Summary
Sustainability of agricultural systems is at stake, as phosphorus (P) is a non-renewable resource while its global reserves are limited. Stimulating earthworm activity can be a technology to increase the level of readily plantavailable phosphate (PO 4 ). However, conclusive evidence on the mechanisms underlying an earthwormenhanced PO 4 solubility is yet missing. This study aimed to reveal possibly overlooked pathways by which earthworms affect PO 4 solubility, and quantify the relative importance of all contributing mechanisms. Therefore, we set up a greenhouse pot experiment in which we investigated the large increase in water-extractable PO 4 in casts of three earthworm species (Lumbricus rubellus, Aporrectodea caliginosa, Lumbricus terrestris) in soils with either predominantly Fe-or A
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