Agronomy Library > Annual Weeds

Earthworm populations as affected by long-term tillage practices in southern Alberta
Author: Clapperton, M.J., Miller, J.J., Larney, F.J., Lindwell, C.W., Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Alberta, Canada
Date Created: January 06, 1997
Last Reviewed: February 01, 2007
Summary. This paper describes a study to determine the long-term (25-year) effects of zero tillage and conventional tillage, under dryland-wheat fallow rotation on earthworm populations. The data was collected from the fallow phase of the rotation on the same field plots in both 1992 and 1994. There were significantly more earthworms found under zero tillage than under conventional tillage in both 1992 and 1994. A majority of the earthworms were found 5-15 cm deep in both years. There is a significant effect of long-term dryland tillage practices on earthworm populations in southern Alberta.