Most gardeners know that earthworms help keep soils healthy, now scientists have assessed just how important their underground activities are to global food production—and how to protect them.
and previous studies of plant productivity to estimate the creature's impact on the global production of key crops.They found earthworms may contribute to around 6.5 percent of the world's annual grain production, which includes dietary staples such as wheat, rice, maize and barley.
This is because earthworm populations"are likely underestimated in many places, especially in the tropics, due to a lack of research and funding in theEarthworms also contributed to 2.3 percent of global production of legumes, foods that include peas, lentils, chickpeas, soybeans and alfalfa.Conservation call
They attributed this to soils there generally having higher acid and clay content and being less exposed to fertilizer, increasing the role earthworms play in plant growth. Smaller earthworm populations, more widespread use of inorganic fertilizer and other soil properties were likely to have lessened their impact in other regions.