How Do Earthworms Help the Soil?

Earthworms benefit the soil in many ways

Though some people find earthworms to be creepy and gross, these slimy little creatures are actually beneficial to the earth's soil in many ways. Though earthworms may be viewed as pests by some, they are actually creatures you want to have in your garden soil. Earthworms benefit the soil by building it and fertilizing it.

Breaking Down Soil

The cast, otherwise known as the feces, of the earthworm is made up of soil debris and plant residues. The cast is beneficial to soil in many ways. One way it is beneficial is by breaking down the soil. The earthworm's cast breaks down structural plates and blocks and transforms them into tiny granules.

Reducing Build Up

Some species of earthworm contain nitrogen in their casts that is deposited in the soil. The nitrogen in the soil is beneficial to "other organisms that decompose organic matter on the soil surface," which encourages a faster decomposition which then reduces build-up, according to Turf.

Nutrients

Earthworm casts deposit a variety of nutrients into the soil. These nutrients benefit any plants that are growing in that soil. Nutrients deposited by earthworms include nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, calcium, PH and various proteins. When the earthworm dies it releases more of these nutrients into the soil. The cast of an earthworm acts as a natural fertilizer to the soil. Not only does it contain a variety of helpful nutrients but also humic acid, trace elements and micro-organisms. Gardeners and farmers can also appreciate the earthworm's cast as a fertilizer because it is odorless.

Erosion

Earthworms cause necessary natural processes in the soil such as the creation of top soil by forming tunnels and thus causing erosion. Top soil creation due to erosion caused by the formation of tunnels by earth worms can occur in approximately one year. According to Worm Digest, if earthworms were to go extinct another natural erosion process in the soil would take over 100 years.

Types

There are over 100 different species of earthworms in North America and over 5,000 different species of earthworms in the world . All of these earthworms provide the above benefits to the soil. Some of the types of earthworms include night crawlers, garden worms, and red worms.

References

• Turf: Earthworms, Beneficials or Pests?: Karen Delahaut and C.F Koval
• Worm Digest: Soldiers of the Soil: Valerie Sudol
• NY West Side Site: The City Naturalist, Earthworms: Leslie Day