Earthworm in Agricultural Production and Environmental Management

Abstract

In Nigeria favourable climatic and ecological features exist at the same time potentially resourceful efficient and versatile earthworm species are much present in soil environment. These earthworms are capable to address the food security, soil and environmental bioremediation and sustainable soil productivity. Often time these organisms are being destroyed by deleterious cultural practices, use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides leading to their going extinct faster than desired. Through their burrowing activities in conjunction with vermicompost production, soil material mixing, and distribution activities contribute immensely to enhance soil biological and physiochemical properties. Earthworms being omnivorous decomposes organic wastes faster than merely microbial decomposers and turn the wastes into excellent vermicompost product that is marketable. Vermicompost contains plant nutrients and beneficial microbes that can promote plant growth, reduce the incidence of pathogens, nematodes and other pests as it promotes the synthesis of anthocyanin and flavonoids that act as deterrent to diseases and pests. Thereby increase the growth of healthy plants and yield. The recovery of plant nutrients by modification of wastes that are bound in Nigeria in their different kinds and quantity and threat to soil-air-water quality is very much important for their management and environmental health. There is need to evolve adequate and appropriate research strategies to develop useful biotechnology to harness these renewable agricultural resources using earthworm potentials to address Nigerian food security and environmental degradation. This paper therefore highlights some resourceful features and practical utilization of earthworms in agricultural productions and environmental management.