BENEATH THE SURFACE: EARTHWORMS AND THEIR BENEFICIAL IMPACTS ON FARMING COMMUNITIES

Jay Chaurasia (), Saurav Marahatta, Vivek Ghimirey and Suresh Raj Dahal
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Jay Chaurasia: Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University
Saurav Marahatta: Department of Soil Science, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University
Vivek Ghimirey: Department of Soil Science and Agri-Engineering, Agriculture and Forestry University
Suresh Raj Dahal: Department of Medical Microbiology, Kantipur College of Medical Science, Tribhuvan University

Reviews in Food and Agriculture (RFNA), 2024, vol. 5, issue 1, 06-12

Abstract: The oligochaete annelid family of earthworms plays a crucial role in soil ecological groupings since they facilitate decomposition and the nutrient cycling of ecosystems. In most terrestrial habitats, earthworms are the dominant members of the soil macrofauna (> 4mm) groups. They are among the most important coprophages and detritivores in the natural world, and they feed a lot of ecosystems’ lower-level consumers. This study was carried out to comprehend the many kinds of earthworms and their taxonomy through in-depth reviews. The interaction between earthworms and soil fertility—including aggregate formation, soil aeration, nutrient management, and other factors—is another area of interest for this study. The negative impact of intensive farming on the environment and public health is often criticized. A better understanding of the creatures living in crop fields could be the solution to this issue. The ability of earthworms to extract energy, nutrients, water, and climate buffering from soil is one of their primary advantages. Earthworms play a major role in the biological processes of nutrient cycling in soils, and the makeup of their populations gives insight into the type of soil system in which they reside. By transforming organic waste and biodegradable materials into nutrient-rich products that emerge from their tunnels to deposit fecal matter on the soil’s surface, earthworms preserve the physiochemical qualities of the soil. In addition to mixing and agglomerating the soil, they also increase microbiological activity and soil water content and capacity. Given that farming can involve a variety of soil-disturbing activities, an understanding of the biology and ecology of earthworms may help in the development of management approaches that may alter soil biota and crop performance. Lastly, we discuss how to combine management strategies, including vaccination, to improve earthworm services. We draw the conclusion that using earthworm services in soil systems may be able to improve agricultural sustainability.

Keywords: Earthworm; Soil aeration; Soil fertility; Sustainability; Vermicompost (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zib:zbrfna:v:5:y:2024:i:1:p:06-12

DOI: 10.26480/rfna.01.2024.06.12

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