What Every Gardener Should Know About Earthworms (Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletin A-21)

What Every Gardener Should Know About Earthworms (Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletin A-21)

Henry Hopp

Language: English

Pages: 20

ISBN: 0882661957

Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub


Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

with the discovery of measures that correct the deficiencies in the different kinds of soils where one or more of the basic requirements is limiting the crop growth. Thus, where moisture is limiting, the farmer may irrigate; or he may use a system that lets more of the rain into the ground so that not as much is lost by runoff; or he may increase the depth or capacity of the root zone to hold water. Where aeration is poor, such as in compact clay soils, he cultivates and may use other measures

and mature ones a greater quantity than young ones. An approximate rule is that earthworms produce their own weight of casts per day. This rule is based on careful measurements in controlled tests. Transposed onto a field basis, and using data from a large number of examinations in the North Atlantic and North Central states, it appears that the average quantity of soil converted into casts amounts to about 700 lbs. per acre for each day’s activity. This rate of activity holds in the damp periods

population is present than when it has a few earthworms. This is due in part to the effect of the earthworms themselves and in part to other productivity factors that parallel changes in the earthworm population. So the number of earthworms is a useful indication of the productivity of soil. People frequently ask how much the yield of crops is increased by earthworms. A simple, direct answer cannot be given. It varies with the condition of the soil and the kind of crop. This is illustrated by

precipitates, earthworms add a large quantity of nutrients to the soil at the end of their life cycle. A population goes through seasonal fluctuations which are dependent on the climate. The young hatch in the fall and enter a period of rapid growth which continues into the following spring. During this period large quantities of nitrogenous material, normally unavailable to plants, is converted to worm protein. As the hot weather of summer approaches the adults begin to die. These in turn

practical information that encourages personal independence in harmony with the environment. Cover illustration by Cathy Baker Cover design by Carol J. Jessop (Black Trout Design) © 1978 by Storey Publishing, LLC All rights reserved. No part of this bulletin may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages or reproduce illustrations in a review with appropriate credits; nor may any part of this bulletin be reproduced, stored

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