Login | Request Account (DAF staff only)

Compacted soil affects soil macrofauna populations in a semi-arid environment in central Queensland

Share this record

Add to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to XAdd to WechatAdd to Microsoft_teamsAdd to WhatsappAdd to Any

Export this record

View Altmetrics

Radford, B. J., Wilson-Rummenie, A.C., Simpson, G.B., Bell, K. L. and Ferguson, M.A. (2001) Compacted soil affects soil macrofauna populations in a semi-arid environment in central Queensland. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 33 (12-13). pp. 1869-1872. ISSN 0038-0717

Full text not currently attached. Access may be available via the Publisher's website or OpenAccess link.

Article Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-0717(01)00104-3

Abstract

Population densities of soil macrofauna were assessed in a field experiment with annually compacted treatments (applied to whole plots) and management treatments to repair initially compacted soil. Earthworms accounted for about half the macrofauna recovered during the experiment. Compaction of wet surface soil (water content>plastic limit) by agricultural machinery generally reduced numbers of macrofauna and earthworms. Annual compaction with a 10 Mg axle load on wet soil reduced mean macrofauna numbers from 70 to 15 m−2 and mean earthworm numbers from 41 to 2 m−2. Annual compaction with 6 Mg on soil drier than the plastic limit to a depth of 0.08 m had no adverse effect on the soil macrofauna. A 3-year pasture ley had more macrofauna (211 m−2) than a control treatment under cropping (29 m−2) but numbers declined when cropping was resumed.

Item Type:Article
Subjects:Agriculture > Agriculture (General) > Soils. Soil science
Live Archive:10 Jan 2024 22:15
Last Modified:10 Jan 2024 22:15

Repository Staff Only: item control page