Micromorphological evidence for changes in soil faunal activity following application of sewage sludge and biocide

• Published in: Applied soil ecology : a section of Agriculture, ecosystems & environment Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 39 - 45
• Main Authors: Adesodun, J.K., Davidson, D.A., Hopkins, D.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biochemistry and biology; Biocide; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; chlorpyrifos; excretion; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; grassland soils; H horizons; land application; microbial activity; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; Sewage sludge; Soil fauna; soil horizons; Soil micromorphology; soil microorganisms; soil organic matter; soil respiration; Soil science; waste disposal; Zoology (interactions between soil fauna and agricultural or forest soils); Scotland; Soil fauna; Sewage sludge; Biocide; Soil micromorphology; Chlorpyrifos; Insecticide; Pesticides; Ecology; Animal activity; Organophosphorus compounds; Soil science; Micromorphology; Grassland soil
• ISSN: 0929-1393; 1873-0272
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2004.09.004

Soil invertebrates have the potential to induce changes in soil physical properties. We have determined the effect of sewage sludge and a biocide (chlorpyrifos) application on faunal activity in the H horizon of an upland grassland soil as expressed in the incidence of faunal excrement and related micromorphological features. This approach allows the accumulated effects of invertebrates on soil physical properties to be compared even if the organisms are no longer present or active. Sewage sludge addition resulted in an increase in faunal activity as indicated by the abundance of excrements and total porosity of the soil, but a reduction in the size of the soil microbial biomass. There were no significant effects of biocide on soil porosity, microbial biomass, or microbial respiration. Undifferentiated or fused excrements were more abundant in the biocide-treated soils, which were also distinguished by a larger amount of amorphous organic matter compared with the control, suggesting a reduced production of new excrements.