Termites and earthworms are the main groups of invertebrates in dry tropical ecosystems and exert significant
effects on bioturbation and soil reorganization. The dynamics of microbial communities, enzymes and substrates
associated with the flux of energy and nutrients induced by their diverse biogenic structures are still underinvestigated
in agroecological-based cropping systems. The objective of this study was to determine whether
the biogenic structures produced by a grass-woody forager termite (Nasutitermes torquatus) and an endogeic
earthworm (Millsonia inermis) shift soil organic C (OC), nutrients, enzyme activities and microbial communities
in soils amended with woody residues. The experiment was a randomized block design conducted in a Sudano-
Sahelian cropping system that was amended annually with woody residues (3 Mg ha􀀀 1) or not amended (control
soils) for six consecutive years. Samples were taken from fresh sheetings and casts (produced respectively by
N. torquatus and M. inermis) and bulk soils in amended plots as well as from control soils in nonamended plots.
Samples were analyzed for soil texture, OC, total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), pH, enzyme activity and
microbial composition. The results showed that sheetings and casts altered soil biochemical properties significantly.
Sheetings and casts were remarkably enriched in OC (45–55% and 82–94%, respectively) and P (20–55%
and 73–130%) compared to bulk soils and control soils. Sheetings and casts substantially stimulated β-glucosidase
(153–178% and 158–183%, respectively) and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (43–53% and 84–93%) activity,
likely due to gut mucus excretions and favorable physicochemical conditions. Sheetings and casts did not
fundamentally alter the microbial diversity but raised soil conditions favorable to selective microbial growth.
Overall, casts exhibited higher nutrient content (N, P), enzyme activity, and larger total microbial biomass than
sheetings. Both structures stimulated soil microbial communities and enzyme activity associated with the increase
of pH, OC and nutrients. Earthworm casts and termite sheetings have ecological significance in OC dynamics
in plant residues amended soils.

Biogenic structure Earthworm cast Microbial composition Termite sheeting Soil biodiversity Soil enzyme Biogenic structure Earthworm cast Microbial composition Termite sheeting Soil biodiversity