Bacteria, fungi, moles, gophers, ants etc.
earthworms
Earthworms live in the soil. Earthworms however will only live in soil where there is food, moisture, oxygen and a favourable temperature. If they don't have these things, they will go somewhere else.
Earthworms fertilize the soil because they are detritivites, meaning that they eat dead matter in the soil as they move and turn it into nutrients. Earthworms eat soil and excrete soil quite quickly. What the earthworm excretes fertilizes the soil and helps the farmer for planting and growing crops. It helps because it drags down nutrients from rotting leaves, food etc. and fertilizes the soil during the process. They also create air spaces in the soil (aerate it) which helps the roots take up oxygen for photosynthesis.
Earthworms extract nutrients from soil using a specialized muscular structure called the pharynx. The pharynx helps to ingest and break down organic matter in the soil, allowing earthworms to absorb nutrients from it.
Yes, soil is essential for earthworms as they burrow through it to create tunnels and extract nutrients. Earthworms rely on soil for food, shelter, and protection. Without soil, earthworms would struggle to survive.
Soil also contains organic matter such as decomposed plant and animal material, as well as living organisms like bacteria, fungi, and earthworms. Additionally, soil may have air and water occupying its pore spaces, which are important for supporting plant growth.
Minerals from the soil.
Earthworms are well-known for swallowing soil. They ingest organic matter and minerals as they burrow through the ground, aiding in soil aeration and nutrient cycling. This process helps improve soil structure and fertility, making earthworms essential for healthy ecosystems.
The waste matter from earthworms are nutritious for plants. Earthworms also keep soil loose when they dig and move around the soil. This helps roots and water penetrate through the soil easily. Earthworms are widely encouraged in organic vegetable gardening and are categorized as beneficial animals. It is also claimed that chemical fertilizers and pesticides kill off earthworms thus gardens loose the benefits that these worms bring.
Because earthworms eat just about every other organism in the soil.
Earthworms help to aerate the soil when they burrow, creating channels for air and water to penetrate into the soil. Their movement also helps to mix organic matter into the soil, which improves soil structure and fertility. Furthermore, earthworms break down organic matter, producing nutrient-rich castings that enrich the soil for plant growth.
they fertilize the soil