Cardinael R. auteur aut IRD Hoeffner K. auteur aut IRD Chenu C. auteur aut IRD Chevallier Tiphaine auteur aut IRD Beral C. auteur aut IRD Dewisme A. auteur aut IRD Cluzeau D. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access The aim of this study was to assess how soil organic C (SOC) stocks and earthworm communities were modified in agroforestry systems compared to treeless control plots and within the agroforestry plots (tree rows vs alleys). We used a network of 13 silvoarable agroforestry sites in France along a north/south gradient. Total earthworm abundance and biomass were significantly higher in the tree rows than those in the control plots, but were not modified in the alleys compared to those in the control plots. Earthworm species richness, Shannon index, and species evenness were significantly higher in the tree rows than those in the alleys. Total abundance of epigeic, epi-anecic, strict anecic, and endogeic was higher in the tree rows. Surprisingly, earthworm individual weight was significantly lower in the tree rows than that in the alleys and in the control plots. SOC stocks were significantly higher in the tree rows compared to that in the control plots across all sites. Despite higher SOC stocks in the tree rows, the amount of available C per earthworm individual was lower compared to those in the control. The absence of disturbance (no tillage, no fertilizers, no pesticides) in the tree rows rather than increased SOC stocks therefore seems to be the main factor explaining the increased total abundance, biomass, and diversity of earthworms. The observed differences in earthworm communities between tree rows and alleys may lead to modified and spatially structured SOC dynamics within agroforestry plots. specialized Silvoarable system Alley cropping Earthworm abundance Earthworm diversity Lumbricidae FRANCE 074 068 086 082 55 2 171-183 2019 0178-2762 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010074911 10.1007/s00374-018-1332-3 0178-2762 [F B010074911] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010074911 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2019/02/010074911.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2019-03-06 2025-02-24 fdi:010074911 fre