Leaves = Food - NACD · 2016-07-28 · awesome fertilizer. The worm castings have a higher...
Transcript of Leaves = Food - NACD · 2016-07-28 · awesome fertilizer. The worm castings have a higher...
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Leaves = Food for worms and other animals. This is called
organic matter in the soil.
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Worm tunnels allow more water to enter the soil
They act as a duct for rain & oxygen. Help reduce dangers of water-caused
erosion! By letting the water infiltrate into the soil quicker!
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Worm tunnels make it easier for roots and
plants to grow. As roots grow and reach the worm
tunnel they can get into the ground easier!
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Worm tunnels allow air to enter
the soil. Worms break through the muddy soil after rainfall. These openings
in the soil help with successful root and plant growth and allow
air to enter the soil!
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Worms and other animals mix the soil by
tunneling.
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Worm Doo-Doo = Plant food Worm castings are a mixture of organic
substances, microorganisms, and soil. When passing through the digestive system of the worm these are mixed together forming an
awesome fertilizer. The worm castings have a higher concentration of nutrients than the surrounding soil. Plants with roots growing
in tunnels lined by worm castings show a better uptake of nutrients and healthier
growth.
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An earthworm can grow only so long.
A well-fed adult will depend on what kind
of worm it is, how many segments it has, how old it is and how
well fed it is.
Source: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/facts/index.html
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A worm has no arms, legs or eyes.
Source: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/facts/index.html
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There are approximately
2,700 different kinds of earthworms.
Source: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/facts/index.html
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Worms live where there is food, moisture,
oxygen and a favorable temperature.
If they don’t have these things, they go
somewhere else.
Source: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/facts/index.html
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In one acre of land, there
can be more than a million earthworms.
Source: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/facts/index.html
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The largest earthworm ever
found was in South Africa and measured 22 feet from its nose to the tip of its tail.
Source: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/facts/index.html
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Charles Darwin spent 39 years
studying earthworms more
than 100 years ago.
Source: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/facts/index.html
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Worms are cold-blooded
animals.
Source: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/facts/index.html
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If a worm’s skin dries out, it will
die.
Source: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/facts/index.html
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Worms can eat their
weight each day.
Source: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/facts/index.html
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Q. How do worms eat?
A.They don't have teeth but they have strong mouth muscles. Dew worms or nightcrawlers often surface at night to pull fallen leaves down into their burrow. When the leaf softens a little they pull off small bits to munch on. Worms also "swallow" soil as they burrow.
Source: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/search/WormNotes3.html#eat
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Q. Why do earthworms stay underground and seldom come out of the soil? A. Darkness lets them avoid being dried out by the sun. If their skin dries out, they can no longer breathe. Light paralyzes them if they're in it more than an hour. Then they can't move back to the safety of the soil.
Source: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/search/WormNotes3.html#eat
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Q. Why do robins tug at earthworms in the soil? A. Worms use the many tiny bristles or setae on each of their body rings to help them crawl as well as to anchor themselves firmly in their burrows. The robin has to tug because the worm is gripping the soil!
Source: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/search/WormNotes3.html#eat
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Q. What do earthworms eat? A. Earthworms eat soil! Their nutrition comes from things in soil, such as decaying roots and leaves. Animal manures are an important food source for earthworms. They eat living organisms such as nematodes, protozoans, rotifers, bacteria, fungi in soil. Worms will also feed on the decomposing remains of other animals. Source: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/search/WormNotes3.html#eat
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Q. Can worms crawl forward and reverse? A. Yes. Even though worms can move both frontward and backward they tend to travel forward more. Source: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/search/WormNotes3.html#eat
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It takes more than 500 years to form
one inch of topsoil.
Source:www.soils.org
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In one gram of soil, there are
over 5,000 different types of
bacteria.
Source:www.soils.org
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Nearly all antibiotics used to fight our
infections are obtained from soil
organisms
Source:www.soils.org
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One tablespoon of soil has more
organisms in it than people on Earth.
Source:www.soils.org
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There are more than 70,000 types of soil in the United States.
Source:www.soils.org