EARTHWORM

Earthworm

Chapter Outline

1. Introduction
2. Habit And Habitat
3. External Features

• Segmentation
• Head
• Clitellum
• Setae
• Apertures
• Genital Papillae

1. Economic Importance

Introduction

Earthworms are Environmental bioengineers and are a major component of soil macro fauna.Earthworms improve the soil fertility & physical structure of the soil and can use as bioindicator. Earthworms activity counteract leaching by bringing up nutrients from deep in the soil and depositing them on the soil's surface as castings.They remove litter from soil surface - earthworms eat the litter and leave the nutrients in their castings for plants to use as a natural fertilizer that is non-polluting.Tunnelling activity of earthworm improves soil aeration, porosity and permeability.

	Learning Objectives
After reading this chapter, you are expected to learn about:

Habit And Habitat

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Results

Key Points

The key points of this chapter are as follows:

Glossary

Practice Test

Answers to SAQs

References and Further Readings