The Importance of Earthworms In Soil Health

Earthworms: these slimy critters get a bad rep, but they can be crucial to healthy soil. Earthworms purify the soil, making a more fertile land for plant growth. Their activities also enhance nutrient availability and aid in drainage,

SoilKit spoke with Doug Jacobs, an earthworm raiser in Baldwin County, AL to understand the impact earthworms can have on the soil. Mr. Jacobs emphasized the purification abilities of the critters in the context of one of the most historically fertile grounds. He explained, “The most fertile ground of land is around the Nile river in Egypt..[relatedly] it has the highest concentration of worms. The soil is just loaded with worm productivity.”  The earthworm’s soil purification is what led to prolific crop production. “It has been probably hundreds, maybe even thousands of years that that one population has been prolific in that area, purifying the soul so that they get an abundance of food when they start growing.” He elaborated, “Our soils are not as fertile as how they were by the Nile River and that’s because of the worms [or lack thereof].” As evident along the Nile, earthworms increase crop production.

You can purchase earthworms from Walmart where they are often sold for about $4 a cup. Earthworms are prolific and grow rapidly, so even just a cup or two will multiply and augment your soil health in miraculous ways. Mr. Jacobs said “you see the growth in just a couple of months, as far as how they multiply.”

Some things to take caution with are over-fertilizing and using too many pesticides. Earthworms do not do well with either. Particularly fertilizer is harmful for worm development. Mr. Jacobs suggested a quality top soil and chicken manure as alternatives. “They absolutely love chicken manure.” Another thing to look out for are ants. The enemy of the worm is the ant. If ants become too abundant, it is imperative that you use ant poison to control and exterminate their population. Using sprays is only temporary though so it is important to always keep an eye out.

Earthworms favor cool, moist soil, especially during the summer. Earthworms burrow very deeply during the summer to reach their ideal temperature. It is recommended that you aid in this by periodically dumping ice on your soil. In Mr. Jacob’s experience, he “will dump a whole 16 pounds of ice on there.”

So, as Mr. Jacob said, “Earthworms are very important to maintain healthy soil… as long as you don’t use too many chemicals [on your lawn].” Show these critters some appreciation and pick up your earthworms from Walmart today.