The aim of the present study was to examine the interactions between an endogeic earthworm species,
Metaphire posthuma, and purely mineral (control) or mineral plus organic (compost vs. vermicompost)
amendments in terms of soil chemical properties and plant growth and yield. A one-year experiment was
carried out in a greenhouse with a maize–tomato–maize cycle. Compost and vermicompost modified soil
chemical properties leading to higher C and N, higher pH and CEC, and lower available P, NH4
+ and NO3
−
than in the control. Although no significant difference in plant growth was observed for the first maize
planting, tomato and maize growth were then highest for the mineral and vermicompost treatments and
lowest for compost. Overall plant yields were always highest in mineral fertilizer alone and lowest for the
compost treatments. The application of vermicompost led to a similar yield as the control treatment for
the first maize planting. However, its beneficial influence decreased during the experiment until it was
similar to that ofthe composttreatment. The presence of earthworms reduced the C contentin soil mixed
with compost and vermicompost but only influenced plant growth and yield in the compost treatment.
The effect of earthworms was initially null (i.e. for the first maize crop), positive (i.e. for tomato planting)
and finally negative (i.e. for the second maize planting), thereby underpinning the complexity of the
interactions between the quality of organic matter in soil, earthworm activity and plant growth.
The aim of the present study was to examine the interactions between an endogeic earthworm species,Metaphire posthuma, and purely mineral (control) or mineral plus organic (compost vs. vermicompost)amendments in terms of soil chemical properties and plant growth and yield. A one-year experiment wascarried out in a greenhouse with a maize–tomato–maize cycle. Compost and vermicompost modified soilchemical properties leading to higher C and N, higher pH and CEC, and lower available P, NH4+ and NO3−than in the control. Although no significant difference in plant growth was observed for the first maizeplanting, tomato and maize growth were then highest for the mineral and vermicompost treatments andlowest for compost. Overall plant yields were always highest in mineral fertilizer alone and lowest for thecompost treatments. The application of vermicompost led to a similar yield as the control treatment forthe first maize planting. However, its beneficial influence decreased during the experiment until it wassimilar to that ofthe composttreatment. The presence of earthworms reduced the C contentin soil mixedwith compost and vermicompost but only influenced plant growth and yield in the compost treatment.The effect of earthworms was initially null (i.e. for the first maize crop), positive (i.e. for tomato planting)and finally negative (i.e. for the second maize planting), thereby underpinning the complexity of theinteractions between the quality of organic matter in soil, earthworm activity and plant growth.
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