Review Article

Role of Earthworms in Soil Fertility Maintenance through the Production of Biogenic Structures

Table 6

Total and mineral nitrogen content in soil and fresh casts from earthworms incubated in different soil types (Barois et al., 1992 [53]).

Soil typeLayer (cm)Earthworm speciesSoilWorm cast
N total (%)Mineral N ( g g-1)N total (%)Mineral N ( g g-1)

Andisol, Martinique0–10Pontoscolex corethrurus15.5516.815.71095.1
Andisol, Mexico0–10Pontoscolex corethrurus4.855.44.9625.1
Luvic, Cuba0–10Onychochaeta elegans2.655.42.4212.5
Ultisol, Yurimaguas0–10Pontoscolex corethrurus1.37301.47150.5
Vertisol, Lamto0–10Protozapotecia australis352.14560.9