simulated precipitation events at day 28 and day 64 (Fig. 1b). In
section 1 the water content was highest in treatments with
L. rubellus and lowest in treatments with L. terrestris. In sections 2
and 3 the differences between the treatments were highest after
the simulated precipitation event. Here, L. rubellus affected a higher
water content, relative to the control. However, the temporal
development of the water content in treatments with L. terrestris
showed contrasting results in sections 2 and 3 (Fig. 1b). The impact
of A. caliginosa on soil water contents was not clear in this study.
Thewater contents showed a contrasting behavior between both A.
caliginosa treatments (Fig. 1b).
3.4. Water infiltration and water discharge
Striking differences in water infiltration rates between the
treatments were found. All earthworm species affected higher
water infiltration rates at the beginning of the infiltration experiment,
relative to both control treatments (Fig. 3). In both treatments
with A. caliginosa the water infiltration rates were the
highest and they decreased very slowly; values remained constant
on a relatively high level after approximately 200 s. Compared to
treatments with A. caliginosa, the treatments with L. terrestris and
L. rubellus showed generally lower infiltration rates. In the beginning
of the infiltration experiment both species led to higher
infiltration rates, relative to the control, but the infiltration rates
decreased to a constant level similar to that of the controls (Fig. 3