Interaction of land use history, earthworms, soil chemistry and tree species on soil carbon distribution in managed forests in Vermont, USA

•Forest soil carbon pools and profile distribution are affected by past land-use.•Presence or absence of earthworms has a clear effect on forest floor thickness.•Earthworm numbers were related to higher soil calcium pools and lower elevation.•Mineral soil carbon pools were most strongly correlated with thickness of B horizons.•Tree species and conifer vs broadleaf did not correlate with carbon pool differences.