Earthworms play a crucial role in phosphorus (P) mobilization within the soil ecosystem.

Worming the way to a better soil P availability 🪱🌾

📚 Earthworms play a crucial role in phosphorus (P) mobilization within the soil ecosystem.

📊 The available P content is higher in earthworm casts (compared to the surrounding soil) ca. 84% higher.

🪱 Earthworms can affect phosphorus cycling and improve availability to the plant (ortho-P form in soil solution) through the following effects of their activity:

🔄 PHYSICAL FRAGMENTATION AND MIXING
By bringing deeper soil layers to the surface and incorporating organic matter, earthworms enhance the contact between phosphorus-containing compounds and plant roots

🧪 CAST PRODUCTION AND pH MODIFICATION
Earthworms excrete casts, which are nutrient-rich, pellet-shaped waste materials. Their activity can influence soil pH by releasing alkaline substances during digestion.

🦠 STIMULATION OF MICROBIAL ACTIVITY
Earthworms affect the soil microbiome activity, which results in an increased release of phosphatases and subsequent mineralization of organic P.

🧱 CARBON CYCLING AND STABILIZATION
Microbial stimulation leads also to increases in organic carbon in the soil, contributing to the desorption of organic as well as inorganic P adsorbed to the soil solid phase.

Image: summary of the effects of earthworms activity on phosphorus availability to the plant (credits: Vidal et al. 2023; DOI: 10.1016/bs.agron.2023.05.001)
#soil #microbiome #farming #agriculture

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