Earthworms are everywhere in the planet under earth’s ground. They are so numerous; in fact, there is also variety of species of earthworm place to place-country. They seldom come out and only come out if disturbed by water and the time they cast above the ground. Their casts are very important to the ecosystem. Their waste or digestion play important role for they can unlock nutrients like phosphorous and nitrogen that are necessary for the plants. Every time we dig the soil, we can see many earthworms. They should not be killed for they are so useful to humans. These two chemicals will always be available to plant if throw their casts near them and even far for wind carry them direct to plants. These stuffs underneath the ground are not attractive; they look weird and sometimes yucky. It might be due to their appearance, size, color, and skin that allow the internal parts of the worms visible. Despite being abandoned by humans, but their contributions to the world are significant. They play vital part to the natural soil ecosystem. Because of these worms, there is direct process and action to soils.
The image of earthworm casts
Why are these earthworms beneficial to the ecosystem? This is now the answer why earthworms are also called ecosystem engineers. It is because they modify the structures of the soil’s profile like the soils physical, biological and chemical properties. You also have to know that these modifications of soils by earthworms can greatly influence the activities of other organisms and the habitat within the soil ecosystem. We notice whenever there is soil in a particular place, location even flower pots, soil in cans, any place with soil, and earthworms are present. Maybe they multiply fast. Earthworms have influences to the soil ecosystem in many ways. Without them there will be many problems for these little armies can share us their pastoral activities. The following are the great contributions of earthworms to earth’s ecosystem below and above the ground.
1. In a recycling organic material, earthworms help decompose organic material along with them bacteria and fungi. That is why I noticed one time in the community garden in New Zealand where I was a garden volunteer, I saw in their recycling space covered with garden toxic plants, unused leaves, dried leaves, roots and other stuffs from litter plants they used to compost and serve as fertilizers for their organic veggies and spices. I noticed that after few days all of the stuffs were decomposed and when it was open plenty of earthworms came out so big and numerous. So it answers now why earthworms are called ecosystem engineers and partners to soil processes. In fact, it was also learned that earthworms can also compost pasture soils, even decomposing dung and plant litter. Another, earthworms can process two to twenty (2-20) tonnes of organic matter per hectare every year. They can also recycle leaf litter under orchard and in forested areas.
2. Earthworms facilitate the increase of nutrients availability which means that they unlock the nutrients through their casts and this is done in two ways. One is through incorporating organic materials into the soil deriving from the dead organisms and plant. Phosphorous and nitrogen would be always available in the presence of this process of earthworm by excreting their casts. Through their casts, these chemical components will always be available to plants. No one knows even me that earthworms are so important to our ecosystem. I thought they are just worms products of soils and no important at all. I am totally wrong of my baseless assertion. Earthworms also take with them nutrients underneath the ground closer to the soil profile and bring them closer to plant roots.
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3. Earthworms also improve soil structure. They burrow the physical structure of the soil. With this activity f the worms, it leads to an opening of small spaces called pores of soil. The portion of the pant production when burrowed would become so helpful to the plants’ roots penetration for the pores lead to the increase of water infiltration rates up to ten times the original amount, so awesome, right? Burrowing of soil by earthworms can also enhance better soil profile structure. They can restore back soil structure to original.
4. Earthworms could be foods for the predators. In fact, chickens eat earthworms so they are also foods for chickens. On the other hand, earthworms can also endangered and endemic land snails their foods. Life is so great if know many things. All things that we see big and small have its own service not only to ecosystem likewise to the entire humanity.
5. Earthworms could provide pastoral activity. They can remove a heavy lumber that blocks entry of water to the soil. These earthworms are called lumbricid earthworms. The thatch lumber can cause water to flow to other direction instead of plants. They are superior builders.
6. Earthworms facilitate and accelerate mine restoration. This means to say that they can help increase fertility of soil, to recycle waste products and to provide food resources and help restore the functions of the ecosystem both above and below the ground. They burrow soil thus help soil profile restores to its original shape. Let us try to excavate soil an experiment and make the structure crooked and observes many days after if the soil profile structure be restores to being flat. I will do this experiment so there is something I can add to science that earthworms are truly partners of man and the entire world above and below the ground. The world is mysterious in many ways yet man does not know. Man never cares nature and life on earth with the living and non-living thing the more with this little ally, the earthworm.
From this time on, once see a struggling earthworm; we have to be kind enough to save the life to our little underground army and ally. We should also remember the large army of earthworms working hard for us below and above the ground. I hope whoever reads this blog will have his or her heart touched with the contribution of the little armies below the ground. Earthworms are parts of the Earth’s ecosystem. They help eradicate those stuffs that alter the balance of the ecosystem.
Images credit to Pixabay
Source: NASA Science
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Should you see a struggling earthworm anywhere, do try to do some humanly service to this small ally. After I learned this by myself through my reading, I recalled all those times and those many times I killed earthworms, I promise to myself and to God never to kill earthworms again for they serve important purposes to plant for human foods and survival and so with other things that relate about human survival.
I salute these little armies above and below the grounds.