The WormEx I experiment was launched on March 09, 2016, aiming at measuring in the field how the soil-fauna digging activity affects the hydrological properties of the uppermost soil layers. Particularly the experiment focused on quantifying the change of conductivity, macroscopic capillary length and sorptivity curve as a consequence of the presence of earthworm burrows. The experimental field is a shallow anthropogenic soil, at Cividate Camuno (274 m a.s.l., Oglio River basin, Central Italian Alps). Here, four experimental plots (1 m2 each) were selected to perform a number of infiltration tests with a tension infiltrometer and a small single-ring infiltrometer. The collected data allowed to measure that the earthworm digging activity contributes to increase all the investigated hydrological properties, thus showing that it enhances the soil hydrological behaviour with regards to both the advective and the diffusive fluxes, and not only at soil saturation, but also in (at least) moderately desaturated soil conditions.
Effects of Earthworm Macropores on Soil Conductivity, Sorptivity and Macroscopic Capillary Length in a Temperate Alpine Area
Pezzotti D.;Murad S. D.;Peli M.;Barontini S.
2025-01-01
Abstract
The WormEx I experiment was launched on March 09, 2016, aiming at measuring in the field how the soil-fauna digging activity affects the hydrological properties of the uppermost soil layers. Particularly the experiment focused on quantifying the change of conductivity, macroscopic capillary length and sorptivity curve as a consequence of the presence of earthworm burrows. The experimental field is a shallow anthropogenic soil, at Cividate Camuno (274 m a.s.l., Oglio River basin, Central Italian Alps). Here, four experimental plots (1 m2 each) were selected to perform a number of infiltration tests with a tension infiltrometer and a small single-ring infiltrometer. The collected data allowed to measure that the earthworm digging activity contributes to increase all the investigated hydrological properties, thus showing that it enhances the soil hydrological behaviour with regards to both the advective and the diffusive fluxes, and not only at soil saturation, but also in (at least) moderately desaturated soil conditions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
