Effects of earthworm inoculation on saline-alkali soil nutrient, soil organisms and plant cultivation

Over a period of six months,at the China Agricultural University greenhouse,15and 30individual earthworms were introduced into saline-alkali soil,to study the effect of earthworm inoculation on saline-alkali soil nutrient,soil organisms and plant cultivation.The results showed that earthworm inoculation increased the contents of soil available phosphorus and potassium,while soil organic matter content significantly decreased.Although plant biomass was not increased after earthworm inoculation,microbial biomass carbon,nematodes and mite abundance were increased.Earthworm inoculation changed the relative abundance of nematode trophic groups and mite suborder,but did not significantly affect soil bacteria,nematodes and mites Shannon Wiener diversity index and Evenness index.Earthworm inoculation improved the biological,chemical and physical processes of the soil ecosystem,which may play important roles on saline-alkali soil improvement.