New Research Reveals Earthworms Can Replace Expensive Synthetic Fertilizers

New research reveals that earthworms may be able to replace some expensive mineral/synthetic fertilizers. Researchers at the University College Dublin have uncovered new information on how earthworm is useful for crops taking up nutrients.

Before this major discovery, earthworms exuding nitrogen-rich mucus into the soil and plants while they are active weren't recognized.

Roles of Earthworm in Nutrient Cycling

It is well knowledge that soil creatures, such as earthworms, play an important role in the nutrient cycle process. University of California, Davis (UCD) Professor Olaf Schmidt says this may not be the complete picture.

According to Schmidt, scientists discovered that nitrogen from worms is being absorbed into crops at a rapid rate. Scientists had previously considered that this involved slow degradation and microbial cycling, as per Phys.org.

The results of their research reveals how quickly nitrogen and carbon may travel from soil animals to plants.

The digging and feeding of earthworms in the soil creates good soil structure and releases nitrogen that would otherwise be locked up in soil organic matter, which is already known to boost long-term crop yields.

By analyzing stable isotope tracers from earthworms in a laboratory as well as in the field, researchers were able to follow the flow of nutrients from the earthworms into soil, wheat seedlings, and greenflies (aphids).

Does Earthworms Supply Nitrogen Directly to Crops?

The researchers found that Greenflies were able to obtain nitrogen from earthworms in just two hours in the laboratory and 24 hours in the wild. Worm nitrogen went so quickly through soil, roots, plants, and insects that feed on plant sap that the researchers were stunned.

A study by Professor Schmidt reveals that earthworms may deliver nitrogen directly to crops, and they do it precisely when crops need it most because both earthworm activity and crop growth are linked by environmental parameters, mainly temperature and moisture.

It is possible that the newly revealed advantages could be particularly important in farming systems attempting to limit the use of synthetic fertilizers, as per Technology Networks.

This nitrogen supplied by earthworms could be a viable alternative to expensive synthetic fertilizers as the global supply chains continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and energy prices climb.

Why the Use of Soil Organisms Should be Encouraged

Professor Schmidt believes that his findings may inform how farmers manage land, soil life, and nitrogen supply. Incorporating agricultural strategies that encourage the growth of earthworms will also help to maximize the dynamic nitrogen benefits.

As a result of prior study, researchers knew that earthworm populations deliver considerable amounts of nitrogen to the soil, but they didn't realize how dynamically the earthworms could feed crops with nitrogen.

If the weather is too cold or dry, farmers may not know when to apply mineral/synthetic fertilizers since crops may not need nitrogen, and the applied expensive nitrogen is lost to the environment as nitrate leaches into groundwater or as nitrogen gaseous emissions into the sky.

Professor Schmidt said scientists should optimize all kinds of nitrogen delivered organically from the soil's own stocks, through decomposition and mineralisation.

Not all mineral and organic fertilizers can be replaced by earthworms, but their major use as a natural source of nutrients could reduce the need for and cost of mineral/synthetic fertilizers.

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