How Earthworms Affect Plant Growth: Burrowing into the Mechanisms

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Earthworm species composition affects the soil bacterial community and net nitrogen mineralization (2006, background): “The notion that earthworm communities can specifically affect soil fertility may be of great importance to increase sustainable land use in agroecosystems, as proper earthworm management may sustain crop yields whilst fertilizer inputs can be reduced (Brown et al., 2004).”
A review of earthworm impact on soil function and ecosystem services (2013, background): “Plant functional group was also an important driver: earthworms induced a larger gain in production in perennial species (especially trees) than in annual species, whereas legumes were sometimes negatively affected by earthworm presence (Brown et al ., 1999, 2004).”
Role of Earthworms in Soil Fertility Maintenance through the Production of Biogenic Structures (2010, background): “Further the EWs can also increase nutrient availability in systems with reduced human influence and low nutrient status, that is, no tillage, reduced mineral fertilizer use, and low organic matter content [65–67].”
Root, mycorrhiza and earthworm interactions: their effects on soil structuring processes, plant and soil nutrient concentration and plant biomass (2009, background): “Moreover, different earthworm species or ecological categories may variously influence AMF species and plant growth (Brown et al. 2004; Wardle 2002).”