Economic Important Of Earthworm

Economic Important Of Earthworm

Earthworm is a tube-shaped, segmented worm found in the phylum annelida. They are common found living in soil, feeding on live and dead organic matter. Its digestive system runs respiration through its skin. An earthworm has a double transport system composed of coelomic fluid that moves within the fluid-filled coelom and a simple closed blood circulatory system.

Earthworm plays an important role in breaking down dead organic matter in a process known as decomposition. This is what the earthworm living in soils compost bin are doing and earthworm living in soils also decompose organic matter. Decomposition releases nutrients locked up in dead plants and animals and makes them available for use by living plants. Earthworms do this by eating or feeding organic matter and breaking it down into smaller pieces allowing bacteria and fungi feed on it and release the nutrient.

Earthworms are used as baits for fishing in many parts of the world. They are used as food by a large number of animals like frogs, moles, lizards, small insects

The earthworm makes the best food of fish in an aquarium and small animals in the laboratory.

The ayurvedic and unani system of therapy suggests that earthworms are used for losing body weight, removing bladder stone, curing jaundice and piles etc.

Earthworm’s habit of burrowing makes the soil loose and porous. Their burrows permit the penetration of air and moisture in the porous soil. The excreta of worms are a good manure. The secretions of worm enrich the soil by adding nitrogenous bases. Earthworms are universally used for dissection in zoological laboratories, as they are easily obtained. (Mollison et al; 1988)