Summary
This field trial demonstrates that farmyard manure application significantly enhances L. terrestris midden development and quality in minimum-tillage arable wheat systems, with middens approximately twice the dry weight (20.6 ± 1.7 g) compared to compost or unamended controls. Middens containing fresh wheat leaves showed substantial mesofauna enrichment (up to 2.8-fold), and all midden microhabitats were enriched in extractable plant nutrients. The findings indicate that organic matter management practices can support earthworm populations and associated soil biological activity in conventional arable cultivation.
UK applicability
These findings are directly applicable to UK arable farming, as the study was conducted under UK conditions on a cereal crop typical of conventional British cultivation. The results suggest that on-farm generated organic amendments such as farmyard manure can enhance soil biological activity and earthworm populations without requiring conversion to fully organic systems, potentially offering a feasible practice for UK conventional growers seeking to improve soil health.
Key measures
Midden dry weight (g), mesofauna abundance (springtails, enchytraeidae, mites, millipedes counts), endogeic earthworm population density, extractable plant nutrients (P, K, S, Mn)
Outcomes reported
The study characterised the biological, physical and chemical properties of L. terrestris middens under different soil amendment regimes in a minimum-tillage wheat field trial. Midden size, mesofauna abundance, endogeic earthworm populations and nutrient enrichment were quantified across farmyard manure, compost and unamended control treatments.
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