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    Earthworm Identifier
    Earthworm Identifier
    Earthworm Identifier
    Ebook49 pages18 minutes

    Earthworm Identifier

    By Geoff Baker and Vicki Barrett

    ()

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    About this ebook

    What sort of worms live in your garden or paddocks? Are they orange, red, cream, pink, green, or brown and purple stripes? This booklet provides a simple identification key for most common worm species in Australia, and outlines their role in enhancing soil productivity. Tips on how to collect and preserve earthworms, and maps of the known distribution of some species are included.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCSIRO PUBLISHING
    Release dateJan 1, 1995
    ISBN9780643102514
    Earthworm Identifier
    Author

    Geoff Baker

    An Adams Media author.

    Read more from Geoff Baker

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      Book preview

      Earthworm Identifier - Geoff Baker

      Introduction

      Earthworms are often overlooked on Australian farms, where they can have an enormous influence on productivity by improving soil structure, increasing soil nutrients, recycling organic matter and fighting plant diseases. Recent trials here and overseas have shown earthworms have the ability to increase pasture production by 40%, lift wheat yields by 35% and improve grain protein levels.

      Research by CSIRO and other organisations in Australia is investigating the management of earthworms to improve soil quality, studying the life cycles of different worm species and trying to quantify the role of worms in modern agriculture. Their work has involved extensive farm surveys in southeastern Australia and a national survey conducted by 1500 school children from CSIRO’s Double Helix Science Club (‘Earthworms Downunder’).

      This booklet gives a general overview of recent research on earthworms in Australia and the potential benefits these humble animals can bring to agricultural production. The booklet’s main aim is to provide a simple identification key for the most common species in agricultural and urban soils, along with instructions on how to collect and preserve specimens. Maps of the known distributions of some species are also given.

      Earthworm behaviour and distribution

      In southern Australia earthworms are active in the root zone of plants for 3-7 months between autumn and spring when soils are moistest. At this time virtually all worms are found in the top 10 cm, but as soil moisture drops, most worms move down the profile and remain inactive during the drier months of the year.

      In some parts of Australia with very high rainfall and mild summers, such as the north-west of Tasmania, and in irrigated pastures, many worms stay active over summer and don’t retreat to depth. Those species that do burrow deeply to escape the hot dry summer commonly excavate a round chamber in the

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