Abstract
ABSTRACT The effects of several organic and mineral fertiliser manurial regimes were compared on undisturbed and former opencast grassland. Earthworm casting, burrowing, and population data were recorded on two field trials over a number of years. Treatment responses were similar on opencast and undisturbed land. Topdressed poultry manure encouraged casting and burrowing to the surface. In contrast, NPK fertiliser discouraged these activities, the reduction in casting becoming larger at higher rates of application. Responses to urea were less consistent; alone, its effect was negative, but, whereas NPK fertiliser interacted negatively with manure, urea produced a positive interaction effect. Aggregate population indices were not significantly affected by treatments, behaviour patterns being apparently more sensitive to manurial inputs. However, within each population, one species of earthworm—thought to be responsible for most of the surface casting—varied in number in a pattern similar to that of activit...
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