Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
4.2.3
ANECIC STRUCTURES
Anecic earthworms mainly produce surface and subterranean casts, and excavate
burrow systems.
4.2.3.1
Casts
Anecic earthworms cast around the openings of their galleries, at the soil surface. Cast size
depends on that of the worm and may range from some millimetres to several centimetres
in diameter. Their structure is also variable. They generally comprise an accumulation of
somewhat isolated round or oval-shaped pellets, one to several millimetres in diameter,
which may coalesce into 'paste-like slurries' that form large structures of rounded shape
(Lee, 1985). These casts have relatively high proportions of organic matter, especially large
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