A presentation by Prof. Tondoh J.E.

1. Land-use context
• Semi-deciduous forest ecosystem areas
Ecosystem services of • Center-West Ivory Coast
earthworms in • Former cocoa production area
agroecosystems • Degraded lands
• Small holding farmers
J. E. Tondoh*, A.M. Guéi, Y. Baidai, A. Gbakpa, G.
Siagbe, P., Angui, Y. Tano Earthworm biostimulation in low-
*J.E.Tondoh@CGIAR.ORG input agricultural system as a
www.africasoils.net solution!?
Oume benchmark area, Center-West Ivory Coast (West-Africa)
Study site
Goulikao
(associated
homesteadss)

2. Functional diversity
• Epi-endogeic worm: Hyperiodrilus africanus
(Eudrilidae)
• Endogeic: Millsonia omodeoi
(Acanthodrilidae)
Hyperiodrilus africanus Dichogaster terrae-nigrae
• Anecic?: Dichogaster terrae-nigrae
(Acanthodrilidae)
Demographic traits and role in the
system are well known (Lavelle, 1981;
Tondoh, 1998; Tondoh and Lavelle,
2005; Tondoh et al. 2007)
Millsonia omodeoi
Soil compaction Soil decompaction
+
REGULATION OF SOIL STRUCTURE

3. Rational and hypotheses Demonstration plots
• Spain et al. 1992 (Pot experiments) • 10 farmers = 10 plots (3mx3m)
• Gilot et al. 1996 (Field enclosures) • Maize
• Derouard et al. 1996 (Pot experiments) • Maize+H. africanus
Farmer fields using earthworm as • Maize + M. omodeoi
biofertilizers • Maize+H. africanus+M. omodeoi
Testing the Integrated Soil Fertility • Maize+Urea+SPP
Management (ISFM) theory
In collaboration with farmers
Plots Farmers Altitude Latitude Nord Longitude Ouest
(m) (° min s) (° min s) Pot experiments: the ISFM theory
• T0 Maize
1 Komenan Kacou 175.7 6°31’48.7’’ 5°32’53.2’’
• T1 Maize+coffee wastes
2 Djabla H. Sylvanus 170 6°31’23.9’’ 5°32’51.6’’
• T2 Maize+Urea
3 Guény A. Christophe 167.2 6°31’17.7’’ 5°32’44.5’’
• T3 Maize+SPP
4 Guény A. Christophe 177.5 6°30’98.3’’ 5°32’19.1’’ • T4 Maize+Urea+SPP
5 N’Guessan Emile 175.3 6°30’91.4’’ 5°32’15.5’’ • T5 Maize+M omodeoi+H africanus+Coffee wastes
6 Komenan Béli 179.6 6°30’94.8’’ 5°32’10.9’’ • T6 Maize+M omodeoi+H africanus+Coffee wastes+Urea
7 Tizié Mongoua 177.9 6°30’81.8’’ 5°31’87.4’’ • T7 Maize+M omodeoi+H africanus+Coffee wastes+SPP
8 Zéli André 183 6°30’90.7’’ 5°31’80.3’’ • T8 Maize+M omodeoi+H africanus+Coffee wastes+Urea
9 Gohan Golé 182.3 6°30’69.9’’ 5°32’12.4’’ +SPP
10 Yao K. Evrard 181.7 6°30’58.5’’ 5°31’71.0’’

4. Pot experiments: Impact of Earthworm collection
earthworms on ecosystem services
• T0 Control without earthworms
• T1 M. omodeoi
• T2 D. terrae nigrae
• T3 H. africanus
• T4 M. omodeoi + D.terrae-nigrae + H.africanus
• T5 M. omodeoi + H. africanus
• T6 M. omodeoi + D.terrae-nigrae
• T7 D. terrae-nigrae + H.africanus
Demonstration plots
Adult and subadult worms

5. Pot experiments: the ISFM
theory
Maize
Maize Maize + Maize
+ + M. Omodeoi Maize +
M. omodeoi H. africanus + Urea+SPP
H. africanus
3m
Bulk density
Penetrometry
NUE
PUE
WUE
Maize yield
Root biomass

6. Pot experiments: carbon sequestration
and soil structure regulation
T5
T1
Mo Mo+Ha
T2
T6
T3 5m T7
Da Mo+Dtn
2m T8
T4 Ha Ha+Dtn
Mo+Da+Ha T
5 cm
Soil level in the bucket
Should match that of the
land
Soil
Holes at the bottom
Stone beds
Inoculation of worms Covering the bucket witn nylon mesh
to avoid predation and escape

7. Water infiltration rate
C,N density
Resistance to penetration
Aggregate size distribution
Demonstration plots Demonstration plots
Grain biomass (t ha-1)
6.00
Cobs biomass (t ha-1)
24.0
No significant effect
+26.9% increase
4.50 +21.5% Maize+Mo 18.0
+13.9% Maize+Ha
3.00 12.0
+21.2% Maize+Mo+Ha
1.50 6.0
0.0
0.00

8. Demonstration plots Pot experiments: the ISFM theory
Root biomass (t ha-1)
6.00
No significant effect
4.50
3.00
1.50
0.00
Pot experiments Pot experiments
Cob biomass (t ha-1)
Height (cm) 15
250 Significant effect 12
200 T5 +240.4%
M
MCw 9
150 MU T8 +95.3%
MSPP 6
MUSPP
100 T7 +107%
MMoHaCw
3
MMoHaUCw
50 MMoHaSPPCW T4 +119.2%
MMoHaUSPPCw 0
0 T0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8
30DAP 50DAP 75DAP
T5: Maize+Ma+Ha+Cw T6: T5+Urea T7:T5+SPP T8: T5+Urea+SPP

9. Pot experiments Pot experiments
Grain biomass (t ha-1) Root biomass (t ha-1)
12 4
9 T8 +96.3%
3
T5 +266.8%
6
2
T3 +58.8%
3
1
T4 +111.04%
0
0
T0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8
T5: Maize+Ma+Ha+Cw T6: T5+Urea T7:T5+SPP T8: T5+Urea+SPP T5: Maize+Ma+Ha+Cw T6: T5+Urea T7:T5+SPP T8: T5+Urea+SPP
Pot experiments Pot experiments
200
Fertilizer Use Efficiency
Water Use Efficiency
(Kg kg-1)
b (Kg mm-1)
160
0.06
b
120 0.05
NUE
a 0.04
80 a PUE
0.03 a a
a WUE+N
40
WUE+P
0.02
0 a
0.01
Maize-Ew Maize+Ew
0
Maize-Ew Maize+Ew

10. Experiment pots Pot experiments
Resistance to Aggregate size
penotrometrie (Kpa) distribution
800 100%
700
80%
600
>2000 m
500 60% 1000 - 2000 m
500 - 1000 m
400 0-10 cm 200 - 500 m
40%
10-20 cm 100 - 200 m
300
50 - 100 m
200 20% 0 - 50 m
100
0%
0
C Mo Dt Ha MoHa MoDt HaDt MoHaDt
C Mo Dt Ha MoHa MoDt HaDt MoHaDt
Pot experiments Pot experiments
8
Infiltration rate (cm mn-1) Infiltration rate (cm min-1)
6
6
Te
5
Mo
Dt 4
4 Ha
MoHa 3
MoDt
2
2 HaDt
MoHaDt 1
0
0
Te Mo Dt Ha MoHa MoDt HaDt MoHaDt
5 10 15 20 30 40 50 60 75

11. Pot experiments Take-home messages
• Earthworms can be used as biofertilizers
C & N stocks (t ha-1) to improve maize production
1.50
1.45 • The impact is enhanced by earthworms
1.40 with contrasted functional attributes
1.35
1.30 0-10 cm
• PUE, WUE, water infiltration rate and soil
1.25 10-20 cm structure regulation are likely to explain
1.20 the posifive impact of earthworms on plant
1.15
1.10
growth and production
Te Mo Dt Ha MoHa MoDt HaDt MoHaDt
Take-home messages
• Earthworms as the biological component
in the ISFM theory
THANK YOU!!!
THANK YOU!!