Dr. Wade H.

Elmer
Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington Street, P. O. Box 1106
New Haven, CT 06504

Phone: (203) 974-8503

Fax: (203) 974-8502
Founded in 1875 Email: [email protected]
Putting science to work for society Website: www.ct.gov/caes

USING EARTHWORMS TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH AND

SUPPRESS DISEASES

INTRODUCTION role in suppressing root diseases of

Ever since Charles Darwin conducted his vegetables was not known until greenhouse
classic studies with earthworms in the late and field studies were done at the
1800’s, we have recognized their role as Experiment Station.
major processors of dead and decomposing
organic matter. Darwin thought that all
tillable land on the planet has been
processed through the gut of earthworms.
Earthworms improve soil bulk density, pore
size, water infiltration rate, soil water
content, and water-holding capacity. Many
consider the number of earthworms to be
directly proportional to the health of a soil.

Earthworm excrement or “castings” support

a diverse microbial community, including
beneficial fungi and bacteria. Research at
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment
Station (CAES) has shown that earthworm
activity suppresses some soilborne diseases.
This may explain why vermicompost, an
end-product of the breakdown of organic Figure 1. Nightcrawlers ready to be applied to
matter by earthworms, is also associated asparagus experimental plots.
with disease suppression.
EARTHWORM ECOLOGY
The deep burrows made by the earthworms, Earthworms fall into three ecological niches:
Lumbricus terrestris (Canadian epigeic (“upon the earth”), endogeic
nightcrawler) (Figures 1 and 2) can burrow (“within the earth”), and anecic (“up from
over a meter deep and break up hardpans in the earth”). Nightcrawlers fall into the
poorly drained soils, promote aggregate anecic category while red wigglers, which
structure, and facilitate percolation. Their are used in vermicomposting, are epigeic.
Earthworms that fall into the endogeic
category are not as well studied in regard to
their agricultural benefits. As follows are
some results of studies conducted at CAES
using Canadian nightcrawlers (Figure 2).

Figure 3. Asparagus on the right was grown in

Fusarium-infested soil and augmented with
Figure 2. Canadian nightcrawler (Lumbricus earthworms. The asparagus on the left received
terrestris). no earthworms.

EFFECTS ON ROOT DISEASE

Experiments were done in the greenhouse
and field to determine if there are positive
effects of augmenting soils with earthworms
on plant diseases. Asparagus, eggplants,
and tomatoes were individually grown in the
greenhouse in soil infested with soilborne
plant pathogens. Half of the 12 pots were
augmented with four healthy adult Canadian
nightcrawlers (L. terrestris) per pot. Soils
planted with asparagus and tomatoes were
infested with Fusarium pathogens and
eggplants were grown in soil infested with
Verticillium dahliae.
Figure 4. Tomatoes on the right were grown in
In each system, adding earthworms was Fusarium-infested soil with earthworms.
associated with an increase in plant growth Tomatoes on the left received no earthworms.
and a decrease in disease (Figures 3 and 4).
Plant weights increased by 60 to 80% and When the soil was assayed, beneficial
estimates of disease were reduced 50 to 70% microorganisms were found in higher
when soils were augmented with densities in soils that were augmented with
earthworms. earthworms.

Disease suppression may have been

mediated through microbiological activity.

Using Earthworms to Improve Soil Health and Suppress Diseases. W. H. Elmer 2

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (www.ct.gov/caes)
These microbes may prevent disease by densities in soil may suppress soilborne
competitively excluding the pathogen from diseases.
infection sites, antagonizing the pathogen
with antibiotics, and/or by inducing
resistance in the plant.

Studies were also conducted under field

conditions. Experimental field plots of
asparagus and eggplants were established in
naturally infested soils. Earthworms (1-2/
ft2) were added to the five replicate plots at
planting.

Figure 6. Effect of earthworms on growth of

eggplant and Verticillium wilt.

WAYS TO INCREASE EARTHWORMS

Many have posed the question: Is it
worthwhile to add earthworms to soils?
Canadian nightcrawlers are very difficult to
rear under controlled conditions, so
Figure 5. Effect of earthworms on growth of distributors who sell earthworms for fishing
asparagus. bait obtain their earthworms from collectors
who manually harvest the species from open
Both asparagus and eggplants were bigger lawns and golf courses. Therefore, the cost
and showed less damage from disease when associated with purchasing these worms
they were treated with earthworms (Figures would make it prohibitive, especially for
5 and 6). These published studies suggest large areas. Extracting and collecting
that strategies to increase earthworm earthworms from nearby pastures might
serve as an alternative.

Using Earthworms to Improve Soil Health and Suppress Diseases. W. H. Elmer 3

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (www.ct.gov/caes)
 plant residues (grass clippings, leaf mold,
Earthworms can be extracted from soil using compost, and organic mulch) and manure.
a 10% mustard powder (Figure 7). Mix 13 Plowing under green manure crops such as
ounces of mustard powder with a gallon of clovers and grasses can stimulate early
water, let stand for 2-30 min to solubilize production of earthworms, but care should
the active oils, then pour over the surface of be taken to provide additional plant residues
previously irrigated soil. Within a few such as mulch or manure during the growing
minutes, earthworms will emerge, where season.
they can be collected, immediately rinsed in
clear water, and then added to soils. Table 1. Practices that favor earthworms.
Treatment Reason
Liming Acid soils harm earthworms
Cover crops Increase food reserves
Mulching Increases food reserves
Manuring Increases food reserves
No tillage Plowing destroys burrows

There are also practices that are harmful to

earthworms and should be avoided (Table
2). Soil pH should be checked to keep soil
from becoming too acidic. Leaving soil bare
also deprives earthworms of food supplies.
Earthworms breathe through their skin and
require a thin film of moisture. Although
they can survive in saturated soils for brief
periods of time, constant flooding can
reduce earthworms.

Chemical residues from rock salt, fertilizers,

or pesticides can slow the buildup of
Figure 7. Using 10% mustard powder to extract earthworm densities. If chemical fertilizers
earthworms from soil. need to be used, they should be used early in
the growing season. Manure can be applied
Gardeners and growers transitioning from later in the season to nourish the earthworms
conventional to organic farming can also and increase soil fertility. In addition,
consider following practices that can efforts to avoid soil compaction either by
promote resident populations of earthworms machinery or foot travel will prevent
(Table 1). damage to burrows. Establishing walkways
or travel lanes in the field or garden will
Earthworms require calcium, which is a minimize compaction. Tillage or excessive
component of the mucilaginous coating that hoeing can also destroy burrows; therefore,
surrounds the excreted castings. Since acid mulching with compost can minimize the
soils are usually lacking in calcium, they need for tillage and provide food substrates
often support very low densities of for the earthworms.
earthworms. Earthworms also require a
continuous source of food. Food reserves
that are preferred most by earthworms are

Using Earthworms to Improve Soil Health and Suppress Diseases. W. H. Elmer 4

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (www.ct.gov/caes)
Table 2. Practices that harm
earthworms.
Treatment Reason
Acid soils Soil pH <5.0 is harmful
Bare ground Starves earthworms
Flooding Depletes O2
Salts and Injurious and/or lethal to
fertilizers earthworms
Pesticides Injurious and/or lethal to
earthworms
Compaction Compaction destroys
burrows

SUMMARY

Earthworms are singularly considered to be

the best indicator of soil health. Low
densities can reflect numerous problems
with a soil, such as low pH, low organic
matter, low calcium, toxic residues, and
compacted or flooded soils. High
earthworm densities are associated with
well-drained, aerated, fertile soils.

Earthworms can also reduce damage from

soilborne diseases. Although earthworms
probably do not directly reduce pathogen
densities, they may suppress disease by
increasing beneficial organisms and
improving soil properties. Growers and
gardeners can increase earthworm activity
by making their soils more hospitable to
earthworms to help increase resident
populations.

January 2012

Using Earthworms to Improve Soil Health and Suppress Diseases. W. H. Elmer 5

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (www.ct.gov/caes)