Think of the humble earthworm as the main super hero in your gardens soils life.
They offer many heroic services including: greatly increasing nutrient availability, better drainage, and a more stable soil structure, all of which help improve plant health and productivity.
· Improved nutrient availability
Worms feed on plant debris (dead roots, leaves, grasses, manure) and soil. Their casts are many times richer in available nutrients than the soil around them. Nitrogen in the casts is readily available to plants. Worm bodies decompose rapidly, further contributing to the nitrogen content of soil.
Worm casts release four times more phosphorus than does surface soil. They often leave their nutrient-rich casts in their tunnels, providing a favourable environment for plant root growth. The tunnels also allow roots to penetrate deeper into the soil, where they can reach extra moisture and nutrients. Their tunnelling can help incorporate surface applied lime and fertiliser into the soil.
Worms feed on plant debris (dead roots, leaves, grasses, manure) and soil. Their casts are many times richer in available nutrients than the soil around them. Nitrogen in the casts is readily available to plants. Worm bodies decompose rapidly, further contributing to the nitrogen content of soil.
Worm casts release four times more phosphorus than does surface soil. They often leave their nutrient-rich casts in their tunnels, providing a favourable environment for plant root growth. The tunnels also allow roots to penetrate deeper into the soil, where they can reach extra moisture and nutrients. Their tunnelling can help incorporate surface applied lime and fertiliser into the soil.
· Improved drainage
The extensive channelling and burrowing by earthworms loosens and aerates the soil and improves soil drainage. Soils with earthworms drain up to 10 times faster than soils without earthworms.
The extensive channelling and burrowing by earthworms loosens and aerates the soil and improves soil drainage. Soils with earthworms drain up to 10 times faster than soils without earthworms.
· Improved soil structure
Earthworm casts cement soil particles together in water-stable aggregates. These are able to store moisture without dispersing. Earthworms rebuild topsoil. In favourable conditions they can form a layer 5 mm deep annually.
Earthworm casts cement soil particles together in water-stable aggregates. These are able to store moisture without dispersing. Earthworms rebuild topsoil. In favourable conditions they can form a layer 5 mm deep annually.
· Improved productivity
Research has found earthworms introduced to worm-free perennial pastures produced an initial increase of 70–80% in pasture growth, with a long-term 25% increase, so imagine how much better you’re vegies will be with soil rich in worms.
Research has found earthworms introduced to worm-free perennial pastures produced an initial increase of 70–80% in pasture growth, with a long-term 25% increase, so imagine how much better you’re vegies will be with soil rich in worms.
· Increase organic matter
Mulch, mulch, mulch.
Worms feed on soil and dead or decaying plant material, including straw, leaf litter and dead roots. Animal dung is also an attractive food for many species of earthworms. So keep adding lots of compost, straw leaves and any other organic matter to your beds.
Mulch, mulch, mulch.
Worms feed on soil and dead or decaying plant material, including straw, leaf litter and dead roots. Animal dung is also an attractive food for many species of earthworms. So keep adding lots of compost, straw leaves and any other organic matter to your beds.
· Keep soil moist
Earthworms
are active when the soil is moist and inactive when soil is dry so keep those babies happy with nice damp soil.
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