Earthworm Abundance and Soil Properties in North Yorkshire Farm Transects (2016)

May 2016 data from the SoilBioHedge project contains measurements of earthworm abundance, biomass, soil moisture, temperature, and bulk density along transects in arable fields and ley strips at four farms in North Yorkshire, England. The dataset was collected by Miranda Prendergast-Miller and colleagues to study the influence of leys on soil quality. Sampling involved pit excavation, hand sorting, and mustard solution extraction of earthworms, which were preserved for identification.

Use Cases

• Analyze correlations between earthworm abundance and soil moisture, temperature, or bulk density measurements along field transects.
• Model earthworm biomass as a function of distance from hedgerows in arable versus ley strip land uses.
• Assess spatial variation in soil quality indicators (moisture, temperature, bulk density) across four sampled Yorkshire farms.
• Use earthworm identification data from preserved samples to study species distribution relative to soil property gradients.

Strengths

• Includes direct field measurements of three key soil properties (moisture, temperature, bulk density) alongside biological data.
• Data collected during a focused two-week sampling period (12-26 May 2016) ensuring temporal consistency.
• Spatially structured sampling along transects from hedgerows across four distinct farm locations.
• Earthworm data includes both abundance counts and biomass measurements, with specimens preserved for verified identification.

Limitations

• Single sampling event in May 2016 provides only a seasonal snapshot with no longitudinal or multi-season data.
• Geographic scope is limited to four farms in North Yorkshire, England, reducing generalizability.
• Sample size and number of transects or pits are not specified in the provided description.

Provenance

Source

Environmental Information Data Centre, part of the NERC Soil Security Programme.

Collection Method

Field sampling via pit excavation, hand sorting, and mustard solution extraction of earthworms; soil measurements taken at each pit.

Time Range

12-26 May 2016.

Freshness

null

Geography

Farms at Little Langton, Hutton Wandesley, Overton, and Whenby in North Yorkshire, England.