Agricultural intensification has brought about multiple environmental and ecological problems such as soil degradation, groundwater contamination and loss of biodiversity (Stoate et al. 2001). Sustainable agricultural practices that can sustain high yields while at the same time enhancing resource preservation, closing of nutrient cycles and natural mechanisms that regulate pests, diseases and weeds are increasingly promoted (Kristiansen and Taji 2006). Thus, there is a demand to develop farming systems that reduce reliance on external inputs, make more efficient use of inherent ecological processes and therefore enhance overall agroecological services. Soil biota and more specific, key organisms such as earthworms play a central role providing such services (Blouin et al. 2013; Mulder et al. 2011). Earthworm and soil microbiota are organisms that have large inherent potential to enhance soil fertility by their abundance and activity. Earthworms are known to improve physical, chemical and biological soil properties by burrowing, which increases soil macroporosity, relocates nutrients along the soil profile and forms stable aggregates by casting and breaking up plant litter (Edwards 2004). Soil microbiota contribute to soil fertility as they are the engine driving subsequent carbon, nitrogenand phosphorus turnover while also affecting soil aggregation (Mulder 2006). The microbial community therefore, largely governs the availability of soil nutrients for the crop by mobilization and immobilization processes. Decomposition processes are in turn mainly regulated by readily available carbon sources, soil nutrient status and the ratio between microbial pools (bacteria, fungi and protozoa) (Moore et al. 2004). Both earthworm communities and microbial communities interact as they are integral pieces of the soil food web.