Biological Role of Earthworm in Increasing Soil Fertility

Worm composting in agriculture is the perfect way if you want to have a bountiful paradise garden. Earthworms or night crawlers are considered “a farmer’s friend” all over the world. They are under the invertebrate category, but taxonomically, they fall under Phylum Annelida, class Oligochaeta and under the order of Opisthophora. Approximately 2,700 different species of earthworms inhabit the earth. Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, studied these little creatures for nearly 40 years. The common earthworm grows to be about 7 or 8 centimeters long, although they can grow much longer. Damp soil is a prime requirement for these worms, as is a mild climate and the availability of decaying.

Earthworms are important parts of ecosystems throughout the world. Many people look for these organisms in home gardens as indicators of healthy vegetable garden soil. Earthworms are responsible for contributing to soil formation, soil aeration and improved soil drainage through their consumption of material derived from once-living animals and plants (organic matter). Through their waste, they bring underground nutrients and minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, carbon, calcium and potassium to the surface topsoil. They also secrete a slime that contains nitrogen, an important nutrient for plant life.

Earthworms eat organic matter and other soil particles. These materials are then decomposed, mixed in the earthworm’s gut and excreted as small clumps of “soil” known as aggregates. The aggregates are water-stable and contribute to the overall stability of the soil. Some species of earthworms only feed on large pieces of decaying organic matter, while others only consume smaller, soil-size particles of organic material. All species contribute to the formation of soil through one form or another.Earthworm burrows, tunnels and crevices contribute to soil aeration. All of these features create channels that allow plant roots to grow deeper into the soil, allowing plants to obtain more nutrients and water. The permanent burrows and tunnels created by certain species of earthworms increases the amount of water that can move into and through soil. The castings are high in plant nutrients and organic matter and serve as a rich fertilizer source for plants. An active earthworm population stimulates the growth and development of beneficial organisms, which reduces the parasitic nematodes in soil.Thus Earthworms are natural recyclers that can transform poor soils into nutrient-rich sources for all vegetation.

References
Crawling to Oblivion, Scientific American. 300, 3 (March 2009), p. 22

Earthworms Renewers of Agroecosystems (SA Fall,  1990 (v3n1)

Plisko, J.D. 2010. Megadrile earthworm taxa introduced to South African soils.

Author’s Bio
I have completed my Ph.D in agriculture with soil science and agricultural chemistry as specialization.  I have done my Ph.D work under the topic – Studies on the development of Green gram (Vigna radiate(L) wilkzek) Rhizobium technology for Terai region of West Bengal. I am interested for some research oriented work under the field in near future.

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