Synthetic fertilizers can be detrimental to worms and toxic – especially ammoniaġ3. Worms are active 2 times during a year spring and then when soils cool back down after a warm summer – they prefer soils that are 48 to 63 degrees F.ġ2. Worms can produce 10 pounds of organic amendments in 1 seasonġ1. Baby worms hatch, are active immediately and become sexually mature within 3-12 monthsġ0. Each cocoon goes through a gestation period of 1-5 months depending upon worm speciesĩ. Earthworms lay cocoons which contain 1 to 5 eggsĨ. Worm castings are rich in iron in an available form, chelatedħ. In moderately acid to acid soils calcium is important to helping soil structure and aggregationĦ. Worm castings are rich in calcium which is important to nutrient uptake from roots.ĥ. Worm castings aid in carbon sequestering and stabilizing carbon in soils – castings are up to 26% carbonaceous material.Ĥ. Plowing is very hard on worm habitat – usually 50% less populations than conservation tillage systems.ģ. Which aids in worms in reproduction and vigorous lifeĢ.

Worms love soybeans, high nutritive value Paul Hepperly a scientist that has had a tenure at The Rodale Institute, Ohio State University regarding worms that live and work in our soils.ġ. So I read some incredibly interesting information from Dr. I have been reading partially for recreation and also to bring you more “soils stuff” from written materials that I subscribe to or access via libraries or get via interviewed articles in Agricultural magazines. Earthworms also in a manner till the soil, they are tunnelers seeking other critters (nematodes, amoeba, fungi, bacteria, and protozoa) as food sources along with exuded proteins, sugars and carbohydrates of all kinds left from plant roots. Tillage by a tractor pulling some sort of an implement has its ramifications, good or detrimental. Published August 26, 2019 | By Mike Petersen

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