Field experiment reveals varied earthworm densities boost soil organic carbon more than they increase carbon dioxide emissions

作者：Yufeng Qiu, Ronggui Tang, Yihong Liu, Youchao Chen, Yuye Shen, Shoujia Zhuo, Yanjiang Cai, Scott X. Chang · 发表于：Geoderma · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117251 · 被引用次数：16 · 研究领域：Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics、Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology、Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology

• Earthworms boosted CO 2 emissions and SOC concentrations in bamboo forest soils. • Earthworm activity raised CO 2 emissions by elevating DOC and BG levels. • Higher earthworm densities resulted in lower soil CO 2 emissions. • Earthworms increased SOCD sixfold compared to their CO 2 -C emissions. Earthworms play crucial roles in regulating soil organic carbon (SOC) and greenhouse gas emissions in forest soils. Laboratory studies have proven that they promote soil carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. However, the effects of earthworm activity on forest soil CO 2 emissions and organic carbon (C) have not yet been quantified in situ, and the impact of different earthworm densities remain unclear. In this study, we investigated how earthworm ( Pheretima guillelmi ) activity at three densities (no earthworms, original density, and double the original density) affected SOC, its labile fractions, C-related enzyme activities, and soil CO 2 emissions in a Moso bamboo ( Phyllostachys edulis ) forest ecosystem over a six-month field experiment. Our results showed that the original earthworm density resulted in a 23.4 % increase in soil CO 2 emissions, while double the original earthworm density resulted in a 9.6 % reduction in emissions compared to the original density. Additionally, earthworms at both densities significantly increased the concentration of SOC and its labile fractions. Notably, the increase in SOC density (SOCD, SOC stock per unit land area, kg C ha −1 ) induced by earthw...