Tested Methods for Extracting Earthworms from Soil

Abstract

A comprehensive and quantitative knowledge of ecological factors affecting crop production is needed in purpose to meet the challenge of growing world population with minimal environmental impact. Earthworms are target organisms both for scientists studying the biological component of soils and for farmers concerned with monitoring the quality of their soils. For the growing social interest to quantify the role of earthworms in ecosystems, a precise and accurate estimation of their diversity, abundance and biomass is needed. Earthworm ecologists tend to use methods of extraction with less use of chemicals, with this purpose we want to test some new environmental friendly methods like chili powder, mustard powder, mustard-vinegar suspension, in comparison with formalin 0.1% (10 ml in 8 l water) and 0.2% (15 ml in 8 l water). Efficiency of methods is compared in terms of earthworm species composition, numbers, biomass, ecological groups (epigeic, anecic, endogeic), development stages (adults + subadults vs. juveniles) and the mortality rates in the first week after sampling.