Worm Column Experiment

1. Computed microtomography (µ-CT)

2. Collecting undistrubed cores and slices

3. Collecting samples General Aim is to…

Figure 1. Test column

Minutes From the Meeting: UFZ-Halle, 15.06.2012

Attendees present: Marc-Oliver Göbel, Joanna Hanzel, Marcus Horn, Anja Miltner, Yamuna Kunhi Mouvenchery, Thomas Ritschel, Gabriele Schaumann, Cordula Vogel, Hans-Jörg Vogel

Figure 2. Images from µ-CT: a) upper, b) middle, c) lower part of the column.

Figure 3. Collecting undisturbed core (a and b) and slicing the core (c and d)

Figure 4. Collecting samples from: a) cast, b) burrow wall, c) bulk soil

Test column (Fig.1) was manipulated to learn the handling of the column and mimic the main sampling procedure.

Prior to sampling, computed tomography was performed at the upper, middle and lower part of the column (Fig. 2).

a) b) c)

a) b)

c) d)

Undistrubed core was taken from the test column (Fig.3 a,b).

The core was later sliced to obtain undisturbed thin sections (Fig. 3 c,d).

a) b)

c)

Samples of interest include: cast (Fig. 4a), burrow wall (Fig. 4b) and bulk soil (Fig. 4c).

…study the effect of endogeic earthworm A. caliginosa on: • Stable aggregates and pore size distribution• Surface properties• Transport and preferential flow paths• Contact angle and wettability• Surface chemistry• Hydration and biofilm formation• Spatial distribution of MCPA- metabolites• CO2 and N2O-fluxes• Composition of microaggregates with respect to MCPA degradation surface properties•Active microbial transformers of MCPA and distribution• Dead organic matter• Distribution of oxygen• Redox potential

Soil used for Worm Column Experiment: Luvisol, Scheyern, SCHLAG A15, S1