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Earthworms tunnel through the ground by swallowing dirt and passing it through their bodies. In that dirt, the worm gets nutrients from decomposing vegetation, like rotting leaves and other organic material. The worms digestion of this material as it passes through him/her helps break down the leaves and organic material further, helping soil to become fertile, mixed and "nutritious" for plants to grow, the tunnels also irrigate the soil and allow air to be mixed in (oxygen also helps old leaves and dead plants to decompose). Because of worms, when rain falls, fresh water can sink into the earth more easily to reach plant roots and the water table more easily, instead of just rolling down hill and eroding (taking nutrients and soil away) the land. Worms are really cool. Then as the earthworm has digested the dirt and taken the nutrients out of the dirt it poops out the dirt making new dirt that is fertilized and is ready to be dirt.

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15y ago

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