| ith the growing popularity of conservation tillage, there is interest in physical, chemical, and biological changes soils undergo during their conversion from conventional to conservation tillage systems. One area which has only recently been investigated is the ecology and effects of L. terrestris ("night crawlers") in these systems.;Fields with and without L. terrestris were examined by analyzing soil physiochemical properties, farming practices, and drainage indexes in an effort to explain why some fields have not been recolonized after conventional farming processes had ceased. Results indicate the lack of populations of L. terrestris could be due to a variety of factors. One is the lack of sufficient source perimeter to the area of the field. Another is nutrient deficiencies. Magnesium, potassium, pH, % calcium and % magnesium saturation of the CEC were significantly lower in fields devoid of L. terrestris than in fields with them. A series of fields which were devoid of L. terrestris were then seeded in the fall and spring of 1994. First, the effects of L. terrestris on infiltration rates was measured. Sprinkler infiltration tests were performed on 1.2... |
