Impacts of endemic Maoridrilus earthworms (Megascolecidae) in biosolids-amended soil

Abstract

Biosolids can be a valuable fertilizer for agriculture and in ecological restoration, although there are concerns about contaminants. Earthworm activity, including vermicomposting of biosolids, may influence the efficacy of their use. We investigated how two New Zealand endemic anecic species of Maoridrilus (cf. Eisenia fetida) responded to biosolids amendment and affected the mobility of nutrients and trace elements as well as greenhouse gas emissions in biosolids-amended soil. Earthworms were incubated with mixtures of biosolids-amended soil (0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50% biosolids by volume) for 21 d. All species survived in the soil–biosolids mixtures but not in 100% biosolids. The native earthworms, Maoridrilus transalpinus and Maoridrilus sp.2, increased KCl-extractable NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ by up to 29%, substantially more than E. fetida. All species significantly increased microbial biomass carbon and CaCa(NO₃)₂–extractable Cu but significantly decreased dehydrogenase enzymes activity in biosolids-amended soil. Concentrations of Ca(NO₃)₂–extractable Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cd, Co, and Zn varied between earthworm species and with biosolids addition rates. New Zealand native earthworms exacerbated N₂O emissions from soil, whereas E. fetida did not. Eisenia fetida is clearly a preferred species for vermicomposting biosolids and is more tolerant of high concentrations of biosolids. However, New Zealand native earthworms may be more suitable for improving the fertility of soil amended with biosolids.