Studies on the Relationships Between Earthworms and Soil Fertility

Abstract

The ploughing of a permanent pasture in spring was not followed by a reduction of the earthworm population during the first 6 months but further arable cultivation did greatly reduce the population. Leys, 4–7 years old, carry a total population similar to that of permanent pastures, but with differing proportions of certain species. Some trends in population changes during a period of nearly 1 year are described for five common species. The population of a permanent pasture did not show appreciable change for a period of nearly 3 years but that of a ley, in its first year following arable, showed a significant increase.