Earthworms, organic matter stabilization, and nutrient dynamics in alternative agroecosystems

The development of sustainable agroecosystems is critical for safeguarding long-term food security and addressing human-driven alterations to the biosphere. Agricultural practices need to better integrate crops with beneficial non-crop species in order to improve the functioning of and expand the services provided by agroecosystems. The research presented here sought to address this issue by examining the impact of residue management on earthworm populations and their influence, in turn, on soil organic matter (SOM) stabilization and nutrient dynamics.;Five studies were conducted to address these questions within two distinct agricultural settings: (1) tomato farming systems in the Central Valley of California (Chapters 1 and 2); and (2) small holder maize-based farming systems in the mountains of western Honduras (Chapters 3, 4, and 5). Chapter 1 reports on an exploratory study examining the effect of residue handling (mulch, cover-crop or bare fallow) on earthworm abundance and diversity in organic and conventional tomato fields in Yolo county, CA. Earthworms were found to respond positively to the high organic matter inputs and minimal disturbance associated with mulching of tomato residues and were strongly associated with total SOM across all fields surveyed. In Chapter2, microcosms were used to manipulate earthworms (Aporrectodea rosea) in differently managed agroecosystems (organic, conventional and an intermediate low-input systems) in a replicated field trial. Earthworms were found to incorporate cover-crop derived C and N into stable aggregate fractions under the low-input system, but appeared to facilitate the loss of N in the conventional system, where N was added as mineral fertilizer. Chapter 3 examined earthworm populations, aggregation and soil fertility within a replicated field trial comparing the Quesungual agroforestry system with traditional slash-and-burn agriculture and undisturbed secondary forest. Mulch application and lack of burning under the Quesungual system promoted earthworm populations, and also P availability in fertilized plots. Although aggregation and C storage were similarly reduced under Quesungual and slash-and-burn agriculture (compared to secondary forest), baseline soil data suggests that the rate of SOM loss was higher under slash-and-burn than Quesungual management. Chapter 4 reports on an experiment where earthworms (Pontoscolex corethrurus) were manipulated using microcosms in the same field plots studied in Chapter 3. Earthworms were found to reduce total soil C in the surface soil across all management systems and to facilitate the loss of fertilizer N within both the Quesungual and slash-and-burn plots. Chapter 5 employed mesocosms (each with a growing maize plant) to manipulate earthworms (P.corethrurus) and residue additions at an adjacent study site. Earthworms improved aggregation and C storage within stable aggregate fractions, but only in the presence of added residues. Earthworms also increased the uptake of fertilizer N by the maize plants and reduced total and available P under all residue treatments.;This research highlights the potential of residue management to regulate the abundance and activity of earthworms, as well as their influence on SOM and nutrient cycling across diverse agricultural contexts. Consequently, the integrated management of organic residues and soil fauna is needed to optimize SOM dynamics, nutrient cycling, and plant growth for sustainable agroecosystem functioning.