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Calcite Contributions by Earthworms to Forest Soils in Northern Illinois¹

ABSTRACT

Calcite spheroids and recognizable spheroid fragments originating in earthworm calciferous glands, contribute up to 56 kg/ha CaCO₃ to the upper portions of the Al horizons of some forested, deeply-leached soils. Horizons with a fresh pH from 6.3 to 7.5 may contain calcite spheroids; soil pastes of these horizons reach a pH between 7.2 and 8.0 upon incubation.

The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the weathering of calcite spheroids is partly responsible for pH values in excess of 7.0 in the undried Al horizons of otherwise acid soils under forest cover.

¹ Presented at joint meeting of Div. S-3, 5 and 7, Soil Sci. Soc. Amer., Washington, D.C., Nov. 6, 1967.

² Research Biologist, Beatrice Foods, Chicago, Ill. and Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill. 60115, respectively.

Received for publication March 29, 1971. Accepted for publication February 29, 1972.