-Olsen, and pH, were identified as major predictors of bacterial composition. The current study underscores the influence of farming system on the soil bacteriome and shed light on its potential implications for soil health and crop productivity. This research contributes to our understanding of how farming practices influence the soil bacterial assemblies and provides valuable insights for refining sustainable farming strategies. Future investigations are warranted to elucidate the functional roles of the identified bioindicators in soil health and productivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 106030"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143748203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Glomalin-related soil proteins in particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon pools in alpine grasslands with different degradation degrees","authors":"Haolin Zhang ,&nbsp;Yang Hu ,&nbsp;Xinya Sun ,&nbsp;Yubin Wang ,&nbsp;Bicheng Zhang ,&nbsp;Chunhui Liu ,&nbsp;Anum Rafiq ,&nbsp;Baorong Wang ,&nbsp;Shaoshan An ,&nbsp;Zhaolong Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106068","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106068","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSP) produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can mitigate declining in soil organic carbon (SOC) in degraded alpine grasslands by regulating functional C pools, particulate organic C (POC) and mineral-associated organic C (MAOC). However, the mechanism by which GRSP regulates the formation of different functional C pools in alpine grasslands remains unclear. We investigated GRSP content in POC and MAOC in alpine grasslands with varying degradation gradients on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and analyzed how the AMF co-occurrence network modulates these variations. The GRSP content in POC and MAOC in heavy degradation grassland was reduced by 38.4 % and 37.5 % compared with non-degradation grassland. However, the relative contribution of GRSP in POC and MAOC increased by 9.9 % and 17.5 %, respectively. Grassland degradation decreased soil AMF diversity by 33.7 % but increased network stability by 53.2 % in alpine grasslands and network complexity by 5 times in alpine steppes. The random forest model highlighted that GRSP played a key role in soil functional C, especially in enhancing the contribution to MAOC. Further analyses revealed that the changes in the AMF community led to reduced POC and MAOC formation by decreasing GRSP content in POC and MAOC. GRSP is critical for POC and MAOC formation, and degradation-induced changes in AMF community structure increase the contribution of GRSP to the soil functional C pool. Therefore, protecting ecosystems with complex below-ground AMF communities contributes to stable SOC sequestration during grassland degradation, which is important for establishing and maintaining grassland SOC pools.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 106068"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143748586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combined effects of biochar and silkworm excrement compost applications on soil properties and vegetable growth","authors":"Tianyu Luan ,&nbsp;Jiangmin Yan ,&nbsp;Xingran Zhao ,&nbsp;Tuerxunguli Tuoheti ,&nbsp;Ye Xu ,&nbsp;Tao Gan ,&nbsp;Xinyu Zhao ,&nbsp;Lizhi He ,&nbsp;Williamson Gustave ,&nbsp;Xiaokai Zhang ,&nbsp;Feng He","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106067","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106067","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the growing global population, the demand for vegetables is increasing rapidly. While the extensive use of chemical fertilizers has been a conventional approach to boost vegetable production, it often degrades soil health and diminishes vegetable quality. This study evaluates the potential of rice husk biochar and silkworm excrement compost as alternative, sustainable biomass fertilizers, examining their impact on yield, quality, soil fertility, and soil microbial communities in Chinese cabbage and lettuce cultivation. Results demonstrated that a combined application of biochar and silkworm excrement compost significantly enhanced the yields of both Chinese cabbage and lettuce. The optimal yield for each crop was achieved at a biochar-to-compost ratio of 2:3, and yields (fresh weight) after this treatment were134 and 103 times higher than the control for Chinese cabbage and lettuce, respectively. In addition, by adjusting the combination ratio of compost and biochar, indicators such as vitamin C, soluble sugar, and soluble protein can be effectively improved, thereby enhancing the quality of vegetables. Compared to control, soil ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium showed marked increases in all other treatment soils. In Chinese cabbage soil, compared to other fertility indicators, the highest increase in available phosphorus was observed under biochar-to-compost ratio of 2:3 treatment with an increment of 175.2 % over the control. Furthermore, the biochar-compost combination enhanced soil microbial community structure, raised the Alpha diversity index for soil bacteria, and increased the abundance of key phyla, including Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. These findings offer new insights and methodological support for advancing sustainable practices within the vegetable industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 106067"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143738475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Syringa oblata maintains rhizosphere r-strategists and microbial functions by regulating exudates in root tip zone under drought","authors":"Huiling Wang ,&nbsp;Jiarui Chen ,&nbsp;Hang Jing ,&nbsp;Benshuai Yan ,&nbsp;Furong Wei ,&nbsp;Sha Xue ,&nbsp;Guoliang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106065","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106065","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>How plant regulate exudates in different root parts under drought stress, and their implications for microbial drought resistance in the rhizosphere, remain inadequately understood. We focused on the native shrub <em>Syringa oblata</em> in Loess Plateau, and conducted a 3-year experimental drought experiment to determine the changes in the root exudates and rhizosphere microbiome using microbiome and metabolomic analyses. (1) Root tip zone exhibited higher regulatory capacity of exudation than mature root zone under drought, with the increasing exudation of specific carbohydrates, organic acids, amino acids, fatty acids, and secondary metabolites induced by changes in soil nutrients availability. (2) In bulk soil, drought stress resulted in noticeable shift in microbial communities toward K-strategy, and a reduction of symbiotic fungi, and bacterial nitrogen (N) cycling functions. However, the variation in exudation composition in the rhizosphere of root tip zone contributed to the enrichment of symbiotic fungi and bacterial N cycling functions under drought; the enhanced C flux and chemodiversity of exudates sustained r-strategy and stability of microbial community, respectively. (3) In mature root zone, the exudation composition varied slightly, whereas the C-exudation substantially increased from 26.6 to 85.8 μg C g⁻¹ root hr⁻¹ with decreasing soil water content and contributed to the enrichment of fungal r-strategy species under drought. Our results contribute to the understanding of plant-microbial interactions under drought at a finer scale, and emphasized the significant role of root tip zone in enhancing potential rhizosphere C and N dynamics and plant drought resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 106065"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143738474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Drought and N deposition impact roots and ectomycorrhizal colonisation of European beech down to deep soil layers","authors":"Simon Tresch ,&nbsp;Lucienne C. de Witte ,&nbsp;Sven-Eric Hopf ,&nbsp;Christian Schindler ,&nbsp;Beat Rihm ,&nbsp;Sabine Braun","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106055","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106055","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The impact of nitrogen (N) deposition and drought on roots and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) colonisation in European beech (<em>Fagus sylvatica</em>) were investigated up to a soil depth of 100 cm across 21 long-term study sites. The study encompassed gradients of N deposition from 18 to 50 kg N ha⁻¹a⁻¹ and drought conditions from −52 to 188 mm minimal site water balance (SWB_min). In-growth mesh bags (<em>n</em> = 1050) were used to determine EMF colonisation over a period of 12 months. We discovered vital roots including EMF colonisation down to the maximum soil depth of 100 cm. Notably, one-third of colonised roots were in the subsoil below 40 cm soil depth, emphasizing the role of deep soil layers. Increasing N deposition significantly altered root architecture, reducing root length by a factor of 10, root tip abundance by a factor of 2, and EMF colonisation by a factor of 2.5. Drought suppressed EMF colonisation, decreasing it by a factor of 4 to well-watered sites. A structural equation model (SEM) revealed both direct and indirect pathways of drought and N deposition on root EMF colonisation and tree nutrition. Surprisingly, mycelial growth was detected at 100 cm depth in most incubated mesh bags, underscoring the critical role of deep soil horizons in sustaining European beech under increasing drought stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 106055"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143734737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vermicompost and Azotobacter chroococcum amendment of saline-alkali soil decreases nitrogen loss and increases nitrogen uptake confirmed by ZmNRT1.1B of maize","authors":"Siping Li,&nbsp;Chong Wang,&nbsp;Huiying Huang,&nbsp;Lei Zhao,&nbsp;Jia Cao,&nbsp;Mengli Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106062","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106062","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Globally, enhancing nitrogen (N) retention and optimizing N utilization efficiency in saline-alkali soils are crucial for sustainable agricultural practices and food security. This research aims to address the challenges of significant N loss and suboptimal N utilization efficiency in maize planted in saline-alkali soil. Employing soil column cultivation assays and maize lines with a ZmNRT1.1B loss-of-function mutation, we investigated the impacts of vermicompost and <em>Azotobacter chroococcum</em> on N loss mechanisms (including NH₃ volatilization and ¹⁵N leaching) and therefore maize N uptake efficiency. The results showed that combined application of vermicompost and <em>A. chroococcum</em> reduced total NH₃ volatilization by 35.0 % through lowering pH and Na⁺ levels, and enhanced cation exchange capacity (CEC). Additionally, this treatment increased soil organic carbon (SOC) content and promoted the formation of macroaggregates, thereby reducing ¹⁵N leaching into deeper soil layer by 35.0 %–48.0 %, which led to the increase of soil available ¹⁵N by 7.91 %–8.84 %. Furthermore, this amendment enhanced the shoot and root biomass by 88.0 % and 45.2 %, respectively, and increased the total N uptake by 36.7 % of wild-type maize, likely due to increased soil available N and a reduced Na⁺/K⁺ ratio in root. The improved ¹⁵N uptake in maize was linked to the activation of the ZmNRT1.1B gene, as evidenced by the growth inhibition and reduced N uptake in maize with a ZmNRT1.1B loss-of-function mutation. Collectively, vermicompost and <em>A. chroococcum</em> mitigate N loss in saline-alkali soil, thereby increasing stored available N and promoting N uptake and maize growth. These strategies significantly improve the effective management and utilization of sustainable N resources in saline-alkali soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 106062"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143734550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relationships between earthworm community, bioturbation and soil detachment: A one-year outdoor experiment","authors":"Q.V. Pham ,&nbsp;Y. Capowiez ,&nbsp;P. Jouquet ,&nbsp;A.D. Nguyen ,&nbsp;J.L. Janeau ,&nbsp;T.M. Tran ,&nbsp;N. Bottinelli","doi":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We conducted a one-year outdoor experiment to evaluate how the functional diversity of earthworms influences soil erosion. Three species with contrasting bioturbating behaviors were selected: the polyhumic endogeic <em>Pontoscolex corethrurus</em> (feeding and casting on the soil surface and constructing shallow burrows), the endogeic <em>Amynthas alluxus</em> (geophagous and permanently living in the subsoil), and the anecic <em>Amynthas zenkevichi</em> (feeding and casting on the soil surface and constructing deep burrows). A total of 27 mesocosms (1 m³ each) planted with grass were inoculated with none to all three species at two biomass levels (30 and 60 g m⁻²). Soil detachment, water runoff, drainage, soil water potential, and grass biomass were monitored throughout the whole experiment, while burrow volume, water infiltration rate, surface casts, and earthworm communities were measured at the end. <em>A. zenkevichi</em> was the only surviving species and colonized all the mesocosms. Consequently, the impact of each species and their interactions on soil detachment could not be assessed. Nevertheless, mesocosms initially inoculated with earthworms showed, on average, a 7.7-fold decrease in soil detachment compared to the control mesocosm, where no earthworms were introduced at the beginning but was later colonized by dispersed earthworms. Structural equation modeling explained 77 % of the variance in soil detachment. It revealed that both surface casts and burrows (measured by X-ray tomography) indirectly reduced soil detachment by increasing water infiltration and reducing water runoff. However, surface casts also promoted water runoff, partially counteracting these benefits. This study highlights the challenges of managing earthworm communities in long-term mesocosm experiments under natural conditions. Despite these limitations, our findings emphasize the crucial role of anecic earthworms in reducing soil detachment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8099,"journal":{"name":"Applied Soil Ecology","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 106063"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143734549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}