An hectare of intensive rotational pasture have millions of worms. Each worm in a year has been estimated to produce 5 kg of castings with are 26% C and 2% Nitrogen. Can earthworms managed for their optimization result in so significant of a C and N sequestration that they can potential completely counter act our present day emissions and in addition reverse the presentday enrichment in greenhouse gases. Think about the potential of applying the intensive pasture crop system on 5 billion hectares and how that might look like in real terms.
In one acre of soil with its over 1,000,000 earthworms they produce 10,000,000 pounds of castings at 26% carbon that 2,600,000 pounds of Carbon having a carbon dioxide equivalent of over 10,000,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. An earthworm produces 10 pounds of castings each year. The enormous amount of earthworms in an lush acre of pasture is close to a ton. Having five hearts they can do prodigious works. Our modern agricultural methods largely ignore or are antithetical to earthworms. The solution of global warming may be under our feet in the form of vast capacity of worms to process waste and return it to the ground improving our food system and the environment.
Should earthworms not be allowed to live in their wild? Must they be disturbed under the guise of one thing or another? When will man allow nature to run? They are also struggling to adapt to nature and it's changing climate.
Obianuju P. Umeji
The earthworms are interacting with a divers array of soil invertebrates and all these with the fungi, the algae, protozoa, collembola, bacteria and more in the complex foodweb. The abundance and diversity of soil biota maintains the health of soils and these support healthy plant communities. The challenge to reverse global warming is to foster the proliferation and propagation of soil biota (decomposers) that will support the producers (plants), while stabilizing the size of consumers (I am referring here to the stabilization of the human population.
Over one half of our soil organic resources has been sacrificed by our present agricultural system. Traditionally the mixed agriculture was used to sustain and improve soil organic matter. As lost soil organic matter is redeposited into the soil it will result in the taking of Carbon and Nitrogen from the air by plants and the remanufacturer of it by soil fauna and flora. The manure of animals is a rich source of worms. The earthworm is great soil bioengineers. Their pay is manure their dividends are improved soils. Ultimately by designing our food system around earthworms we can improve soil feed ourselves and reverse the loss organic matter which was source of greenhouse gas elevation before the industrial revolution through the side effect of agricultural systems which depleted our soil resources. Ultimately the most limiting source of our food system is water the ability to effectively capture water is a function of soil organic matter. Worms can build deep productive soils to optimize our use of water.
Sudy has revealed that the presence of worms affects how much carbon dioxide is produced in the soil and how much it escapes to the atmosphere. Scientists are concerned that earthworms increase greenhouse gas emissions - and that earthworm numbers are on the rise. Further noted that Bacteria in the earthworms' gut produce nitrous oxide and emissions from worm-infested soil can be three times as high as from soil without any worms, the study says...therefore, global worming can contribute to global warming as revealed by research.
The soil is a complex system and only in recent years scientists have discovered some of the biological processes and interactions occurring among soil living organisms. Earthworms represent an iconic species of soil life that has been recognized and appreciated for thousand of years by early agriculturalists of the Nile river valley in Egypt. However earthworms are just a minute component of the diversity of soil systems and thus, an excessive care to foster their presence (at the expense of suppressing diversity) will disrupt the equilibrium within the soil food web. Ecology above ground and below ground should become the standard in agriculture and more human activities to always aim at maintaining the "balance".
The primary production of plants is dependent on the sun and water for photosynthesis to be effective. The water for photosynthesis is a function of the soil water which is captured and maintained by the soil organic matter which is largely carbonaceous. In our North American heartland the soils have lost the majority of the soil organic matter which have been respired into our atmosphere as greenhouse gas. The practices which recover lost soil organic matter allows plants to avoid the stresses of periodic droughts and improves the nutritional quality of the primary plant production. As organic matter is recovered it addresses the need for better plant production and reduces any reliance on ammoniated fertilizers which attack soil organic matter and have a huge carbon foot print. The stimulating of natural processes that accumulate soil organic matter also reduce the footprint of the agricultural production based on synthetic fossil fuel derived input agriculture. By both reducing the carbon footprint and increasing the carbon sequestration make these alternative practices compelling. The biggest limitation to our world food system is water and water follows carbon in photosynthesis and in soil organic matter which can be seen as a carbon battery. Recharging our soil carbon battery can be greatly aided by agricultural systems which support earthworms. While a man on an acre of land is about 75 kg the earthworms in a flourishing pasture can exceed over 2000 kg consisting of a source of labor which obviates need for artificial tillage.
The earthworm produces granules of calcium carbonate which can identify soils where worm activity has been significant. This has the effect of liming the soil. About one third of our world soils are significantly acid and are not optimized for their calcium content. When I rear worms I situate them under a tree and give a layer of organic material with a sprinkling of lime. The layer is surrounded with rocks which aid in as an earthworm refuge from birds. The birds give significant nutrition from the worms and all this activity promotes healthy gardening as birds feed on insects pests keeping them in check. The worm castings which are manure are rich in all the nutrients needed for the plants. As the earthworms are fed their products accumulate producing a deep and rich soil favoring the tree underneath, the birds and my garden. The lime and manure contribute to carbon sequestration and great productivity and the vast majority of work is done by the earthworms. Earthworms contribute to reducing any need for fossil fuel inputs used in agriculture and contribute to soil improvement producing more and richer food resources.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331076568_Global_Warming_Mitigation_Through_Carbon_Sequestrations_in_the_Central_Western_Ghats
Enjoy the power points concentrating on earth worms and let me know what you think.
Dear Paul Reed Hepperly,
Yes, The nature of living organisms, mainly flora and some types of bacteria, has high greenhouse gas absorption capacity. However, the ability to absorb greenhouse gases by living organisms has developed over millions of years in the processes of evolution of ecosystems composed of many species of flora, fauna, fungi and microorganisms adapting to changing geological, geographical, climatic conditions and the chemical composition of the earth's crust and the atmosphere under natural equilibrium conditions . On the other hand, the development of human civilization since the end of the first industrial revolution, i.e. the end of the nineteenth century, and the development of industrialization and motorization of the motor industry since the beginning of the twentieth century takes place in conditions of severely disturbed natural balance, including successively faster reduction of natural biodiversity, increase in greenhouse gas emissions, faster global warming process and more and more frequent weather anomalies and climate disasters.
Nature, i.e. certain ecosystems of living organisms for millions of years and in some matters even for billions of years, they adapted to specific conditions of the composition of the atmosphere and the surface of the earth's crust and to specific climatic conditions. Natural ecosystems of living organisms, i.e. cooperating in a certain balance of sets of many species of flora and fauna for millions of years adapting to specific geographical, climatic conditions and the chemical composition of inanimate nature. From the study of evolutionary processes involving the adaptation of flora and fauna ecosystems, we know that these ecosystems can adapt to very diverse living conditions, to live in environments that differ significantly in terms of geographical, climatic and chemical composition of inanimate nature. However, evolutionary processes usually occur not over a period of several dozen years, but over several dozen million years. In addition, man is a species that appeared on Earth relatively recently and does not have as large evolutionary adaptability as many other species of flora and fauna characterized by a lower level of complexity of their biological organisms. Man as an element of natural ecosystems tens of thousands of years ago began to supplement his very small adaptability through the development of civilization. The technological objectification of obtaining food and then teamwork and professional work is only an extension of the limited human adaptability to the natural environment. Civilization development started with the mastery, kindling and use of primitive fire by man began the process of subordination of nature to man and then civilization development. Currently, the development of civilization has led to the fact that in a dozen or so years man will appear on the planet Mars and technology is developing in the conditions of the fourth technological revolution known as Industry 4.0.
The development of civilization is impressive, but unfortunately it does not take into account the maintenance of the natural balance between the negative effects of the development of civilization and the result of the impact of these effects in the natural environment, in a drastically decreasing number of species of flora and fauna and caused by climate change. Evident imbalances in this issue began to appear from the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, the gap between the negative effects of civilization development and the possibilities of deliberate neutralization of these negative effects in natural ecosystems has begun to increase successively. From the beginning of the 21st century, the scale of growth of the said dissonance began to accelerate significantly. The scale of the increase in the above-mentioned discord has become hyperbolic and has probably become completely out of control. Whether it is completely out of control or not, it remains to be seen only at the end of the 21st century, because then humanity will learn the catastrophic effects of the global warming process, which is progressing faster and faster, i.e. the scale of the multiplication of climate cataclysms in relation to the present situation.
We already know that the scale of the increase in environmental pollution of various types of toxins, the scale of the deterioration of the species composition of natural flora and fauna ecosystems, the decreasing biodiversity of biological ecosystems, the scale of the increase in average temperature at the Earth's surface is growing rapidly, parabolic. If these negative processes develop unidirectionally over the next several decades, then at the end of the 21st century in most of the currently inhabited areas man will not be able to survive due to the drying of clean water sources and the drying out and sterilization of green areas and arable fields as well as permanent fires. We now know that technological progress has unfortunately proved to be too poor for successful space exploration. The topic of colonization of other planets, exoplanets in other planetary light systems located millions of years away in other constellations and galaxies will unfortunately remain only a human dream and the subject of science fiction novels and movies. We already know that we need to change the development of civilization on Earth if we plan to survive the human species in the perspective of the next several hundred years. In order for this to be real, it is necessary to modify the development of civilization in the socio-economic perspective in such a way that this development reduces the scale of the above-mentioned dissonance of the negative effects of emitted pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions as well as unbalanced natural ecosystems and also the climate ecosystem. It is therefore necessary to carry out a thorough reform of the development of civilization consisting primarily of replacing the classic economy with a green economy developed by implementing the principles of sustainable pro-ecological development in economic processes.
As part of this sustainable ecological development, using the achievements of genetics, new crop varieties can be created that are resistant to drought and other negative effects of progressive climate change. In addition, new plant varieties should be created, including cyanobacteria, algae, trees and shrubs that will absorb much more CO2 than they do today. The need to change the development of civilization in order to restore balance in natural and climate ecosystems, including the protection of biodiversity of natural biological ecosystems is one of the main challenges of sustainable ecological development to be implemented in the 21st century. However, the problem is the implementation of the principles of sustainable pro-ecological development into commercially implemented business processes. It is not easy to combine the green economy philosophy with the foundation of commercially operating business processes, i.e. classic economics. It is necessary for business communities to cooperate with other types of organizations, including pro-ecological social institutions and the world of science.
In my opinion, in the 21st century, the policy of protecting nature and biodiversity of natural ecosystems should be improved in connection with the rapidly warming global warming process and the growing pollution of the environment. In connection with the reduction of green areas and forests, rehabilitation and greening of areas degraded by industrial development should be developed. Because climate change is getting worse due to the progressing global warming process, adverse to nature and biodiversity, the issue of protecting natural resources and nature is a global problem. Therefore, the improvement of nature protection policy and biodiversity of natural ecosystems should also take place in the field of international cooperation. In order to protect biodiversity, the implementation of the principles of sustainable pro-ecological development in economic processes should be carried out in the following years to a universal, aggregate, national and international level. The implementation of the principles of sustainable pro-ecological development should be carried out in accordance with the green economy philosophy and pro-ecological reforms should be financed from various sources, primarily from green finance and public finances of the state, and also the implementation of ecological innovations should finance enterprises whose production has a negative impact on the environment.
In connection with the faster and faster global warming process, it is necessary to promote the principles of sustainable pro-ecological economic development in the media and in the education system, and to implement these principles in various industries and energy, especially those that are the main emitters of greenhouse gases. In the shortest possible time, all global energy should be switched from classic energy sources based on burning minerals to renewable, ecological energy sources. In addition, it is necessary to develop electromobility, organic farming, recycling, etc. Due to the accelerating global warming process, there is little time to carry out these necessary, pro-ecological reforms. It is estimated that these pro-ecological global reforms should be implemented by about 2030 so that the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions proceeds efficiently so that a significant slowdown of the global warming process can be achieved. Which type of energy, including, among others, which type of renewable energy sources will be mainly developing in the future, can be determined by a specific energy policy of the state, the level of state subsidies from public finance funds to support the construction of certain types of power plants, the participation of the private sector in development financing programs enterprises, investment projects in the energy sector, etc. In addition, the level of profitability of electricity production from specific types of energy sources as well as the level of general public awareness regarding the necessity of implementing the principles of sustainable ecological development, including, among others, developed energy are also important factors. In line with the philosophy of replacing classical economics with the green economy formula, in the coming years, first of all, ecological innovations should be developed, among others in the field of development of renewable energy sources. Accordingly, by 2050 at the latest, the entire World should go 100 percent. on energy based on renewable energy sources. To effectively implement the principles of sustainable pro-ecological development and business development according to the green economy philosophy into economic processes, it is necessary to develop eco-innovation and it is necessary to improve the systems for financing ecological reforms from green finance sources.
Perhaps through the implementation of the above-mentioned and other activities that are part of pro-ecological economic reforms and the repeated increase in the scale of implementation processes of the principles of sustainable economic development, it will be possible to at least partly restore balance in natural and climate ecosystems. Will this plan succeed? We don't know that now. Our children and grandchildren will answer this question at the end of the 21st century. However, we know that this should be done, we should implement a plan to try to restore balance in natural and climate ecosystems by urgent, repeatedly increasing the scale of pro-ecological economic reforms and processes of implementing the principles of sustainable economic development conducted according to the concept of green economy.
Best wishes
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Following;
Earthworms contribute is seriously impeded by pesticide, indeed.
Whatever the plant cover (pasture, crops, forests, steppes, etc.), plants use CO2 and N2 in the atmosphere and draw water and nutrients from the soil and with the help of solar energy transform by photosynthesis all in biomass (livestock, food, wood etc.). The question is therefore not limited to pastures but to the optimization of the human footprint on the biosphere and the hydrosphere. Measurements of this impact are based on the estimation of the human appropriation of terrestrial net primary production (HTNPP), in particular in agriculture, urban green spaces, the exploitation of wetlands, forests, grasslands, savannahs, rangelands, and deserts; primary production being expressed in the quantity of biomass.
See the following book Chapter (In French):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/356662490_Les_Problemes_de_l'Eau_dans_le_Monde
One may find the same information in English in the English edition of the book:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325509717_The_World_Water_Issues
Related topics are also discussed within the following threads: https://www.researchgate.net/post/National_Water_Security_in_Water-Scarce_Countries https://www.researchgate.net/post/Water_Footprint_Water_Colors_Blue_Water_Green_Water_Grey_Water_Virtual_Water https://www.researchgate.net/post/Scientific_Watch_on_Water_Scarcity_Indicators
In a maize monoculture with tillage and agrichemicals earthworm activity is very minimal.
When a soybean crop is grown it greatly increased earth worms.
Pastures even more.
When the manures are returned to the pastures the explosion is earthworms is amazing.
The use of pastures with manures can increase earthworm over 100,000 times the monoculure values.
Paul Reed Hepperly "The use of pastures with manures can increase earthworm over 100,000 times the monoculure values." With your permission let me please rewrite this statement in this form: "the use of pastures with manures can increase earthworm over 100,000 times the monoculture values without manures". Otherwise it would be a matter of "false equivalency" unsuitable for objective comparison. Subsidiary question: What can we say about the use of whatever culture on soil with manures?
Jamel Chahed
The concentrated production of animals in agriculture create water quality issues.
Effective recycling of CAFO concentrat Animal Feeding Operations can be effective in improving the soil quality and lead to better environmental health and increase the production of crops and animals.
Without crop rotation pasture and manures the levels of earthworms are in the few hundreds per hectare.
When the pastures with manures are employed the earthworms can rise to millions of earthworms per hectare.
Work in Great Britain suggest in one year an earthworm can produce 4 kg of earthworm excreta.
For milliners peasants in my country proceed to rotation within fallow harvesting of different sorts according to local conditions, using manures (which are recycling AFO) including chicken waste and other composts in the fertilization of soil for all kinds of crops. Fortunately, they are continuing. So, sorry if I did not grasp the idea
Efficient recycling is able to improve the water holding capacity of soils which I would suspect especially in your country is the most limtiting factor.
Amazon Terra Preta show the massive ability of the soil and recycling to increase the carbon content from under 10,000 kg/ha carbon to up to and over 300,000 kg/ha this would give a capacity of counteracting over 1,000,000 kg/ha of Carbon dioxide.
The quality of the food from organic amended soils are superior in mineral and vitamain contents.
If a Farmer could have sufficiently manure to transform the soil horizon of his farm from this to that, he would be, without doubt, the happiest Farmer, and for sure, at the price the manure is sold today, he would have to be the most worthy. Anyway whatsoever is his fortune, he will expend it and it will no more manure for the other farmers. All the planet's soils are not fed with organic matter as Amazon's soils are.
W hen working in an isolated village in West AFrica the deep organically transformed soil is the result of intention or unintentional recycling of the organic materials.
Case in point is the ability to use the adaption of the principles of American Indian recycling system is not something only applicable to Sourth America.
In a village the central use of ashes and manures are present. Once these soils are transformed the productivity is stabilized and the ability to supportthe primary plant productivity optimized. The issue is can be establish the conclusive recycling and the soil improvement in intentialonal optimized ways to both better feed our people better protect the environment and also add even address dietary and climate issues. \
When you say not all soils are feed with organic matter and you are riight but the reverse of that is why not.
The cases in point is absolutely they should be.
The conclusion would be absolutely.