Earthworm (<i>Eisenia fetida</i>) Mediated Macropore Network Formation in Black Soil: Decay Straw as a Trigger for Sustainable Tillage
2025
Baoguang Wu | Pu Chen | Yuping Liu | Zhipeng Yin | Qiuju Wang | Shun Xu | Jinsong Zhang | Bingqi Bai | Deyi Zhou | Yuxin Liu
In this study, a method for creating networked macropores through tillage using <i>Eisenia fetida</i> attracted by food sources derived from decomposing straw was proposed. The effects of <i>Eisenia fetida</i> activity and corn stalk addition, as well as the synergistic effects of <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>, on macropore formation were systematically studied. A 3D visualization technique was used to render the pore network model. When compared with undisturbed soil, the results demonstrate that cultivation using earthworms attracted by food sources from decomposing straw creates a soil pore structure with the most significant effect. The 3D porosity of the soil increased 6.90-fold, its average pore volume increased 5.49-fold, and its equivalent diameter increased 4.88-fold. Cylindrical pores, which accounted for the largest proportion (4.38%), had a channel radius of 1–5 mm and comprised approximately 86.7% of all macropores. The channel length increased by 28.5%, the average roundness decreased by 2.5%, and the average coordination number increased by 33.3%. The macroporous network structure formed by these earthworm-generated pores was more beneficial for improving the structure of phaeozem, offering technical support for the field application of earthworm farming.
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