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Earthworms are important drivers for the formation of soil structure and play a key role in soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics. Our previous long-term (126 weeks) laboratory experiment showed that carbon (C) loss declined through time in soil when litter was mixed and consumed by earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus). Eventually, the C loss was lower than in treatments where litter was mechanically mixed into soil with exclusion of earthworms. However, it is not clear if the solely physical manipulation of soil or biological activity of earthworms lead to different SOM quality, which would result in a distinction in C loss and consequently C sequestration. Thus, we differentiated between physical (mechanical mixing) and earthworm effects on SOM composition. Two types of soil were used in the experiment: clay and sand, and these were incubated with alder (Alnus glutinosa) and willow (Salix caprea) litter, respectively …