Cast production and NIR spectral signatures of Aporrectodea caliginosa fed soil with different amounts of half-decomposed Populus nigra litter Zhang, C. Langlest, R. Velasquez, E. /Pando, Anne /Brunet, Didier Dai, J. /Lavelle, Patrick Earthworm casts NIR spectral signature Soil macroaggregates Aporrectodea caliginosa Sub-adult individuals of Aporrectodea caliginosa were incubated for 16 weeks under laboratory cultures in a soil treated with 0%, 10% or 50% of a Populus nigra half-decomposed leaves, respectively. Growth was maximum in the 50% organic matter treatment and cocoon production occurred. Average soil ingestion rates decreased from 1.56 g/g(-1) fresh weight of worm per day(-1) in control soil to 1.17 and 0.5 g, respectively, in treatments with 10% and 50% half-decomposed litter. Surface casts never comprised more than 10% of total cast production. Near-infrared spectrometry (NIRS)signatures of digested and non-ingested soil significantly differed and showed a rather constant effect of digestion, independent of the organic matter content (p < 0.01). These results confirm the value of NIRS spectral signatures as indicators of the origin of soil aggregates and biological processes involved in soil aggregation. 2009 text https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010046334 fdi:010046334 Zhang C., Langlest R., Velasquez E., Pando Anne, Brunet Didier, Dai J., Lavelle Patrick. Cast production and NIR spectral signatures of Aporrectodea caliginosa fed soil with different amounts of half-decomposed Populus nigra litter. 2009, 45 (8), 839-844 EN