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Earthworms contribute to more than 6 per cent of the world’s total cereal harvest each year, thanks to their key role in earth ecosystems, according to a fresh study by experts. For example, earthworms help decompose dead plant material, releasing the nutrients needed for plant growth, and the tunnels they dig help root systems develop.
According to experts, earthworms also help plants resist common earth pathogens by stimulating their defence mechanisms.
In their research, the scientists analysed earthworm population distribution maps, land characteristics, crop yields, and past research papers on plant productivity to assess the contribution of earthworms to the production of key crops.
