Raising earthworms can eliminate environmental pollution
Provided by Jin Di Agricultural Earthworm Breeding Base:
We know that earthworms are detritivorous soil animals that mainly feed on decaying organic matter. Therefore, in the natural material cycle, earthworms belong to decomposers. In this link, the role of earthworms is second only to soil microorganisms and surpasses other soil animals. Earthworms play a huge role in the natural material cycle and ecological balance.
Earthworms are widely distributed on Earth, with large numbers and biomass, which represents a huge biological resource. Earthworms tirelessly work for the material cycle and ecological balance at all times. Whether in farmland, gardens, or in high mountains, grasslands, and forest soils, traces of earthworms can be seen everywhere. The decomposition and transformation capabilities of earthworms are very strong. People usually know that soil microorganisms play an important role in the decomposition of dead animal carcasses and plant residues. However, leaves, straw, animal shells, and keratin must first be broken down by earthworms and other soil animals before microorganisms can further decompose them. It has been reported that in general apple orchards, each mu (Chinese unit of area) has about 80 kilograms of dry fallen leaves. Before winter, more than 90% are dragged into soil burrows by earthworms and gradually consumed. In temperate forests, each mu has 166.7 to 244.0 kilograms of fallen leaves, and in tropical forests, each mu has 366.7 to 1,000 kilograms of fallen leaves. These plant residues are primarily broken down and decomposed by earthworms first, and then decomposed and digested by aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. On the grassland, many withered grasses and livestock manure mainly rely on the fragmentation and decomposition by earthworms. It can be seen that due to the existence of earthworms, the humification process of many organic matters has been greatly accelerated. This has been confirmed by countless experiments and natural phenomena.
Due to the burrowing, loosening, and fragmentation of organic matter by earthworms, favorable conditions have been created for the massive reproduction of soil microorganisms, enhancing microbial activity. The digestive tract of earthworms becomes a place where certain soil microorganisms continue to function. The decomposition function of earthworms plays an important role in the material cycle. They participate in the carbon and nitrogen cycles in nature, able to reduce organic carbon to inorganic carbon, decompose, digest, and assimilate various forms of nitrogen. If there were no earthworms participating in decomposition and reduction on Earth, then corpses would be scattered everywhere, a terrifying scenario that is unimaginable! Earth would also become a lifeless planet. Precisely because earthworms actively participate in the material cycle, keeping it in balance. In today's society, if people violate natural laws, only taking from nature without paying attention to protecting and cherishing nature, disrupting ecological balance, then society will be punished by nature. For example, in agricultural production, excessive reliance on chemical fertilizers may lead to short-term crop yield increases, but soil compaction, acidification, deteriorating living conditions for soil microorganisms and other soil animals, sharp reductions in their numbers, and reduced soil fertility occur. Overuse of chemical fertilizers or pesticides can also lead to the rapid spread of some pests and diseases, resulting in reduced agricultural productivity.
Earthworms secrete many special enzymes with astonishing digestive capabilities. In many countries around the world, using the unique functions of earthworms to handle domestic waste and various organic wastes has become a reality. It has been reported that in Los Angeles, California, an earthworm farm with over one million earthworms can handle 7.5 tons of garbage per month; a company in California raises five billion earthworms that can handle 2,000 tons of waste daily; in Clarington, Ontario, Canada, earthworms are used to handle 20 tons of garbage weekly, while producing dozens of tons of worm castings and a large amount of fresh earthworms, which are supplied to nurseries, farms, and other needs.
Nowadays, industrial waste such as food processing, brewing, papermaking, wood processing, and textile industries produce organic materials like pulp, residue, and sludge that can be handled by earthworms. In Japan, some paper mills use earthworms to treat pulp sludge, not only improving the environment and eliminating pollution, but also achieving substantial economic benefits. For instance, a paper mill producing 100,000 tons of paper annually generates approximately 45,000 tons of waste paper residue. If treated by earthworms, it could produce about 20,000 tons of earthworms and 15,000 tons of worm castings, representing a considerable wealth.
Jin Di Agricultural Company’s Earthworm Breeding Base provides wholesale earthworm breeds, commercial earthworms, free technical data on earthworm breeding when purchasing earthworm breeds, and earthworm breeding technology DVDs.
Website: www.jindinongye.com
(Responsible Editor: Jin Di Agriculture)