Abstract
Effective plant residue management is crucial in the replanting operation of mature oil palm plantation s.
Control of the large amount and volume of the fallen palm trunks is challenging. Biological agents such as
earthworms and fungus could enhance organic matter decomposition. Thus, this study aimed to explore the
dispersal of cellulose decomposing fungi with the help of earthworms. This study examined the role of
earthworm species (endogeic and anecic) on dispersing Aspergillus niger from one oil palm trunk to another.
To study this effect, an open container was divided into two compartments (A and B). Earthworms and the
inoculated oil palm trunk pieces with A. niger were applied at compartment A that consisted of sterile soil. On
the other hand, compartment B was filled with sterile soil and sterile pieces of oil palm trunk. The
compartment barrier between A and B was then opened for 40 days. Earthworm treatments for A included
control (without earthworm), four anecic, eight anecic, two anecic+two endogeic, four endogeic, eight
endogeic, four anecic+four endogeic earthworms. Measurements included percentage of earthworms that
moved from compartment A to B, the presence of A. niger in earthworms’ intestine and on the oil, palm pieces
in B, and C and N concentration of palm pieces. The results showed that endogeic worms had higher
movement compared to anecic worms. Earthworms moved from the denser population site to the less populated
one. The species and abundance of earthworms had a significant effect on the presence of A.niger in the
worms’ intestine and on oil palm pieces in compartment B. In particular, anecic worms induced the highest
A.niger population. Nevertheless, the decomposition of oil palm pieces was mostly controlled by the
abundance of earthworms. Carbon of palm trunk was reduced by 20% in the treatment with the largest
population of earthworms. This study demonstrated that the earthworms could be used to enhance the
decomposition of oil palm trunk pieces and disperse beneficial fungi.
Okto Prandi Sihombing, Sarifuddin a, dan Tengku Sabrina. (2020) Earthworms as a vector of aspergillus niger dispersal to enhance the decomposition of oil palm trunks, The Journal Soil & Environment , Volume 39, Issue 2.
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