Analisi della composizione della lombricofauna e del paesaggio per un'agricoltura sostenibile

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of earthworm communities across various Italian habitats, highlighting species distribution, ecological dynamics, and the influence of management practices on soil biodiversity and interaction with the landscape. It identifies gaps in existing records and emphasizes the need for extensive investigations to map the geographic distribution of species, including endemic and woodland-dominant taxa. Special attention is given to unresolved taxonomic issues. Data from vineyards, wetlands, and agroforestry systems reveal distinct earthworm diversity and density patterns. Vineyards exhibit lower diversity due to intensive soil management, while wetlands support diverse and balanced communities, reflecting minimal disturbance. Agroforestry systems offer intermediate biodiversity, benefiting from organic matter heterogeneity and reduced disturbance. Management practices like reduced tillage, organic amendments, and water management emerge as key strategies to enhance earthworm populations and ecological functions. Experimental findings demonstrate that earthworms significantly influence vegetation cover, nutrient cycling, and soil microclimate regulation. In some cases, organic amendments, mainly compost and biochar, can improve earthworm survival and activity, although excessive doses may have adverse effects. The use of real-time PCR (rt-PCR) to detect earthworm trace DNA in soil is explored, with promising results for species-specific identification despite challenges related to DNA distribution and primer sensitivity. Additionally, the study proposes improvements to ecological categorization and the amelioration of indexing and species identification tools, including the Lombri.v3 platform, which facilitates efficient data management and identification accuracy. These advancements support sustainable soil management practices, improve biodiversity monitoring, and enhance ecological conservation efforts, improving soil health and agricultural productivity.