The Impact of Soil Toxicity on Earthworms: A Review

Abstract

Earthworms play a pivotal role in maintaining soil health and fertility, yet their significance often remains underestimated. This article explores the increasing awareness of earthworms’ crucial role in soil ecosystems, highlighting the growing conservation efforts, monitoring strategies, and mitigation measures employed to protect these ecosystem engineers. Moreover, it sheds light on the emergence of new technologies that have revolutionized the study and conservation of earthworms and their habitats. The rise in awareness of earthworms’ ecological importance has driven global conservation efforts. Initiatives to protect these organisms aim to maintain soil structure, enhance nutrient cycling, and reduce erosion. Monitoring and mitigation strategies include non-invasive techniques like DNA barcoding and remote sensing, enabling a deeper understanding of earthworm populations and their habitats. Furthermore, innovative technologies, such as automated soil sensors and soil-improving bio stimulants, are revolutionizing how we manage soil ecosystems, ensuring optimal conditions for earthworm survival and thriving. This underscores the imperative need for an integrated approach to earthworm and soil conservation, harmonizing awareness, monitoring, and mitigation strategies, and harnessing cutting-edge technologies. Through these efforts, we can safeguard the essential services provided by earthworms and maintain the resilience of our planet’s soil ecosystems in the face of environmental challenges.