FOOD AND CAST ANALYSES AS A PARAMETER OF TURN-OVER OF MATERIALS BY EARTHWORMS (LUMBRICUS-TERRESTRIS L)

Earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) were kept in glass tubes as an ar tificial burrow system. They were fed with maize leaves and hay, and p artly artificial soil was added. CO2-production of the worms, food con sumption, and cast production were measured. Food and casts were analy sed for Ca, P, and N. Lumbricus terrestris utilizes only a small amoun t of these elements. The content of Ca, P, and N in the casts was high er than in the same amount of food. During the passage through the gut the pH-value decreases. Ca in the gut and the cast did not influence this pH-value.