Contribution of snails to organic matter decomposition [Philippines]
1989
Capistrano, R.F. | Neue, H.U. (International Rice Research Inst., Los Banos, Laguna (Philippines). Soils Dept.)
This one year experiment evaluated the influence of ordinary field snails (Limnaea viridis and Thiara riquetti) on the decomposition of 14C-labelled rice straw homogenously incorporated under continuously submerged Maahas Clay (Andaqueptic Haplaquoll). The experiment was conducted at Block 422B in IRRI [International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines] farm using a complete randomized statistical design. Six replications per treatment were done. The influence of snails on the decomposition of 14C-labelled rice straw was most distinct on the changes in physical characteristics of the soil. Snails reduced the presence of floodwater algae and soil flora, and caused a significant decrease in soil bulk density (average decrease of 0.1061gcm-3) and the soil water ratio (average increase of 21% soil moisture content). The decomposition pattern of labelled rice straw in both treatments showed a rapid mineralization during the first two months (80-90% 14C lost). Thereafter the decomposition slowed down following an asymptotic logarithmic function. Fifty percent of the incorporated straw was lost after 25 to 30 days. Snails enchanced the decomposition at the top 5 cm layer during their peak growth stages, though differences were not significant at 11 sampling times. They contributed highly to pedobioturbation.
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