What do worms do for the soil

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Pedobiologia 45, 46— Toyota, K. Microbial community indigenous to the earthworm Eisenia foetida. Soils 31, — In zero-till soils, where worm populations are high, water infiltration can be up to 6 times greater than in cultivated soils. Earthworm tunnels also act, under the influence of rain, irrigation and gravity, as passageways for lime and other material. Improved soil structure Earthworm casts cement soil particles together in water-stable aggregates.

These are able to store moisture without dispersing. Research has shown that earthworms which leave their casts on the soil surface rebuild topsoil.

One trial found worms built an cm thick topsoil in 30 years. Researchers also found that the most productive pastures in the worm trials had up to 7 million worms per hectare, weighing 2.

There was a close correlation between pasture productivity and total worm weight, with some kg of worms for every tonne of annual dry matter production. How to encourage earthworms Because earthworms do not like soil that is too acid, alkaline, dry, wet, hot or cold, their presence is a good indicator of soil conditions suitable for plant growth. Ensure soil pH CaCl 2 is above 4. The addition of lime raises pH and also adds calcium. Earthworms need a continuous supply of calcium, so are absent in soils low in this element.

South Australian research found that earthworm numbers doubled when pH CaCl 2 rose from 4. The CaC1 2 method is more accurate and gives values of about 0. Increase organic matter Earthworms feed on soil and dead or decaying plant remains, including straw, leaf litter and dead roots. They are the principal agents in mixing dead surface litter with the soil, making the litter more accessible to decomposition by soil microorganisms. There are three different species of earthworms which live in different locations in the soil and have different feeding and burrowing habits.

Epigeic species live in the surface of the soil, are typically small, feed on decomposed plant material, and are adapted to the moisture and temperature changes that occur in the soil surface.

Endogeic species live in the upper part of the soil and feed on organic matter and soil material. They form temporary burrows which are filled with worm casts as they move through the soil.

Anecic species are deep burrowing and form permanent burrows that can extend several feet into the soil. They mainly feed on surface residue that they pull back into the burrow. They plug the opening of the burrow with organic matter or worm casts. This means water run-off increases which can lead to erosion and in some cases flooding.

To survive, worms need moist soils that contain enough organic matter for them to feed on. Their wriggling and burrowing movements regulate the distribution of these micro-organisms in the soil. As important as they are alive for distributing nutrients and organisms and decomposing matter, worms are also very important in the food chain. They provide a crucial protein-rich source of food for other important species like birds, hedgehogs and frogs.

Our underground allies are pretty amazing.