EARTHWORM ACTIVITY AND PLANT GROWTH IN ARTIFICIAL CULTURES

Experiments have been carried out with breeding worms in artificial cultures. The conditions in pot cultures generally appeared to be far from optimal, which was evident from the fact that earthworms died or were partly found in aestivation. Cage cultures were very suitable for breeding earthworms and hence for demonstrating their beneficial effect on the growth of plants. Earthworms, added in high concentrations, doubled the dry-matter yield of spring wheat, increased grass yields four times and clover yields ten times. Pea yields were reduced.