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DECLINING EARTHWORMS. "More than 99% of applied pesticides have the potential to affect non-target organisms and become widely dispersed in the vicinity as potential contaminants. Due to this soil organisms are totally affected." https://lnkd.in/eUfCif8 View in LinkedIn

EARTHWORM DESTRUCTION. "In Australia, changes in farming practices such as the application of superphosphates on pastures and a switch from pastoral farming to arable farming had a devastating effect on populations of the giant Gippsland earthworm, leading to their classification as a protected species." https://lnkd.in/erzksPW View in LinkedIn

MODERN FARMING KILLS WORMS. "Nitrogenous fertilizers tend to create acidic conditions, which are fatal to the worms, and dead specimens are often found on the surface following the application of substances such as DDT, lime sulphur, and lead arsenate." https://lnkd.in/erzksPW View in LinkedIn

EARTHWORMS AND PLANT GROWTH. "5 possible pathways through which earthworm can positively affect plant growth: (i) biocontrol of pests and diseases; (ii) stimulation of microbial plant symbionts; (iii) production of plant-growth regulating substances; (iv) soil structure changes; and (v) increased nutrient availability." https://lnkd.in/eBujjqy View in LinkedIn

EARTHWORMS IMPROVE HARVESTS. "Earthworms are among the most important soil dwelling invertebrates. Their activity affects both biotic and abiotic soil properties, in turn affecting plant growth. Here we show, using meta-analysis, that on average earthworm presence in agroecosystems leads to a 25% increase in crop yield and a 23% increase in aboveground biomass." https://lnkd.in/eBujjqy View in LinkedIn

LOSS OF CIVILIZATIONS. "War and pestilence might kill large numbers of people, but in most cases the population recovers. But lose the soil and everything goes with it. Now, globalisation ensures that this disaster is reproduced everywhere." https://lnkd.in/eZfN3CZ View in LinkedIn

TRAJECTORY. "By accounts of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, we have less than 60 years of farming left if we continue our modern chemical-industrial based farming processes." https://lnkd.in/eZfN3CZ View in LinkedIn

THE PROBLEM. "Soil is nature’s support medium for plant growth. Soils on only 12% of Earth’s land area possess the physical requirements to function as cropland. However, one-fourth of this land is now moderately to severely degraded." Leaving just 9% of the earth's land as productive. https://lnkd.in/eDthqhq View in LinkedIn

FOUNDATION OF LIFE. "Soil is one of the most abundant, complex and valuable natural products of the Earth. Soil organisms are major drivers of biogeochemical nutrient cycles (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous: C, N, P), and hence are indispensable for life on Earth." https://lnkd.in/err7xpn View in LinkedIn

FRAGMENT FROM NATURE deals with the broad subject of earth fertility with the narrower focus on the greatest agent of soil change, the earthworm. Darwin was the first to conduct serious work on earthworms. Cultures were made and broken on this animal. Unfortunately, for over 50 years, modern farming methods with chemical fertilizers and pesticides have denuded the populations of these creatures. View in LinkedIn