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How does tillage cultivation harm earthworms?
The benefits of giving up the plow are numerous, but we will focus on one important issue: earthworms. These inconspicuous organisms are extremely hard-working and effective farmer's helpers. Unfortunately, plowing is detrimental to them. When designing and producing its tools, the Rolmako brand decided to entirely abandon the mechanical plow in favor of a biological plow, i.e., earthworms. Learn more about these beneficial organisms.
What are earthworms?
Earthworms are common annelids belonging to a large family that includes 670 species. In Poland, there are 35 species of earthworms, with approximately 10 being common and frequently encountered. In lowland areas, only 2-4 species dominate. These annelids can be found at various depths and are generally divided into three groups, each with different functions.
How important are earthworms to the soil?
Surface (epigeic) earthworms reside in the upper layer and litter, feeding on organic matter remains on the ground. They are characterized by their red or red-purple color, small size (up to 8 cm), and quick movement. Epigeic earthworms facilitate the circulation of organic matter and provide sustenance for other animals. They seldom burrow or hide underground unless conditions become unfavorable. These species grind organic matter and partially mix it with the soil's mineral layer, aiding in humus formation. Notable examples include the California earthworm and the pink compostworm.
Endogean (subsurface) earthworms, also known as soil-eating earthworms, inhabit slightly deeper layers of soil. They seldom surface and are typically pale, greenish, or colorless. The largest of the commonly found earthworms is the common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris), an intermediate species. Soil earthworms create extensive vertical corridors with horizontal branches and multiple surface exits. Young roots thrive in these corridors due to excellent oxygen access. Additionally, earthworm mucus on the corridor walls contains abundant nitrogen minerals. These earthworms also contribute to the formation of soil aggregates.
The deepest earthworms are the aneic (deep burrowing) species, which reside in deep holes. These worms create large, nearly vertical systems of tunnels that open onto the surface. They feed on dead organic matter, and their structures positively impact soil aeration, water infiltration, and nutrient availability for plant roots.
Earthworm excrement, forming characteristic surface mounds known as coprolites, greatly benefits soil and plants. As organic matter passes through the earthworm digestive tract, the concentration of humus compounds increases by 150%, and nutrients are concentrated and transformed into plant-available forms. Coprolites contain approximately five times more nitrogen, seven times more phosphorus, and eleven times more potassium, as well as approximately three times more magnesium and calcium compared to the topsoil layer. Earthworm fertilization is continuous and optimal, with no risk of over-fertilization or nutrient leaching.
The impact of earthworms on crop yield is significant. A comparison between samples without earthworms and those with a substantial number indicated a 70-80% increase in yield. Throughout the year, earthworms contribute up to 6 tons of organic matter per hectare, mixing it uniformly with the soil. The total length of their tunnels can reach 4,000-5,000 km per hectare, at depths of 2-3 meters. Earthworms undeniably aid farmers by loosening and enriching the soil without any cost.
Why does plowing harm earthworms?
Earthworms thrive in uncultivated areas such as forests, pastures, and other permanent grasslands. They can also flourish in agricultural fields if appropriate agrotechnical measures are applied. Plowing and working in the field with active tools are most detrimental to the earthworm population. Cultivating and stubble cultivation pose a smaller threat, while subsoiling and direct sowing pose minimal threat. A 1996 experiment in Canada demonstrated that the earthworm population in soil cultivated without plowing was nearly five times greater than in conventionally cultivated soil.
Why is plowing a threat to earthworms? It constitutes a significant "natural disaster" for them: earthworms perish due to direct bodily harm, severe deterioration of living conditions (dry soil, restricted access to food, and loss of shelter), and because they are exposed to the surface, making them vulnerable to birds. The plowing procedure alone kills 29-50% of the population, birds consume about 6%, and an additional 39% die due to soil drying. Abandoning the plow is the most effective way to ensure that earthworms can thrive in your field.
Why is no-plow farming beneficial for earthworms?
No-plow farming maintains soil structure, preventing the disruption of earthworm habitats. Harvest residues left in the field provide a continuous food source. The practice minimally disturbs shallower soil layers, allowing deeper-dwelling earthworms to remain undisturbed. Earthworms can continue their natural tunnelling activities, emerging at night to consume plant remains and naturally aerating the soil, outperforming mechanical tilling methods.
For cultivation without plowing, the following equipment available from Rolmako can be utilized:
- Grubbers (cultivators) – cut, loosen, and partially mix the soil
- Subsoilers – loosen the soil without turning it over at greater depths, regulating water management and aerating the soil
- Disc harrows – level the field surface and are more efficient than a plow
- Tillage rollers – level the field, break up clods, improve soil structure, prevent erosion, retain water, and facilitate seed germination
- Other machines – such as knife rollers, mulch harrows, tillage combinations for mixing the soil immediately after harvest, or pre-sowing units.
Cultivate without plowing to benefit earthworms
While it is impossible to cultivate the land without impacting earthworms, minimizing harm is achievable—primarily by refraining from plowing. This is a key reason why Rolmako actively promotes no-plow cultivation. Our specialists have been developing innovative machines for plowless agronomic treatments for years, ensuring the reliability of Rolmako units. Our offerings include high-quality, specialized tools that allow you to cultivate your land efficiently, effectively, and profitably—without a plow, maintaining a substantial population of earthworms that naturally aid in field cultivation.
Endogean (subsurface) earthworms, also known as soil-eating earthworms, inhabit slightly deeper layers of soil. They seldom surface and are typically pale, greenish, or colorless. The largest of the commonly found earthworms is the common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris), an intermediate species. Soil earthworms create extensive vertical corridors with horizontal branches and multiple surface exits. Young roots thrive in these corridors due to excellent oxygen access. Additionally, earthworm mucus on the corridor walls contains abundant nitrogen minerals. These earthworms also contribute to the formation of soil aggregates.
The deepest earthworms are the aneic (deep burrowing) species, which reside in deep holes. These worms create large, nearly vertical systems of tunnels that open onto the surface. They feed on dead organic matter, and their structures positively impact soil aeration, water infiltration, and nutrient availability for plant roots.
Earthworm excrement, forming characteristic surface mounds known as coprolites, greatly benefits soil and plants. As organic matter passes through the earthworm digestive tract, the concentration of humus compounds increases by 150%, and nutrients are concentrated and transformed into plant-available forms. Coprolites contain approximately five times more nitrogen, seven times more phosphorus, and eleven times more potassium, as well as approximately three times more magnesium and calcium compared to the topsoil layer. Earthworm fertilization is continuous and optimal, with no risk of over-fertilization or nutrient leaching.
The impact of earthworms on crop yield is significant. A comparison between samples without earthworms and those with a substantial number indicated a 70-80% increase in yield. Throughout the year, earthworms contribute up to 6 tons of organic matter per hectare, mixing it uniformly with the soil. The total length of their tunnels can reach 4,000-5,000 km per hectare, at depths of 2-3 meters. Earthworms undeniably aid farmers by loosening and enriching the soil without any cost.
Why does plowing harm earthworms?
Earthworms thrive in uncultivated areas such as forests, pastures, and other permanent grasslands. They can also flourish in agricultural fields if appropriate agrotechnical measures are applied. Plowing and working in the field with active tools are most detrimental to the earthworm population. Cultivating and stubble cultivation pose a smaller threat, while subsoiling and direct sowing pose minimal threat. A 1996 experiment in Canada demonstrated that the earthworm population in soil cultivated without plowing was nearly five times greater than in conventionally cultivated soil.
Why is plowing a threat to earthworms? It constitutes a significant "natural disaster" for them: earthworms perish due to direct bodily harm, severe deterioration of living conditions (dry soil, restricted access to food, and loss of shelter), and because they are exposed to the surface, making them vulnerable to birds. The plowing procedure alone kills 29-50% of the population, birds consume about 6%, and an additional 39% die due to soil drying. Abandoning the plow is the most effective way to ensure that earthworms can thrive in your field.
Why is no-plow farming beneficial for earthworms?
No-plow farming maintains soil structure, preventing the disruption of earthworm habitats. Harvest residues left in the field provide a continuous food source. The practice minimally disturbs shallower soil layers, allowing deeper-dwelling earthworms to remain undisturbed. Earthworms can continue their natural tunnelling activities, emerging at night to consume plant remains and naturally aerating the soil, outperforming mechanical tilling methods.
For cultivation without plowing, the following equipment available from Rolmako can be utilized:
- Grubbers (cultivators) – cut, loosen, and partially mix the soil
- Subsoilers – loosen the soil without turning it over at greater depths, regulating water management and aerating the soil
- Disc harrows – level the field surface and are more efficient than a plow
- Tillage rollers – level the field, break up clods, improve soil structure, prevent erosion, retain water, and facilitate seed germination
- Other machines – such as knife rollers, mulch harrows, tillage combinations for mixing the soil immediately after harvest, or pre-sowing units.
Cultivate without plowing to benefit earthworms
While it is impossible to cultivate the land without impacting earthworms, minimizing harm is achievable—primarily by refraining from plowing. This is a key reason why Rolmako actively promotes no-plow cultivation. Our specialists have been developing innovative machines for plowless agronomic treatments for years, ensuring the reliability of Rolmako units. Our offerings include high-quality, specialized tools that allow you to cultivate your land efficiently, effectively, and profitably—without a plow, maintaining a substantial population of earthworms that naturally aid in field cultivation.
The impact of earthworms on crop yield is significant. A comparison between samples without earthworms and those with a substantial number indicated a 70-80% increase in yield. Throughout the year, earthworms contribute up to 6 tons of organic matter per hectare, mixing it uniformly with the soil. The total length of their tunnels can reach 4,000-5,000 km per hectare, at depths of 2-3 meters. Earthworms undeniably aid farmers by loosening and enriching the soil without any cost.
Why does plowing harm earthworms?
Earthworms thrive in uncultivated areas such as forests, pastures, and other permanent grasslands. They can also flourish in agricultural fields if appropriate agrotechnical measures are applied. Plowing and working in the field with active tools are most detrimental to the earthworm population. Cultivating and stubble cultivation pose a smaller threat, while subsoiling and direct sowing pose minimal threat. A 1996 experiment in Canada demonstrated that the earthworm population in soil cultivated without plowing was nearly five times greater than in conventionally cultivated soil.
Why is plowing a threat to earthworms? It constitutes a significant "natural disaster" for them: earthworms perish due to direct bodily harm, severe deterioration of living conditions (dry soil, restricted access to food, and loss of shelter), and because they are exposed to the surface, making them vulnerable to birds. The plowing procedure alone kills 29-50% of the population, birds consume about 6%, and an additional 39% die due to soil drying. Abandoning the plow is the most effective way to ensure that earthworms can thrive in your field.
Why is no-plow farming beneficial for earthworms?
No-plow farming maintains soil structure, preventing the disruption of earthworm habitats. Harvest residues left in the field provide a continuous food source. The practice minimally disturbs shallower soil layers, allowing deeper-dwelling earthworms to remain undisturbed. Earthworms can continue their natural tunnelling activities, emerging at night to consume plant remains and naturally aerating the soil, outperforming mechanical tilling methods.
For cultivation without plowing, the following equipment available from Rolmako can be utilized:
- Grubbers (cultivators) – cut, loosen, and partially mix the soil
- Subsoilers – loosen the soil without turning it over at greater depths, regulating water management and aerating the soil
- Disc harrows – level the field surface and are more efficient than a plow
- Tillage rollers – level the field, break up clods, improve soil structure, prevent erosion, retain water, and facilitate seed germination
- Other machines – such as knife rollers, mulch harrows, tillage combinations for mixing the soil immediately after harvest, or pre-sowing units.
Cultivate without plowing to benefit earthworms
While it is impossible to cultivate the land without impacting earthworms, minimizing harm is achievable—primarily by refraining from plowing. This is a key reason why Rolmako actively promotes no-plow cultivation. Our specialists have been developing innovative machines for plowless agronomic treatments for years, ensuring the reliability of Rolmako units. Our offerings include high-quality, specialized tools that allow you to cultivate your land efficiently, effectively, and profitably—without a plow, maintaining a substantial population of earthworms that naturally aid in field cultivation.
Why is plowing a threat to earthworms? It constitutes a significant "natural disaster" for them: earthworms perish due to direct bodily harm, severe deterioration of living conditions (dry soil, restricted access to food, and loss of shelter), and because they are exposed to the surface, making them vulnerable to birds. The plowing procedure alone kills 29-50% of the population, birds consume about 6%, and an additional 39% die due to soil drying. Abandoning the plow is the most effective way to ensure that earthworms can thrive in your field.
Why is no-plow farming beneficial for earthworms?
No-plow farming maintains soil structure, preventing the disruption of earthworm habitats. Harvest residues left in the field provide a continuous food source. The practice minimally disturbs shallower soil layers, allowing deeper-dwelling earthworms to remain undisturbed. Earthworms can continue their natural tunnelling activities, emerging at night to consume plant remains and naturally aerating the soil, outperforming mechanical tilling methods.
For cultivation without plowing, the following equipment available from Rolmako can be utilized:
- Grubbers (cultivators) – cut, loosen, and partially mix the soil
- Subsoilers – loosen the soil without turning it over at greater depths, regulating water management and aerating the soil
- Disc harrows – level the field surface and are more efficient than a plow
- Tillage rollers – level the field, break up clods, improve soil structure, prevent erosion, retain water, and facilitate seed germination
- Other machines – such as knife rollers, mulch harrows, tillage combinations for mixing the soil immediately after harvest, or pre-sowing units.
Cultivate without plowing to benefit earthworms
While it is impossible to cultivate the land without impacting earthworms, minimizing harm is achievable—primarily by refraining from plowing. This is a key reason why Rolmako actively promotes no-plow cultivation. Our specialists have been developing innovative machines for plowless agronomic treatments for years, ensuring the reliability of Rolmako units. Our offerings include high-quality, specialized tools that allow you to cultivate your land efficiently, effectively, and profitably—without a plow, maintaining a substantial population of earthworms that naturally aid in field cultivation.
For cultivation without plowing, the following equipment available from Rolmako can be utilized:
- Grubbers (cultivators) – cut, loosen, and partially mix the soil
- Subsoilers – loosen the soil without turning it over at greater depths, regulating water management and aerating the soil
- Disc harrows – level the field surface and are more efficient than a plow
- Tillage rollers – level the field, break up clods, improve soil structure, prevent erosion, retain water, and facilitate seed germination
- Other machines – such as knife rollers, mulch harrows, tillage combinations for mixing the soil immediately after harvest, or pre-sowing units.
Cultivate without plowing to benefit earthworms
While it is impossible to cultivate the land without impacting earthworms, minimizing harm is achievable—primarily by refraining from plowing. This is a key reason why Rolmako actively promotes no-plow cultivation. Our specialists have been developing innovative machines for plowless agronomic treatments for years, ensuring the reliability of Rolmako units. Our offerings include high-quality, specialized tools that allow you to cultivate your land efficiently, effectively, and profitably—without a plow, maintaining a substantial population of earthworms that naturally aid in field cultivation.
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