Summary
This 2019 laboratory study examined phosphorus availability in casts from eight earthworm species, finding substantial variation linked to cast physical and chemical properties. The research suggests that different earthworm species contribute differentially to soil phosphorus cycling through their casting activity, with implications for understanding how soil fauna influence nutrient availability in farmed soils.
UK applicability
The findings are relevant to UK temperate agricultural soils where earthworms are abundant and active. However, applicability depends on which of the eight studied species are common in UK agroecosystems and whether the laboratory conditions reflect field phosphorus dynamics.
Key measures
Readily-available phosphorus concentration in earthworm casts; cast properties (pH, organic matter content, aggregate stability, pore structure)
Outcomes reported
The study quantified readily-available phosphorus concentrations in casts produced by eight earthworm species and examined the relationship between cast chemical/physical properties and phosphorus availability.
Topic tags
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