Growth,reproduction and litter and soil consumption by Lumbricus terrestris L. in reclaimed peat

Ninety-one percent of Salix aquatica cv. gigantea litter disappeared within 6 months from experimental cages containing Lumbricus terrestris L. in reclaimed peat, compared with only 28% when L. terrestris was absent. Litter consumption rate was 6–9 mg dry wt g^?1 fresh wt day^?1 in the field and 10–15 mg g^?1 fresh wt day^?1 in the laboratory at 15°C. Maximum growth rate in the field was 4mg fresh wt g^?day^? and 4.55 mg in the laboratory. Cocoon production in the field was 1.3worm^?1 month^?1 and 2.1 in the laboratory. Mean gut contents were 48-23 mg dry wt g^?1 fresh wt over the size range 1–6 g fresh wt and gut transit time was 10h. It was estimated that a Lumbricus biomass of 100gm^?2 could consume 1.34 kg soil m^?2 yr^?1.