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Publication Type:
| Report |
Author(s): | Potter, Daniel A. |
Title: | Degradation of Turfgrass Thatch by Earthworms and Other Soil Fauna |
Source: | Kentucky Turfgrass Research. No. 313, 1987, p. 23-24. |
Publishing Information: | Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service |
Keywords: | TIC Keywords: Thatch decomposition; Microorganisms; Earthworms; Decomposition; Poa pratensis
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Abstract/Contents: | Reports extent of the role that earthworms, small invertebrates, and microorganisms have in the decomposition of thatch into soil in a Kentucky bluegrass turf. Several hundred pieces of thatch (7.5 x 12 cm) enclosed in nylon mesh bags with various sized openings were buried under a Kentucky bluegrass turf. The mesh allowed all organisms, smaller invertegrates excluding earthworms, or only micro-organisms to enter depending on the size of openings. In another test, thatch in nylon mesh bags with large openings were burried in earthworm rich soils, and in soils where earthworms had been eliminated by chloridane applications. Every 3-4 months, the bags were dug up and contents were evaluated. Thatch decomposition nearly doubled when subjected to earthworms. Microbial activity more than doubled from plots where earthworms were excluded, confirming that earthworms play a major role in thatch degradation. |
Language: | English |
References: | 0 |
See Also: | See also 1986 research report in Kentucky Turfgrass Research, no. 303 1986, p. 31-32, R=19486. R=19486
See also research update in Kentucky Turfgrass Research, no.319 1988, p. 32-36, R=19358. R=19358 |
See Also: | Other items relating to: BIOTHATCH
Other items relating to: WORMS |
| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete): Potter, D. A. 1987. Degradation of Turfgrass Thatch by Earthworms and Other Soil Fauna. KY. Turfgrass Res. 313:p. 23-24. |
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| MSU catalog number: SB 433 .A1 K4 |
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