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Earthworm bioturbation influences the phytoavailability of metals released by particles in cultivated soils
Thibaut Leveque1, Yvan Capowiez2, Eva Schreck3
1Université de Toulouse, INP-ENSAT, Av. Agrobiopôle, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France; UMR 5245 CNRS-INP-UPS, EcoLab (Laboratoire d'écologie fonctionnelle), Avenue de l'Agrobiopôle, BP 32607, 31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France; ADEME (French Agency for Environment and Energy Management), 20 avenue du Grésillé, BP 90406, 49004 Angers Cedex 01, France.
Abstract:
The influence of earthworm activity on soil-to-plant metal transfer was studied by carrying out six weeks mesocosms experiments with or without lettuce and/or earthworms in soil with a gradient of metal concentrations due to particles fallouts. Soil characteristics, metal concentrations in lettuce and earthworms were measured and soil porosity in the mesocosms was determined. Earthworms increased the soil pH, macroporosity and soil organic matter content due to the burying of wheat straw provided as food. Earthworm activities increased the metals concentrations in lettuce leaves. Pb and Cd concentrations in lettuce leaves can increase up to 46% with earthworm activities … These results and the low correlation between estimated by CaCl2 and EDTA and measured pollutant phytoavailability suggest that earthworm bioturbation was the main cause of the increase. Bioturbation could affect the proximity of pollutants to the roots and soil organic matter.
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