Abundance of earthworms in soils used for cereal production in south-eastern Australia and their role in reducing soil acidity

The earthworm fauna of soils used for pasture-cereal rotations in south-eastern Australia was surveyed in 1990–91 (126 sites). Numbers were generally low (0–366 m-2, mean = 41.9 m-2 for all species combined). The fauna was dominated by introduced species. Aporrectodea rosea (Lumbricidae) was the most common species (mean = 31.4 m-2) followed by A. trapezoides (5.0 m-2). A. rosea and A. trapezoides were found at 45 and 29% of sites, respectively. There was no obvious relationship between earthworm abundance and soil pH.