IMPACT OF CAST COLLECTION UPON EARTHWORM CAST PRODUCTION IN A HUMID TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT

Earthworm cast production, monitored in frames, is a cheap, non-destru ctive indicator of earthworm activity. However, its accuracy relies on regular cast collection having no impact on rates of cast production. An experiment was established to assess this, using paired, covered f rames where casts were collected twice per week from one of each pair and once from the other frames at the end of the experiment. Twice-wee kly cast collection had no significant impact upon cast production.