Comparisons of Soil Properties between Earthworm Casts and Top Soil of Red Pine Forests in a Limestone Area

石灰岩地域 소나무림에서 지렁이 Casts 와 上層土 性質의 比較

Comparisons of the physico-chemical properties of earthworm(Lumbricus terrestris) soil casts and top soil of red pine forests in a limestone area were carried out. The casts production durign August and September in 1990 amounted to 6∼7t/ha. The particle of top soil and casts ranged 40∼50% and 10∼20% for sand , 25∼30% and 30∼35% for silt, and 20∼25% and 55∼65% clay, respectively. Significant difference in pH value was not observed between casts and top soil. The casts had 1.4times of organic matter, 1.5times of N, 1.8times of available P, 2times of exchangeable K, 1.3times of exchangeable Ca, and 1.6times of exchangeable Mg than the top 10cm of soil did. Earthworms have altered the soil texture and increased nutrient availability through production of the soil casts in this limestone area.