Water Levels More than Earthworms Impact Rice Growth and Productivity: A Greenhouse Study
Earthworms are highly active in Southeast Asian paddy fields, yet their activity is challenging to measure in flooded soils. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of the subaquatic earthworm <i>Glyphidrilus papillatus</i> (Michaelsen, 1896) on soil properties and rice (<i&g...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1245 |
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| author | Sreypich Sinh Quang Van Pham Lan Anh Thi Le Ruben Puga Freitas Anne Repellin Vannak Ann Nicolas Bottinelli Pascal Jouquet |
| author_facet | Sreypich Sinh Quang Van Pham Lan Anh Thi Le Ruben Puga Freitas Anne Repellin Vannak Ann Nicolas Bottinelli Pascal Jouquet |
| author_sort | Sreypich Sinh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Earthworms are highly active in Southeast Asian paddy fields, yet their activity is challenging to measure in flooded soils. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of the subaquatic earthworm <i>Glyphidrilus papillatus</i> (Michaelsen, 1896) on soil properties and rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) physiology in Northern Vietnam, specifically focusing on rice cultivation at three distinct water levels: 5 cm above the soil surface (HIGH), at the soil level (ZERO), and 5 cm below the soil surface (LOW). Our findings indicate that water levels significantly affect earthworm activity, with the lowest activity observed at the shallowest water depth, as evidenced by reduced pore production in the soil and fewer casts on the surface. While earthworms are typically associated with enhanced soil fertility, this study did not confirm this relationship. Consequently, despite the substantial reorganization of soil structure, no significant interactions were found between earthworm presence and rice biomass, physiological parameters (such as leaf stomatal conductance to water vapor, chlorophyll content, and maximum quantum yield of PSII), or overall yield. In conclusion, this research highlights the critical role of the water level in influencing both earthworm activity and rice development. It underscores the necessity of considering additional ecological factors, such as carbon dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions, and plant resilience to environmental stressors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fb884ebf01934ec4977ac27ed6cfd552 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-fb884ebf01934ec4977ac27ed6cfd5522025-08-20T03:14:38ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-05-01155124510.3390/agronomy15051245Water Levels More than Earthworms Impact Rice Growth and Productivity: A Greenhouse StudySreypich Sinh0Quang Van Pham1Lan Anh Thi Le2Ruben Puga Freitas3Anne Repellin4Vannak Ann5Nicolas Bottinelli6Pascal Jouquet7Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Sorbonne Université, University Paris Est Créteil, CNRS, INRAe, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (UMR iEES-Paris), 75005 Paris, FranceFaculty of Environmental Sciences, Vietnam National University (VNU), 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, VietnamFaculty of Environmental Sciences, Vietnam National University (VNU), 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, VietnamInstitut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Sorbonne Université, University Paris Est Créteil, CNRS, INRAe, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (UMR iEES-Paris), 75005 Paris, FranceInstitut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Sorbonne Université, University Paris Est Créteil, CNRS, INRAe, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (UMR iEES-Paris), 75005 Paris, FranceResearch and Innovation Center, Faculty of Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering, Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC), Phnom Penh, CambodiaInstitut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Sorbonne Université, University Paris Est Créteil, CNRS, INRAe, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (UMR iEES-Paris), 75005 Paris, FranceInstitut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Sorbonne Université, University Paris Est Créteil, CNRS, INRAe, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (UMR iEES-Paris), 75005 Paris, FranceEarthworms are highly active in Southeast Asian paddy fields, yet their activity is challenging to measure in flooded soils. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of the subaquatic earthworm <i>Glyphidrilus papillatus</i> (Michaelsen, 1896) on soil properties and rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) physiology in Northern Vietnam, specifically focusing on rice cultivation at three distinct water levels: 5 cm above the soil surface (HIGH), at the soil level (ZERO), and 5 cm below the soil surface (LOW). Our findings indicate that water levels significantly affect earthworm activity, with the lowest activity observed at the shallowest water depth, as evidenced by reduced pore production in the soil and fewer casts on the surface. While earthworms are typically associated with enhanced soil fertility, this study did not confirm this relationship. Consequently, despite the substantial reorganization of soil structure, no significant interactions were found between earthworm presence and rice biomass, physiological parameters (such as leaf stomatal conductance to water vapor, chlorophyll content, and maximum quantum yield of PSII), or overall yield. In conclusion, this research highlights the critical role of the water level in influencing both earthworm activity and rice development. It underscores the necessity of considering additional ecological factors, such as carbon dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions, and plant resilience to environmental stressors.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1245<i>Glyphidrilus papillatus</i>soil-saturated conditionsbioturbationporositynutrient cyclingrice physiology |
| spellingShingle | Sreypich Sinh Quang Van Pham Lan Anh Thi Le Ruben Puga Freitas Anne Repellin Vannak Ann Nicolas Bottinelli Pascal Jouquet Water Levels More than Earthworms Impact Rice Growth and Productivity: A Greenhouse Study Agronomy <i>Glyphidrilus papillatus</i> soil-saturated conditions bioturbation porosity nutrient cycling rice physiology |
| title | Water Levels More than Earthworms Impact Rice Growth and Productivity: A Greenhouse Study |
| title_full | Water Levels More than Earthworms Impact Rice Growth and Productivity: A Greenhouse Study |
| title_fullStr | Water Levels More than Earthworms Impact Rice Growth and Productivity: A Greenhouse Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water Levels More than Earthworms Impact Rice Growth and Productivity: A Greenhouse Study |
| title_short | Water Levels More than Earthworms Impact Rice Growth and Productivity: A Greenhouse Study |
| title_sort | water levels more than earthworms impact rice growth and productivity a greenhouse study |
| topic | <i>Glyphidrilus papillatus</i> soil-saturated conditions bioturbation porosity nutrient cycling rice physiology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1245 |
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