INFLUENCE OF EARTHWORMS ON SOIL MICROORGANISMS

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Abstract
The microbial populations of fresh castings of earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) were compared with the populations of the several potted soils in which the earthworms had been living. The microbial populations of different parts of the earthworms'' digestive tracts were also studied. The total numbers of organisms were not consistently greater or less in fresh castings than in soil. The numbers of nitrifying bacteria showed no important difference. Bacillus cereus mycoides decreased somewhat, and Serratia marcescens was killed out completely, apparently by the action of the pharyngeal secretion.

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