This could be partially due to the small quantity of phosphate and urea in the compost and vermicompost, respectively (Table 1). Earthworms did not influence the chemical properties of the soil in the mineral or vermicompost treatments (except CEC which decreased in the presence of earthworms for the vermicompost treatment). However, the PCA differentiated the compost treatment in the presence or absence of earthworms, mainly because of the lower C content in soils inoculated with earthworms.